Women In DSO®

What Women In DSO® does

Women In DSO® is a nonprofit membership organization, founded in July 2021 by Dr. Aman Kaur, that exists to highlight and support the contributions of women leaders in Dental Support Organizations. The organization operates a tiered membership structure - DSO Group, Industry Partner, Individual, and Dental Student - delivered through a Hivebrite-powered community portal (connect.womenindso.org) and a public website at womenindso.org. It runs four primary event formats: the annual Empower & Grow Conference in Las Vegas (grown from ~600 attendees in 2022 to ~1,000 in 2024-2025), the Canada DSO Summit (Toronto, launched 2026), the Global DSO Summit (London, launched 2026), and the Wellness & Innovation Summit co-hosted with the American Dental Association. Adjacent programs include a Mentorship Program, Exchange Circles, WellnessPlan™, Rise and Lead (a dental-school pipeline initiative sponsored by Pikos Health), a Leadership Award, Career Match job board, Speakers Bureau, Male Allyship Program, Entrepreneurship Corner, and the DSO Industry Survey. Content distribution extends through The LEAD Magazine partnership and the #WinDSO Blog.

The organization is incorporated in Missouri as Women In DSO, Inc., with DBA names Women In DSO® and WinDSO (a registered trademark). Its core technology stack is composed entirely of third-party services - Hivebrite (community), RegFox (event registration), Google Maps, and Facebook/Twitter SSO - with no proprietary platform disclosed. The leadership team is disclosed only at the founder/CXO level: Dr. Aman Kaur (Founder and President; also CEO of Aim Dental Alliance) and Kristin A. Ornstein (Chief Legal Officer, concurrently Senior Attorney at Dykema DSO Industry Group); the organization is governed by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Board populated by senior executives from member DSOs and industry partners.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue mix: (1) recurring annual membership dues across the four tiers (auto-renewing, with Dues scaling by DSO size and preferred founding-member pricing), (2) one-time event registration fees (Empower & Grow offered an $800 early-bird discount in 2026), (3) corporate event sponsorships across Diamond/Ruby/Sapphire tiers sold to dental distributors (Henry Schein, Darby, Patterson), technology and device vendors (Align Technology, Overjet, tab32, Rectangle Health, Straumann, SmileDirectClub), and similar industry partners, and (4) merchandise revenue from the WinDSO Store (womenindsostore.org). Named participating DSOs include Heartland Dental, Aspen Dental, Dental Care Alliance, Smile Brands, Risas Dental & Braces, 42 North Dental, Dental Express, Pepperpointe Partnerships, Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics, Independence Dental Services, and Dentalcorp. No external funding rounds, parent company, or PE ownership is disclosed; operations are funded through membership, event, and sponsorship revenue.

Name

Women In DSO®

Legal name

Women In DSO, Inc.

Website

https://womenindso.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women In DSO® is a nonprofit membership organization, founded in 2021, that supports women leaders in Dental Support Organizations through tiered membership, the annual Empower & Grow Conference, mentorship, and international summits in Canada and the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Dental Support Services Organizations (Non-Clinical MSO/Back-Office Platforms) (HLABAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Dentistry Group Practices (HLABAKAB)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Dental support organizations
• Women leadership development
• Mentorship programs
• Industry conference events

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees required for DSO groups, professional leaders, industry partners, individual members, and dental students. Membership automatically renews with credit card charges on anniversary date. Fees vary by membership class.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from annual Empower & Grow Conference, regional summits, and special events. Early bird and standard registration pricing available. Sponsorship packages also offered for events.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay for various sponsorship tiers (Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire) to gain visibility and access at Women In DSO events. Sponsors include dental distributors, technology providers, and industry partners.
4. WinDSO Store: E-commerce store selling exclusive merchandise to support the mission and generate revenue from branded products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Women In DSO® is a nonprofit membership organization that advances women leaders in Dental Support Organizations through tiered memberships (DSO Group, Industry Partner, Individual, Dental Student), the annual Empower & Grow Conference, regional summits (Canada, Global), mentorship programs, exchange circles, networking events, wellness initiatives, and industry research. The organization operates as a community platform providing professional development, networking, and recognition programs for women across the DSO industry.

Product overview

Women In DSO® is a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive platform for empowering and growing women leaders in Dental Support Organizations. The organization provides a tiered membership structure (DSO Group, Industry Partner, Individual, and Dental Student) as well as signature events (Empower & Grow Conference, Canada DSO Summit, Global DSO Summit, ASCEND, Wellness & Innovation Summit), professional development programs (Mentorship Program, Rise and Lead, Exchange Circles, Empower Networking, Leadership Award, Insight Rooms, Career Match, Speakers Bureau, Male Allyship, Entrepreneurship Corner), wellness offerings (WellnessPlan™), research initiatives (DSO Industry Survey), and media content (The LEAD Magazine, #WinDSO Blog). The organization also operates the WinDSO Store for merchandise. The ecosystem is designed to support women at all career stages within the DSO industry through networking, education, advocacy, and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership offering including DSO Group membership for dental support organizations, Industry Partner membership for vendor and product companies, Individual membership for professionals, and Dental Student membership. Membership provides access to networking, mentorship, professional development resources, and member-only events.
• Empower & Grow Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together women leaders in DSO for professional development, networking, workshops, panels, and industry best practice sessions. Features the Leadership Awards and Mentorship Program activities.
• Mentorship Program Structured mentorship program connecting women leaders with experienced DSO mentors, including 1:1 mentoring sessions, mentor/mentee matching, and ongoing support for career development.
• Exchange Circles Peer discussion groups covering topics including health equity, clinical leadership, marketing, revenue cycle management, and global DSO operations. Available for members with regional variants including Canada Exchange Circle and Global Exchange Circle.
• Empower Networking Networking-focused virtual and in-person sessions featuring panel discussions on topics such as AI adoption, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Members-only access to these professional networking events.
• Wellness & Innovation Summit Annual one-day summit focused on wellness, leadership, and innovation in dentistry, held in partnership with the American Dental Association. Features sessions on AI, innovation strategies, and team well-being.
• WellnessPlan™ Comprehensive wellness program focusing on physical, mental, and emotional well-being of members. Includes workshops on financial wellness, leadership development, and professional resilience.
• Canada DSO Summit Exclusive annual event bringing together Canadian DSO industry pioneers, executives, and thought leaders for learning, networking, and inspiration. Held in Toronto, Ontario.
• Global DSO Summit Groundbreaking global DSO event bringing together leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the globe to explore the future of dental service organizations.
• Rise and Lead Invitation-only program designed for dental school deans, students, and emerging leaders shaping the future of dentistry. Sponsored by Pikos Health.
• Insight Rooms Focused discussion sessions providing members with exclusive insights from industry experts on specialized DSO topics and emerging trends.
• Career Match Job board and career matching service connecting members with career advancement opportunities within the DSO industry.
• Speakers Bureau Roster of Women in DSO expert speakers available for panel presentations, conferences, and industry events. Provides visibility for members' expertise.
• Male Allyship Program Program engaging male leaders as allies to support women's advancement in the DSO industry, fostering inclusive leadership across the sector.
• Entrepreneurship Corner Resource and networking program supporting women entrepreneurs in the DSO ecosystem with guidance on building and scaling dental-related businesses.
• WinDSO Store E-commerce store offering exclusive merchandise supporting the Women in DSO mission. New items added monthly.
• DSO Industry Survey Comprehensive industry survey gathering perspectives on DSO challenges, opportunities, and growth potential. Contributes to industry benchmarks and empowers women in leadership research.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Henry ScheincoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2023Founding sponsor supporting Women In DSO annual events. Henry Schein sponsored keynote speaker Bonnie St. John at inaugural Empower and Grow 2022. Supports panels, workshops, and professional development sessions. David Kochman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, participates in Women In DSO programming.
• Henry Schein ONEcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2023Sponsor of Women In DSO events including Mentorship Program Breakfast at Empower & Grow 2024. Provides technology solutions and professional development content.
• Dykema DSO Industry GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2022Founding industry partner supporting Women In DSO. Dykema hosts the ASCEND event annually preceding their Definitive Conference for DSOs. Brian Colao, Director of DSO Industry Group at Dykema, serves as founding board member. Dykema provided preferred pricing on membership fees for launch event attendees.
• Darby Dental SupplycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors breakfast and Mentorship Program at Empower & Grow events. One of largest dental distributors in US. Allison Alexander, VP at Darby, serves on advisory board.
• Align TechnologycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor of Empower & Grow events. Sponsor of registration at 2024 conference. Align is global medical device company reimagining orthodontic treatment.
• OverjetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners with Women In DSO on Leadership Award program. Dr. Wardah Inam, CEO of Overjet, is featured keynote speaker. Teresa Dolan, Chief Dental Officer at Overjet, presents Leadership Award.
• SmileDirectClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Empower and Grow Bash at inaugural event. Susan Greenspon-Rammelt, EVP of Business Strategy and Corporate Secretary, is founding board member.
• American Dental Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA partnered with Women In DSO for Wellness & Innovation Summit on October 22, 2025 at Westin DC Downtown. Dr. Linda Edgar, President of ADA, participates in Women In DSO panels.
• tab32minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Welcome Reception at Empower & Grow 2022. Provides cloud-based open data warehouse technology for dental practices.
• Rectangle HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of breakfast at Empower & Grow 2022 and 2024. Provides revenue-driving technology for dental practices.
• Careington / Launch LoyaltyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of break sessions at Empower & Grow 2022. Launch Loyalty powered by Careington helps DSOs create membership-based healthcare plans.
• Patterson DentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of lunch at Empower & Grow 2022. Major dental distributor partner.
• DentalcorpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Canadian DSO. Nicola Deall, Chief People Officer at Dentalcorp, appointed to Women In DSO Board of Directors in 2026.
• Straumann GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal dental implant company. Guillaume Daniellot, CEO of Straumann Group, appointed to Women In DSO Board of Directors in 2026.
• The LEAD MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial magazine of Women In DSO. Official Spring Release featured at Empower & Grow Bash 2025.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Henry Schein: Largest dental distributor in North America and a Founding/Core sponsor of Women In DSO. While a commercial enterprise rather than association peer, it is the most engaged commercial partner and represents the sponsor category closely tied to the organization's ecosystem.
• Dental Economics (Endeavor Business Media): A leading dental industry publication and events brand. Comparable in serving the DSO and dental practice market through content and conferences, but as a media/events business rather than a nonprofit community.
• Inside Dentistry: Dental clinical and practice management publication. Overlaps with Women In DSO in serving dental professionals and DSO leaders through editorial content and continuing education events.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association (ADA): The largest US dental professional association and an existing Strategic Partner of Women In DSO. ADA is a broad incumbent in dental professional membership and events; Women In DSO operates as a complementary, niche-focused association.
• Dental Trade Alliance (DTA): Trade association for dental manufacturers, distributors, and service providers. A peer in the dental membership/trade association space, focused on the supply side rather than women leadership.

Emerging players

• Women in Optometry: A professional community and media brand supporting women in optometry. Highly comparable model — niche women-focused professional community with events, awards, and content in an adjacent healthcare vertical.
• Women in Healthcare: Professional community advancing women leaders across the healthcare industry. Similar mission and event-driven model at a broader healthcare scale rather than dental-specific.

Direct peers

• Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO): The primary industry association for DSOs and DSO-supporting companies. ADSO is the most direct peer — both organizations serve the DSO community through membership, advocacy, and events, though ADSO focuses broadly while Women In DSO focuses on women leaders.
• The Lucy Hobbs Project (Benco Dental): A women-in-dentistry initiative founded by dental distributor Benco. Directly comparable mission of advancing women in the dental profession through recognition, networking events, and mentorship — operates in the same niche.
• American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD): Long-standing national membership association supporting women dentists. Comparable in serving women in dentistry but focused on clinical practitioners rather than the DSO leadership niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-dso

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women In DSO®