Ep04 Dr. Brett Fickes, CEO, and Dr. Ahmed Ramaha, Founder, Dental Universal Clinics: Leadership Development

HOST: Ovi Vasquez, author of six books, and National Inspirational Keynote Speaker. Born and raised in rural Guatemala off-the-grid, worked for Apple, Tesla, Salesforce, and Uber. Learned English in two years, graduated from high school in three years, earned a bachelor's in management, in two years. He is a TEDx speaker and a social entrepreneur. 

GUEST: Dr. Brett Fickes, a retired educator with 36 years in public schools (history teacher & administrator until June 2025), is now a CEO and entrepreneur. Post-retirement, he became CEO of Universal Dental Clinics. He owns Redline Motorsports Racing, Chicago's premier NASCAR Xfinity team, and Teachercraft, which makes classroom easels. He also serves on the Learning Forward Illinois board.

GUEST: Dr. Ahmed Ramaha, Founder and Owner of Universal Dental Clinics. Extended bio to follow.

Find our guest at:  https://udclinics.com
Find our host at:  https://www.ovinspires.com 

Keywords
leadership development, education, mentorship, humility, resourcefulness, growth mindset, AI tools, dental clinics, history teaching, teamwork, sincerity, vision, positive impact, student-centered, collaboration

Summary
In this podcast interview, Dr. Brett Fickes, a retired educator turned CEO of Universal Dental Clinics, and Dr. Ramaha, founder and CEO of the clinics, share their journeys from humble beginnings to leadership roles. Dr. Fickes discusses his 36-year career in education, inspiring students through history and experiential learning, and transitioning to business while emphasizing transferable skills like vision-setting and motivation. Dr. Ramaha highlights lessons from growing up in underserved Chicago neighborhoods, stressing humility, sharing, sincerity, and patience as keys to leadership. Together, they advocate for student-centered approaches, growth mindset, and using AI ethically, while recommending books and resources for aspiring leaders.

Takeaways
* Leadership skills from education transfer to business, focusing on vision, motivation, and people-centric decisions.
* Humility, resourcefulness, and sharing learned in underserved communities build strong teamwork and leadership.
* Sincerity and honesty earn trust and hearts, essential for effective leadership.
* Maintain a growth mindset; everyone can improve with the right support and reflection.
* Center decisions on those you serve—students in education or patients in business.
* Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for assistance, but verify accuracy and avoid over-reliance in education.
* Start the day with reflection or meditation to stay positive and centered.
* Mentors can be found in your profession; reach out to successful, admired individuals.
* Free resources like edX, Crash Course on YouTube, and AI platforms offer valuable learning opportunities.
* Patience and honesty are rewarding; don't give up on goals.
Titles
* From Classrooms to Clinics: Leadership Lessons
* Humility and Vision in Education and Business
* Inspiring the Next Generation Through Sincerity
Sound bites
* "America is a great country... but you have to be willing to work for it."
* "Earn people's hearts by being honest and sincere."
* "Never lose sight of that growth mindset."

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