"I think it begins with the individual. We all have a responsibility to live authentically and with dignity"
Bonita Eby Tweet
Bonita Eby is a Burnout Prevention Strategist and owner of Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development Inc. She specializes in burnout prevention and wellness for organizations and individuals at the intersection of health and leadership development. Bonita is on a mission to end burnout.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for agreeing to do this interview with us. Our readers would like to know more about you. Why did you choose this career?
Bonita Eby: I began my career in healthcare, working with survivors of traumatic car accidents. After a decade, I shifted into a leadership role at a non-profit developing leaders, training teams, responding to crisis situations, and coaching people through complex challenges.
During that time, I experienced burnout. It took many years for burnout to become overwhelming. I’m a fighter and just kept getting up when things got tough. Unfortunately, this took place at a time when people didn’t speak about burnout openly, so I wasn’t aware of what was happening until it was too late.
I spent years researching burnout and combined that knowledge with my healthcare and leadership background to become a Burnout Prevention Strategist. I support organizations to turn their workplace culture around from one that unintentionally creates employee burnout to one that fosters wellness and innovation.
The company I founded, Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development Inc., is the first burnout prevention company at the intersection of health and leadership development. We’re on a mission to end burnout.
Can you share a story that happened to you since you became the leader of your company?
Bonita Eby: One of the great joys of working in my role is meeting incredible people. For example, after presenting the keynote address on fostering mental health within the organization, a woman shared it was by far the most helpful mental health workshop she’d ever attended. When my job is to open the conversation on really difficult subjects, feedback like this makes it worth every moment.
Please share with us an outstanding woman that you have never met, who inspires you? Tell us how she inspired you?
Bonita Eby: One of the women who inspires me is Arianna Huffington. She began speaking about her battle with burnout and made her story public. As the co-founder of The Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global, she has taken her experience and used it to make the world a better place.
People who have helped us achieve success are very important to us. We should be grateful for everything they do for us. Can you share a story about how someone who PERSONALLY helped you succeed?
Bonita Eby: About twenty years ago, I approached a woman I admired and asked her to mentor me. At the time, she was the CEO of a very successful company in the Greater Toronto Area and was known as the best in her field. It took a lot of courage to ask someone of such status and mastery to be my mentor, but she immediately accepted.
We met regularly for about two years, and she taught me many valuable leadership lessons. But, even more than her achievement, she inspired me with her honesty and humble nature. She asked challenging questions and helped me become the woman I am today.
Women are more prominent in business than ever, however, there is plenty room for improvement. What can people do on their own, what can society do, and what can the government do? What are your suggestions?
Bonita Eby: I think it begins with the individual. We all have a responsibility to live authentically and with dignity. When we learn to love those around us and treat everyone respectfully, we become leaders who make positive change. The ripple effect is more extensive than we can immediately comprehend.
On a societal level, we can choose to become involved in our communities locally, nationally and globally. We can make meaningful change by engaging in causes that make a difference, whether at the board level or serving alongside other like-minded people.
There are many reasons why more women should become CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and founders. Some of these reasons may be obvious to you, but I think it is helpful to list them out. So, can you share a few reasons why more women should become business leaders?
Bonita Eby: I think many women are afraid to take the leap into business for myriad reasons. However, when women dig deep and recognize they have a wealth of knowledge to share and learn the skills for passing that knowledge on, there can be a transformative shift in society.
What are some things people think about being a business leader that isn’t true? Can you give examples?
Bonita Eby: One of the misconceptions about being a successful business leader is that things will take off right away. Building a business takes time, hard work and perseverance. We can believe from social media that people begin businesses and become radically successful overnight. Much of the time, those posts are simply a marketing strategy, not a reflection of reality.
In your opinion, what type of person is likely to be successful as a business leader? What are the specific traits that increase the chance of success? And do you think everyone is cut out to be a business leader? Can you explain what you mean?
Bonita Eby: The type of person who is likely to be a successful business leader has the discipline for self-leadership. Only when someone develops the character to live passionately and authentically can they lead others. The world is full of people who toot their own horn, but intelligent people see right through that.
What are some things you wish someone had told you before you started your business? Why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Bonita Eby: I wish I’d known just how many hats a successful business owner needs to wear on a regular basis. In today’s competitive climate, an entrepreneur needs to have expertise in their field, of course, but they must also become proficient in marketing, sales, strategic planning, communication, and analytics.
- A word of advice for someone starting a new business:
- Invest in quality apps to automate as much of your business as possible.
- Surround yourself with fantastic mentors.
- Plan for expansion right from the beginning.
What do you plan on tackling during the year 2022? Share your goals and battles you expect to face.
Bonita Eby: As a company, we’ve expanded our services across Canada and the United States. The growth is exciting and comes with challenges as we continue to offer customized services to help organizations implement strategies to prevent employee burnout.
Thank you so much for your time but before we finish things off, I do have one more question for you. What was the last book you read that had a great impact on you, please tell us how?
Bonita Eby: I recently read Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss. The author shares insights from some of the world’s most successful business leaders. Although it’s not new, the principles are timeless.
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Bonita Eby for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Bonita Eby or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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