We recently connected with Dr. Joi Freemont and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Joi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Growing up, my parents were walking examples of showing my brothers and me how to be successful by their actions. My father was a physician and my mother was a florist. I spent the majority of my adolescent years working in both of their businesses. And it wasn’t just me! Many of my friends worked for them too, so my close circle saw what it was like to run a business. I didn’t appreciate it then, but I understand now how influential that was.
Dr. Joi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been a dentist for 26 years. During that time, I’ve embraced the responsibility of being a provider who my patients trust to lead them on their journey to good health. With this in mind, I have become more aware of the products that I recommend and have not been pleased with the ingredients in many of the popular over-the-counter products.
Earlier this year I launched my brand, Miss Doctor Lady, where I have created a mouthwash made of all-natural healing essential oils and extracts. I have seen phenomenal results in the health of my patients’ gums and much fresher breath by using Triple Mint Therapeutic Mouthwash. I’m proud to be the first African-American woman to create her own brand of all-natural oral care products.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My father taught me that no matter how good your skills are as a doctor, if you have a poor bedside manner, you’re not going to succeed. My personality shines through my patient care. You can hear me laughing down the hall and you probably can see my smile through my mask. My patients need to feel comfortable going to the dentist. After all, the dentist’s office is not where most people want to be!
Any advice for managing a team?
To me, leadership is 80% innate, 20% learned. Being a dentist is stressful. Being an African-American female business owner is stressful. Coupling that with leading a team while executing what should be perfection can be overwhelming. I’ve learned to be careful in choosing the team that I work with because they represent my practice. I make sure that I am consistent with my praise and encouragement, while providing educational opportunities for growth and learning on a consistent basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.missdoctorlady.com and www.thehapevilledentist.com
- Instagram: @missdoctorlady and @freemontdental
- Facebook: @missdoctorlady and @freemontdental
- Linkedin: @freemontdental
- Youtube: @missdoctorlady and @freemontdental
Image Credits
Derrick Hackett