We Win Together: Reflections from the DS World Women’s Dinner

There are some moments that remind you exactly why you do what you do — moments that recharge your purpose and make the late nights, the constant juggling, and the endless to-do lists feel completely worth it. The Dentsply Sirona Women’s Dinner on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 at DS World Las Vegas was one of those moments for me.

Sharing the stage with my friend and colleague, Dr. Shivi Gupta, in front of a room full of brilliant, accomplished women was powerful — not because we were polished or perfectly rehearsed, but because we were honest. Vulnerable. Real.

We talked about what it actually looks like to grow as leaders, mothers, business owners, and humans — often all at the same time.

When Melanie Jenkins, our moderator, asked how Dentsply Sirona has played a role in my journey, I shared a story that still gives me chills. Back in 2019, when I was seven months pregnant, I received a postcard inviting me to attend EPIC Women in CEREC in Charlotte. That event was my first introduction to DS’s genuine commitment to supporting women in dentistry. Some of the incredible women I met there — including Shivi — became mentors, role models, and now dear friends.

A few years later, just days after giving birth to my third baby, DS invited me to speak on their main stage. What meant the most wasn’t the invitation itself, but how they extended it. They didn’t decide for me based on outdated ideas about what a new mom “should” or “shouldn’t” do. They believed in me and put the ball in my court. And I responded in record time — thirty seconds flat — with a yes. That’s the kind of inclusion that changes things.

During the panel, we talked about collaboration and what “We Win Together” really means. For me, that phrase comes to life every day at brush365. It’s rooted in something I learned while completing my Master’s program — the concept of “Patients Come Second.” It sounds counterintuitive, but the truth is, if you don’t take care of your team, your team can’t take care of your patients. That philosophy has shaped everything about how I lead.

I also got real about something that doesn’t get talked about enough — the loneliness that can come from growing both a business and a family. Each one alone transforms you. Combine the two, and it can be deeply isolating. I shared how my sister, my husband, and my parents have been my anchor — and how, over time, my team has become part of that circle too. I was always told to keep staff at arm’s length, but when you share so much of your life, joy, and even a bit of trauma together, those relationships become something deeper. My VP of Operations is now one of my closest confidants.

After the dinner, I was overwhelmed by the number of women who came up to me — some with tears in their eyes — saying how much my story resonated with them. We talked about ambition, motherhood, exhaustion, and gratitude. About how it’s possible to love your work and your family fiercely at the same time, even if the balance never looks perfect.

That’s what made the night so special — the energy of women being real with one another. No competition, no filters, just connection.

So thank you, Dentsply Sirona, for creating spaces like this — spaces where women can celebrate, collaborate, and be seen. Thank you for believing in me, for putting me on stages when I didn’t even know how much I needed to be there, and for continually championing women who are redefining what leadership in dentistry looks like.

Because the truth is, we really do win together.

Your friend, 

Sara