Rezwan Manji

I came to Brentwood looking for a fresh start after having difficulty finding my footing at a couple of other schools. My brother had attended Brentwood for grades 8, 9, and 12, so I already had some familiarity with the School. What ultimately sealed the decision was how well-rounded the experience was—the combination of academics, athletics, the arts, and community. I was fortunate to have a choice, and I remain grateful that I chose Brentwood.

While at Brentwood, I valued the friendships, the sense of house community, and the teachers and mentors who invested in me. That said, there were times when I probably took the School, the setting, and the opportunities for granted. What I came to understand more fully after leaving was just how rare and formative the overall experience had been. With time and perspective, I could see more clearly the profound influence Brentwood had on me during an important period of my life and how it helped shape the person I am today.

JLQ was an absolute legend. Through his stories, mentorship, discipline, and life experience, he became almost a second father to generations of students. He taught me a great deal about respect, accountability, and how to carry yourself, and I have always credited him as one of the people who had the greatest impact on me.

Clayton Johnson, who at the time was Rogers Housemaster and my Senior Boys Basketball team coach, also had a lasting influence. He gave me a hard time when I needed it, but he was always balanced, fair, and enjoyable to be around. We still keep in touch from time to time, and it has been rewarding to build a relationship that extends beyond our original student-teacher dynamic.

John Allpress stood out for a different reason: he genuinely cared about students as people. He knew our families, remembered names, checked in, and was passionate that Brentwood was preparing not only successful students, but thoughtful human beings ready for the road ahead.

There are several other teachers and mentors I could mention, but for the sake of brevity, I will leave it with those three.

The friendships are what stand out most. I recently spent time with a group of classmates who were visiting Arizona. Some of us had not seen one another in years, yet the connection felt immediate. Living, learning, and growing together during such an influential stage of life creates a bond that time does not easily erase.

I also still feel a surprising amount of house pride. Whenever I see that Whittall has won something in the Brentonian, I cannot help but smile. The house system taught us to compete hard, value winning, and still carry ourselves with sportsmanship and respect. That balance has stayed with me. I remain highly competitive in almost everything I do, but also carry a tremendous amount of respect for those I may be competing with.

Number One inspections are a core memory, and they clearly left their mark. I still blame Brentwood for making me obsessively tidy and organized.

One memory I still enjoy is beating Austin Woodward for the Entrepreneurship 11 award. Austin and I both live in Scottsdale now and keep in close touch. I only include this here because I know he will read it, and I would hate to miss another opportunity to remind him. In his 4.95 years at Brentwood, I know it’s a core memory for him as well.

Respect is probably the most important. Brentwood reinforced the importance of respecting people’s backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and stories, whether they were teachers, classmates, staff, or members of the broader community. It also taught me that respect is not passive. It is reflected in how you show up, how you treat people, and how you carry yourself.

The School also instilled discipline, accountability, and independence. There was a clear rhythm and standard to daily life, from classes and practices to evening prep and house responsibilities. At the same time, we were given the freedom to make choices, learn from mistakes, and begin taking responsibility for ourselves. That balance has stayed with me and continues to shape how I approach leadership, relationships, and the commitments I make.

After Brentwood, I spent three years at the University of British Columbia before transferring to Royal Roads University to study business. I initially wanted to remain close to home because my mother was seriously ill. After she passed away, I completed my degree and eventually moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she had received much of her care at the Mayo Clinic. The quality of that care made a lasting impression on me and contributed to my decision to build a life in the United States.

My early exposure to healthcare and business came through my family. I had the opportunity to work in a family business and begin learning how healthcare organizations operate from the inside. I later broadened that experience in a more institutional setting while pursuing my MBA at Arizona State University in the evenings. I graduated at 25 and continued building my career in healthcare software and services.

Eventually, my brother, Kaleim, Whittall ’99, and I helped lead a company that was sold to private equity in 2014. That experience gave me a strong foundation in business operations, finance, leadership, and the economics of healthcare practices.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID lockdowns, I decided to co-found Imagen Dental Partners, a company that now acquires and operates dental practices across the United States.

Each stage of the journey to date has reinforced my belief that one of the most important traits a person can have is the ability to keep learning. Education does not end with high school or university. It continues through experience, setbacks, deliberate skill development, and the willingness to adapt when circumstances change.

Today, I serve as Co-Founder & CEO of Imagen Dental Partners, which owns over 130 dental practices across 17 states and employs over 2,000 people. My role is ultimately about building the organization, setting direction, developing leaders, and creating the conditions for people and practices to perform at their best.

Most of my days revolve around three things: leading and developing people, shaping and executing strategy, and solving the many challenges that come with a growing company operating across multiple markets.

No two days are exactly alike. On any given day, I may move from a conversation about long-term strategy to helping a leader work through a difficult issue, reviewing business performance, or addressing an unexpected challenge. That variety is demanding, but it is also what makes the role so energizing and rewarding.

I am most motivated by the opportunity to build something meaningful and genuinely unique in our space. That means creating a high-performance organization where talented people can grow, contribute at a high level, and work together toward ambitious goals. In healthcare, the decisions we make affect not only business performance, but also doctors, team members, patients, and the communities we serve.

I am also energized by innovation and solving difficult problems. I enjoy finding new angles, challenging conventional approaches, and creating better ways to operate and drive growth. Building a company requires balancing growth, culture, performance, and the needs of many different stakeholders. The work is rarely simple, but there is enormous satisfaction in seeing something you helped start grow, evolve, and ultimately become far more than you originally imagined.

Outside of work, I value time with family and friends, golf, good food, and good wine. I am particularly fortunate to be involved with the Phoenix Thunderbirds, whose work brings together community, philanthropy, and the WM Phoenix Open. Helping deliver the “Greatest Show on Grass” is a lot of fun, but what makes it especially meaningful is the support the tournament generates for charities across Arizona. Beyond that, I am an avid listener of various podcasts and like to learn from people with different experiences. I still have a lot of family in the Vancouver area, so I try and get up to see them as much as I can.

Professionally, I am excited to continue building and growing my business while also developing as a leader. I want to contribute to organizations and causes that matter to me and create meaningful opportunities for others.

As I get older, I find myself measuring myself by the impact I can have on the development of others, both professionally and personally. And perhaps one day, I will return to Brentwood and make my teaching debut for a year or two ☺. I was able to present at Career Day several years ago and had a great time.

First, almost no one has life completely figured out. Most people (at every age) are still figuring out life and what comes next. So do not put too much pressure on yourself to have the perfect plan. Life rarely goes exactly the way you expect, and some of the most important moments in my life came from setbacks, changes in direction, and opportunities I never saw coming. Enjoy the journey and do not become so focused on the destination that you miss what is happening along the way.

Second, appreciate where you are. It is hard to understand how meaningful an experience is while you are still in it. Brentwood is more than just a school or an education. Lean into the friendships, the community, and the opportunities around you. Have fun, make mistakes, learn from them, and enjoy the experience.

Finally, remember that people genuinely want to help you. Ask questions. Ask for advice. Seek out different perspectives. Be curious and take in as much as you can. You do not have to figure everything out on your own or carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.