We're very proud to introduce you to our latest participant in The Consulting U, Gisella. Gisella's story may be familiar to many of you who are considering a career in dental consulting. For that reason we asked her to share her journey from Dental Assistant to aspiring Dental Consultant with you in the following Q&A. If this inspires any of you to take the next step in your own dental career, we would love to hear from you.

Q: Why were you interested in training to be a consultant?

A: I have worked in dentistry since 1995. I started as a dental assistant and eventually moved into the front office, where I was fortunate to work for a doctor who believed in my skills, and taught me a lot about running a successful practice. I am now at the point where my passion for dentistry has led me to pursue a career in dental consulting.

Q: Tell us a little bit more about your dental background.

A: As I mentioned, I started out as a dental assistant. I was 'thrown into' the front office to begin with, and initially it was a rough road, but the more I worked there, and the more I learned, the more I realized "Hey, I like this! I want to get good at this." With my doctor's blessing, I eventually went to another office to spread my wings and see how other practices and other people worked. I left that position to work and travel with my husband, who is a dental anesthesiologist. I am now at the point where my passion for dentistry has led me to pursue a career in management consulting.

Q: How is training with The Consulting U preparing you for your new career?

A: I chose The Consulting U for several reasons, mostly because I wanted to be trained by people who were successful consultants themselves, and who were actively working in the industry. I also preferred one-on-one training, with someone to mentor and guide me, rather than going to a large consulting firm. And finally, I wanted structure. I wanted to know not only how to become a great consultant myself, but how to build, structure and market my business. The Consulting U has given me all that, and more.

Q: What about the training has been most significant?

A: It was very evident to me from the moment I met her that my TCU instructor, Debbie Castagna, knows what she is talking about, and is able and willing to share this knowledge with me. I got the impression from a number of other people I spoke with that they viewed me as "competition". Not so with Debbie. She is genuinely interested and invested in my success. Her personality is just a bonus!

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering The Consulting U?

I followed Debbie and Virginia through their newsletter and emails for some time before I contacted them. When the time was right for me, I did not hesitate to pick up the phone and call, and I believe it will turn out to be one of the best decisions of my professional life. If anyone reading this has considered a career in dental consulting and has been waiting to jump in, I would definitely encourage them to get in touch with Debbie or Virginia. I am certain that once they touch base with them they will know they are in the right place.

For me, The Consulting U and Debbie Castagna have been a thing of pleasure!

For more information on The Consulting U, visit our website at www.TheConsultingU.com, or contact Debbie or Virginia.

With our best wishes,

Debbie Castagna

415-924-5213

Virginia Moore

530-527-9457