#351 The Legacy Builder — Neil Sikka

<p>Neil Sikka joins Payman to reflect on a career that has moved from single-surgery NHS dentistry in Bethnal Green to building a ten-practice London group, selling to Bupa, and now helping shape clinical strategy across one of the UK’s biggest dental organisations.</p><p>He talks candidly about the Barbican Dental Care years, why he chose cultural fit over the highest offer when selling, and why he still practises one day a week after decades in the profession.</p><p>This is also a conversation about service. From funding a dental carriage on India’s Lifeline Express to supporting Dentaid and Mercy Ships, Neil’s work outside the surgery is just as revealing as his business story.</p><p>Expect thoughtful reflections on the mouth-body connection, Bupa’s future, clinical excellence, personal branding, charitable dentistry and the quiet art of getting on with people.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In This Episode</strong></p><p>00:01:00 - Bupa, leadership and clinical voice</p><p>00:02:45 - From Bethnal Green to Barbican</p><p>00:06:40 - Growing ten practices</p><p>00:10:30 - Selling the business</p><p>00:14:00 - Risk, reward and optimism</p><p>00:16:10 - Lifeline Express</p><p>00:21:35 - Mercy Ships and Dentaid</p><p>00:28:20 - Childhood and family</p><p>00:35:15 - Why he still practises</p><p>00:37:30 - Blackbox thinking</p><p>00:45:30 - Life inside Bupa</p><p>00:52:00 - Bupa Training Academy</p><p>00:57:00 - Mouth-body connection</p><p>00:59:15 - Personal branding</p><p>01:07:25 - A week in Neil’s life</p><p>01:18:15 - Dental learning and mentors</p><p>01:22:30 - Music, golf and real tennis</p><p>01:25:45 - Fantasy dinner party</p><p>01:28:40 - Last days and legacy</p><p><br></p><p><strong>About Neil Sikka</strong></p><p>Neil Sikka is Chief Dental Officer for Bupa Dental Insurance and Director of Dentistry at Bupa Dental Care.</p><p>Before joining Bupa, he founded and grew Barbican Dental Care into a ten-practice London group, building a corporate dental plan model for major employers. He continues to practise one day a week and has long supported access-to-care projects through Dentaid, Mercy Ships and India’s Lifeline Express.</p>