Author: Kristen Pope, DeNovo Chief Integration, Partnership & Communication Officer
DeNovo Dental Partners and BDIA Dental Showcase announce headline keynote speaker
DeNovo Dental Partners offers a new practice sales model designed to better support modern principals and their teams. Recognising the limitations and pressures of traditional approaches, DeNovo exists to support practices and dentists through their next phase – protecting autonomy, sustaining culture, and strengthening long-term value.
This perspective is one we are proud to share with inspiring individuals and organisations across the UK. Among them is the Queen of Shops herself, Mary Portas. Mary has long been outspoken about the need for change in the modern workplace – particularly in how businesses support women, empower teams, and create environments where people at every stage of their career feel able to contribute ideas and drive innovation.
With strong alignment between Mary’s values and DeNovo’s belief that sustainable success is built through people, culture and care, we are delighted to announce that DeNovo will be sponsoring a headline keynote session at BDIA Dental Showcase this March.
Join us in London on Saturday 14 March to hear Mary share powerful insight into The Business of Belonging – and explore how dentists can build resilient, values-led practices for the long-term.
Introducing Mary Portas
Mary Portas is one of the UK’s most influential and innovative business leaders. Renowned for transforming some of the country’s most recognisable brands – including Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Harrods and Topshop – Mary is also a celebrated author, broadcaster, journalist, activist, and government adviser across retail, fashion, and consumer industries.
Alongside her commercial success, Mary is widely respected for championing human-centred leadership. She continues to challenge organisations to rethink how they support their people, their communities, and the wider society – advocating for workplaces that balance commercial ambition with empathy, inclusion, and purpose.
A customer experience crossover
Running a successful dental practice today requires more than clinical excellence alone. While high-quality patient care remains fundamental, long-term stability depends on practices operating as strong, sustainable businesses. Principals must balance leadership, culture, operations, people management, and patient experience – all while navigating increasing complexity and pressure.
Patient expectations are also evolving. Many now seek reassurance, connection, and a sense of care that extends beyond treatment alone. As a result, practices are increasingly rethinking how their environment, communication, and approach to care make patients feel at every stage of the journey.
At BDIA Dental Showcase, Mary Portas will draw on her extensive experience in retail to explore how intentional branding, simplicity, and human connection can elevate the patient experience – from first impressions and communication, to trust, consistency, and long-term loyalty.
Team culture parallels
Creating meaningful patient experiences starts from within. For practice principals, this means fostering cultures where teams feel trusted, heard, and involved – where ideas are encouraged, career progression is supported, and modern working lives are recognised.
Mary has been a vocal advocate for empowering teams, particularly women, and for designing workplaces that adapt to changing family dynamics and expectations. The conversation will explore how dental practices can introduce flexibility, rethink incentives, and involve teams more meaningfully in shaping how the practice operates – improving engagement, retention, and resilience in the process.
Bringing it all together
At the heart of these themes lies belonging – a sense of connection between people, purpose, and place. It is this human element that brings businesses to life and sustains them over time.
Mary comments:
“Businesses need profits to succeed, but a narrow focus on financial metrics alone is no longer enough. True success today comes from building community, empowering people, and creating environments where individuals feel valued and supported to shape the careers they want. I’m looking forward to engaging with the dental community to explore how these principles can translate into better patient care, stronger teams, and more sustainable practices.”
DeNovo has never been afraid to challenge the status quo. Our collaboration with Mary Portas at BDIA Dental Showcase is a natural extension of our belief that dentistry’s future lies in people, culture, and care – and we look forward to continuing that conversation in March.
The Business of Belonging: Lessons in Brand, Culture, and Care
Saturday 14th March 12:00, BDIA Main Stage, BDIA Dental Showcase
DeNovo Dental Partners offers a unique shared ownership model that allows principals to release the full value of their practice in cash and equity within in the parent company. It provides complete clinical and practice autonomy, with optional support to boost growth and relieve some of the pressures of running a practice. Find out more today.
Register today for BDIA Dental Showcase at www.dentalshowcase.com
Media Contact:
DeNovo Dental Partners
Kristen Pope
Chief Integration, Partnership & Communications Officer
Kristen.Pope@DeNovo.Partners
https://www.denovo.partners/
