Alfonso De Paolini
• Multilingual manager and business developer with 15+ years of experience on international markets.
• Previous experience in the dental, technical software and wholesale industries.
• General Manager and responsible for Global Coordination of the Digital Dentistry Society International (DDS).
• Has worked in Italy, DACH region and Poland.
Meet Alfonso De Paolini, who has been nominated the new DDS General Manager in September.
Hey there! Thanks for coming in today, Alfonso. Let’s start with a classic opener: can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Of course! I’m basically a business development professional and I’ve been working in different positions in different B2B industries since the very beginning of my career, when I was 23, just after my graduation. Technical support, Dental appliances and workshop control software for the metalworking industry just to name my most relevant experiences. Sales, Export and Operations have been my specialties. In the last 10 years, though, I’ve been mainly working as a freelancer and I have started my own consulting business in Poland. I’m passionate about helping organizations to grow.
You were born and raised in Italy, but it looks like you are fully at ease in a multi-cultural setting, isn’t it?
Yeah, sure, I am multilingual, have strong connections with countries like Poland, or even Germany, where I have studied and worked in the past, and foreign cultures and languages have been my strongest passion ever.
I am a big believer of the potential of cross-cultural communication and I feel absolutely honored to be part of the global family of the Digital Dentistry Society, which is, in fact, a big intercultural family.
Great! What do you think about the new challenges of a General Manager role for the Digital Dentistry Society?
Well, I believe the choice of the Board to appoint a manager was an obliged step to secure global growth and the execution of objectives and in a very crucial moment for the Organization. Leading a scientific society in the Dental these days is extremely challenging as the scenario is constantly evolving, as an important digital revolution is taking place.
It sounds like you’re quite familiar with emerging technologies, isn’t it?
In fact, it is a more recent field of study for me, but, let me be clear, I am strictly focused on the management aspect and the business impact of these technologies, as I am not a technician or an engineer. Still, I think everybody of us should recognize how these technologies will change our professional and everyday life. And it all will have a tremendous impact on organizations, no matter the industry.
Top managers cannot avoid to address these topics, as they are the ones leading and organizing the teams of the future.
“Leading a scientific society in the Dental these days is extremely challenging as the scenario is constantly evolving, as an important digital revolution is taking place.”
Excellent approach. What are the main challenges for the Dental Industry now in your opinion?
One of them is the polarization of dentistry services and their diverging aspects when considering high-price treatments for wealthy people versus the necessity of basic oral care in many low-income or emerging countries.
Another challenge on the professional side is the effective running of a successful dental practice in an everchanging scenario where the doctor and his/her teams must acquire entrepreneurial and management skills in order to drive growth.
That makes sense. What about your strategy for international expansion? Do you target any particular market for digital dentistry?
The scenario is quite diversified. If it is true that, on one side, most emerging markets are booming because of demographic trends (let’s think about India), it is also true that the impact of digital dentistry can be still very relevant even in rich European markets in which dental practitioners still work more traditionally (Germany is one of them). A consistent strategy will have to take into consideration both situations.
What about your partnerships with companies? Any novelty in sight?
We are receiving important feedbacks from our partner companies after our annual Global Congress, which was held in October in Casablanca, and we are considering to implement a series of initiatives to intensify cross-marketing activities and quality insights connecting digital knowledge and industry-related content.
We will continue to stay up-to-date with industry trends and we will design our strategies sharing our views with our partner companies.
What about your educational and training projects?
As I’ve been starting to get down to work, I have been impressed by the number of inquiries the Digital Dentistry Society gets from international institutions with very ambitious cooperation plans. This is a proof that the educational sector is thriving and we will accurately select these opportunities.
Thank you, Alfonso, for sharing your insights and experiences. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you during this interview.
You’re welcome! Thanks for this opportunity and I’m excited to be part of this journey now.