What Dentistry Can Learn from Travelocity’s Founder – tips from Dr. Scott Leune and Terry Jones
Welcome to the Dental CEO Podcast, where entrepreneurial dentists and dental leaders gain insight into what it takes to grow, innovate, and lead successful practices in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. Hosted by Dr. Scott Leune, one of dentistry’s most prominent business educators, the podcast dives deep into the mindset, strategies, and technologies that fuel modern dental practice growth.
About the Host: Dr. Scott Leune
As the founder of various useful seminars and a proven leader in the dental industry, Dr. Scott Leune is passionate about equipping dentists with real-world business knowledge. Through his coaching, seminars, and speaking engagements, Dr. Leune has helped thousands of dental professionals escape burnout, unlock practice efficiency, and scale their impact. His unique perspective as a dentist-turned-entrepreneur makes him an authority on CEO dental leadership and innovation in private practice.
About the Guest: Terry Jones
Terry Jones is a legendary entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Travelocity.com and co-founder of Kayak.com, two tech companies that collectively generated over $4.8 billion in exits. With a career that spans leadership, venture capital, authorship, and over 20 corporate boards, Terry is a true expert in innovation, disruption, and artificial intelligence.
Having spoken to audiences across industries — including healthcare, dentistry, mining, and travel — Terry brings a panoramic view of how industries evolve, what disrupts them, and how businesses can stay ahead by integrating smart technology.
In this episode, Terry shares stories from building digital empires and offers a compelling look at what AI in dentistry could unlock — from smart diagnostics to patient engagement and operational excellence. As chairman of an AI company and mentor to countless startups, he speaks the language of the future fluently — and invites dental professionals to do the same.
His perspective is particularly valuable to dental CEOs who are ready to think beyond fillings and cleanings, and begin leading their practices like dynamic, forward-moving businesses. From building smarter systems to hiring A-players and embracing change, Terry’s message is clear: innovation isn’t optional — it’s survival.
Episode Spotlight: Terry Jones on Disruption, Innovation, and the Future of Dentistry
In this episode, Dr. Leune sits down with Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity and co-founder of Kayak, who brings a Silicon Valley perspective to the world of dentistry. As a venture capitalist, best-selling author, and expert in innovation and artificial intelligence, Jones shares his insights on what it takes to stay ahead in a world where change is the only constant.
But this isn’t just a tech talk — it’s a bold conversation about how dentists can transform their practices by embracing forward-thinking strategies and tools.
Key Highlights from Dr. Scott Leune’s Perspective
- Dr. Leune emphasizes the power of dental innovations as a key driver of patient experience and competitive differentiation. From digital scanning and 3D printing to AI-powered x-ray analysis, the conversation highlights how modern tools are setting practices apart and enhancing clinical decision-making.
- The discussion is centered on dental practice growth through smarter operations. Dr. Leune draws attention to how too many practices are stuck in mediocrity, simply trying to survive the day — and how visionary thinking can shift a practice into a thriving business.
- Scott believes that AI and dentistry are at a pivotal crossroads. He shares that artificial intelligence is already making an impact on new patient calls, diagnostics, and even communication with patients. By leveraging AI in dentistry, practices can uncover missed diagnoses, automate follow-ups, and enhance case acceptance.
- Dr. Leune reflects on the importance of CEO time. As a leading advocate for the “dental CEO” mindset, he urges dentists to step away from the chair and make time for strategic leadership, innovation planning, and team development. He argues that clinical excellence alone is no longer enough to thrive.
- Dentistry and AI, according to both Jones and Leune, will be increasingly intertwined in the next chapter of healthcare. Whether it’s using smart software to analyze data or AI agents handling inbound patient calls, these technologies aren’t optional—they’re essential to staying competitive.
- Dr. Leune challenges his listeners to ask themselves hard questions: What is truly blocking your growth? Are you surrounded by A-players or energy vampires? Have you set the right boundaries to lead your team effectively?
Final Thoughts
This conversation is more than a podcast — it’s a wake-up call for dentists to become dental CEOs, not just clinicians. With stories from multi-billion-dollar tech exits, and actionable parallels drawn to everyday dental practice challenges, Dr. Leune and Terry Jones explore how the smartest practices of tomorrow are being built today.