The smiley business venturist
This month, October 2022 we get to know Carl Gorton, General Manager of My Dental Clinic. In 2013 Carl and his dentist mother as well as their friend Stefan decided to follow their dream and open a clinic together in Dubai. A fantastic team has brought the clinic to a successful business. Together with his family and as a superhero son, Carl makes his way to becoming a superhero father.
HEJ SBC Member!
Who is Carl Gorton?
I live permanently in Dubai since 2012 with my wife, Ellie, and our two boys, Liam (5) and Elliot (1). I was born in Jönköping, but moved to Stockholm at the age of one. I grew up in Täby, North of Stockholm, and lived there until the time I started University, when I moved to central Stockholm. I studied Finance at Stockholm Business School and graduated in 2009 and at that time, my mother had lived in Dubai since I couple of years, so I had visited Dubai several times and was absolutely blown away. Coincidently with my graduation, the Swedish Trade Council (Business Sweden today) adverted for an Internship in Dubai, which I applied for and got. This was my first working experience in Dubai and I really enjoyed it. I was, however, offered another exciting opportunity in Sweden following the Internship, so I returned to Stockholm in 2010.
You founded My Dental Clinic in 2013 in Dubai. What were the main driving forces of why you opened a dental clinic?
After returning to Sweden in 2010 I missed Dubai a lot. In 2012 I decided to explore the options to go back to Dubai and I started to write down ideas and options. My mother was a dentist and given the heavily regulated environment there is for clinics in Dubai, I thought we might as well both do the things we are good at and enjoy. Hence, I suggested that we open up a clinic together. We needed a partner for the project, so we asked my mom’s friend, Stefan, if he would be interested in setting up the clinic with us. He said yes and the rest is a happy history now.
To answer your question in full, I did not have a true passion for dentistry. I did, however, have access to an outstanding network of dentists, dental hygienists and nurses through my mom and Stefan, so there was an opportunity. Personally, I really enjoy shaping the customer journey and sales, so I would simply say it was a matter of opportunity and timing. I am incredibly happy that it materialized, because it has been an amazing time and a great learning experience.
Carl Gorton, General Manager, My Dental Clinic
What are some of the main challenges you find with running your own business?
Regulatory framework and constant changes. As I mentioned earlier, healthcare is heavily regulated in Dubai. None of the Governing bodies are that old either, so they are still shaping their regulatory framework/s. What it comes down to is that we do receive a lot of circulars with updates and changes, which takes up a lot of my time on compliance. What you would like to (and need) in your initial years is to focus on growing your sales, reputation etc. so it has been quite tough at times to keep up-to-date at all times, in conjunction with all the other worries you carry when you have your own business.
Another aspect, which should not be ignored, is that any start-up company in Dubai has to dig a bit in your pockets. We live in a tax free environment (at least until next year), but there are a lot of fees involved in setting up a business in Dubai. In Sweden, a loss-making start-up pays no taxes, meanwhile, Trade License fees, DHA Facility License fees, DHA Professional License fees, FANR License fees, Civil Defense AMC fees etc. etc. etc. payable for every clinic, regardless if you are profit or loss-making in Dubai. Initially, we also paid a yearly fee to our sponsor, so all in all, it is quite tough during the initial years.
What are some of the proud initiatives you have driven during these years?
It would be difficult to pinpoint specific things, but I am happy to see that many of the technologies I have designed specifically for My Dental Clinic are now being sold to other clinics that run the same health information system (HIS) that we do. The HIS system we use is great for dentists but lacks reporting, CRM, finance, etc., so I have driven projects to develop the system to a somewhat usable system for customer experience, finance etc. For instance, a caller ID that is linked to the system so that we know who is calling the clinic (it is much nicer to be addressed by name immediately, rather than having to state who you are), digital dental/medical history forms, VAT compliance, inventory management system etc.
However, what I am really proud of is not so much any initiatives, but the whole team at the clinic that has helped us grow the business to what it is today.
What is your dream in life?
My secret dream is to be a superhero, preferably Spiderman, but with age, I came to understand that it will not happen… Ha-ha. On a serious note, my dream would be to venture out into more business ventures. I would love to do that with my children, Liam and Elliot, when that time comes (they are only 5 and 1 years old currently). Should they be interested in dentistry I will certainly bring them onboard, but if not, I will fully support and help to develop and grow their business dreams along with them (if they would want their old man involved that is).
Carl with his family
Carl as Spiderman