Hi, I am

Tonja Sasser-Bonds

In 2020, as an executive HR leader, the devastating Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement had a significant effect on my mental health, physical well-being and social engagement that completely redirected the trajectory of my future. The growing demands of an unprecedented time and changing workforce began to hinder my mental health. Feeling trapped in a vicious cycle of being overworked, anxious, and stressed…burnout was inevitable.  It reflected in my work, attitude, marriage and overall family life. I felt helpless, but knew I was not alone. To my knowledge, there was no roadmap available to help navigate these emotions and make meaningful steps to improve my health and regain quality of life. Too afraid to say anything for fear of judgement, I lived with critical burnout in silence for 3 years. Truth be told, I didn’t even recognize myself.

So in 2023, when my corporate role was eliminated, it was bitter sweet. Over time, I began to accept this defining moment as a precious gift from the universe. I knew my calling was to inspire real change for leadership culture all over the world. Embracing my entrepreneurial spirit, I founded Culture Bonds, LLC consulting small to medium sized organizations to build healthy team cultures that can scale and thrive.

Foundationally, I believe that extraordinary leaders are fostered and grown from within the organization. In her experience, great leaders can become ineffective in a toxic work culture and bad leaders are tolerated at a cost. Therefore, turnover, burnout and performance challenges are the symptoms to a deeper-rooted disorder of an unstable culture.  

In addition to consulting, my personal mission as a speaker and coach is to partner with female leaders break through burnout and help her regain personal power by designing a life strategy balanced on well-being, living with purpose, and leaving an extraordinary leadership legacy that reflects her best self.