Leadership Journeys [280] – Kunal Thakker – “Entrepreneurship gives you freedom but it quietly takes your presence.”

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

What does it really take to walk away from a “safe” career and build something that changes an entire industry?

In this conversation, Kunal Thakker shares the raw, unfiltered reality of leaving banking to reinvent dentistry—and why fear was actually his greatest advantage.

You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the mental load of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices no one talks about, and how to stay grounded while scaling fast.

Kunal also breaks down how he’s built a culture-first company in a highly technical field—and why that’s been his real edge.

If you’re navigating growth, uncertainty, or big leadership decisions, this episode will challenge how you think and remind you what’s actually worth building.

You can find Kunal Thakker at the links below

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/toothclub/
• https://www.toothclub.co.uk/

In the interview, Kunal shares

• “Sometimes the biggest industry disruptors are the ones who start as outsiders.” 
•  “Fear didn’t stop him—it became the reason he built something better.” 
•  “Leaving a stable career isn’t reckless when you’re building something that actually matters.” 
•  “Entrepreneurship gives you freedom—but it also rents space in your mind 24/7.” 
•  “You can be with your family physically and still be miles away mentally—that’s the hidden cost of building something big.” 
•  “Scaling a business is easy compared to preserving its culture.” 
•  “Culture isn’t a department—it’s the foundation everything else stands on.” 
•  “Great leadership is a constant balance between vision and adaptation.” 
•  “If you’re not open to feedback, you’re not serious about growth.” 
•  “The future belongs to those willing to rethink even the most traditional industries.”