No fluff. Just data, depth, and psychodynamic leadership.

Where Psychology Meets Performance

Trusted by leaders in dentistry, healthcare, and high-performing teams nationwide.
I help bold leaders and ambitious teams build trust, lead with intention, and unlock what's possible — all by getting real with the human side of work.

I'm Jonathan Bonanno - the mind behind Chief Psycho.

Consultant. KOL. Psychodynamic Practitioner.

I’m the person leaders call when everything looks perfect on paper but feels like it’s falling apart behind the scenes.

For over a decade, I’ve worked at the intersection of business psychology, organizational development, and deep human transformation. Whether in dental groups, high-growth startups, or healthcare systems, I help teams and individuals reconnect with what’s real — so they can rise beyond what’s broken.

I’ve built, scaled, sold, and resurrected businesses. I’ve led rooms full of burned-out founders, overachieving executives, and high-functioning misfits. And I’ve done it all while practicing what I teach: showing up as my whole self and doing the uncomfortable, inner work — first.

Let's Get in the Lab

Inside the Lab

I work with leaders, visionaries, and teams who feel the tension between ambition and authenticity. If you’ve ever been called “too much,” “too emotional,” or “too intense” — you’re my kind of human.

As a trusted expert in organizational development and industrial-organizational psychology, I specialize in building cohesive, high-performing teams from the inside out. Headquartered in California, I work nationwide — using my signature LAB Methodology™ to transform businesses from reactive to regenerative.

I don’t sell shortcuts.
I create spaces where your story can breathe, your truth can rise, and your next chapter can begin — for you, your team, and the future you’re building.

Whether you’re a founder who’s burned out from holding it all together…
A team leader struggling with silent tension behind the smiles…
Or a practice owner ready to stop fixing symptoms and start healing systems…

This is your lab. This is your work. Let’s go there.

Acting as your strategic advisor — and your secret weapon — I’ll help you create a culture that’s not only safe, but sacred. One where your people thrive, not just survive.

Start Your Lab Session

The work behind the movement

Professional Highlights

Founder & CEO of ZIA

A people-first integration firm transforming dental practices through strategic hiring, virtual talent, and culture alignment.

Learn more

Person dressed in black holding a microphone while seated against a patterned backdrop and neon sign.

Host of The Chief Psycho Podcast

Unfiltered conversations with bold leaders and the voices you don’t hear enough of.

Stream now

Co-Host of The Psycho x Incito Xperience

A first-of-its-kind immersive coaching cohort and retreat series for those who serve others relentlessly.

Learn more

Award-Winning Consultant & Legacy Builder

Recognized for redefining leadership in dentistry through psychological safety and cultural integrity.

Watch now

Certified Practitioner of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy & I/O Psychology

Combining introspection with behavioral science to build healthier, high-performing humans.

Book me

Ready to get real?

I don’t do transactional. I do transformational.
If you’re looking for a quick fix or a templated solution, I’m not your guy.

But if you're:

A founder holding it all together on the outside
A team leader ready to go deeper than another “strategy session”
Or someone who knows something inside you — or your org — is shifting...

Let’s talk. Let’s go there.

Testimonials

Slide 1 of 15

Jonathan, your presence with us last night was truly exceptional. Your message landed with depth, clarity, and immediate relevance — so many takeaways paired with thoughtful implementation guidance. I’m incredibly grateful for Sean introducing us. And this says it all — a note from one of our members who joined via Zoom: “Thank you for always including me! Tonight’s session was exactly what I needed. I left work having just witnessed two of my team members finally open up about long-standing frustrations they’ve been holding back. Your message helped me realize how vital it is to create space for those conversations."

Ashley C.

Jonathan is remarkable in his delivery, approach, and attention to both the big picture and the details! Highly recommend.

Sarah C.

I can't thank you enough for the help and guidance you give me. You have made such a significant impact in my world.

Glenda A.

Thanks for the training! My team and I are excited to take the ideas you shared with us and incorporate them into our regular meetings.

Dr. Ryan

Jonathan worked with my company and I would highly advise him to work with yours too. He had a chance to work closely with my VP of operations and helped her to work closely with her entire team and had nothing but great things to say. Also an awesome podcast host!

Elijah D.

The team at Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura] is experienced, and insightful, and they really care. I highly recommend working with them!

Dr. AJ

Jonathan helped us lead a complete transformation of our team that I did not think was possible! I truly do not know where we'd be without him. We are a cohesive team with purpose and positive forward motion thanks to the lessons learned from him! I just cannot thank you enough for your wisdom and guidance, thank you so much, Jonathan! 20/10 recommend!

Erin S.

Jonathan operates by his commitment to leaving people better than he found them! You are too good at your trait!

Ashley A.H.

Loved my experience working with Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]! Jonathan - thank you for your linguistic jujitsu on my team's brain! 👊🏼🙌🏼

Dr. Sean

Jonathan has a true entrepreneurial spirit and has a lot of knowledge of different businesses. He was able to assist our team in figuring out our next steps and helped us take action in areas that needed work. He truly cares about all of his clients and I highly recommend him!

Islam S.

I was very pleased to come across Jonathan and his company Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]. As the office manager of a growing dental practice, I am always looking to partner with others that can assist us in developing our office’s culture. Jonathan brought his enthusiasm, leadership skills, and coaching expertise during our weekly calls. He even came out to our office and did a staff-building exercise with our team. Even with over 20 years of experience in the field myself, I can’t say enough how helpful Jonathan’s coaching was!

Diane T.

Jonathan is talented! I appreciate the value and great energy he brought. I'm so thankful for his insight and the team loved the process! Jonathan was able to tap into deep rooted disconnects with the team. He has ways of getting honest feedback. Slowing us down and getting us to articulate the issue while staying focused on mending the connection. It's worthwhile to connect with your team at this level and really understand how they are perceiving the information presented. We did a bunch of personality tests. Individual and team tests. The results helped us communicate and understand each other better. That understanding makes for a more meaningful and impactful work environment. I'm forever grateful!

Michelle B.

I had the pleasure of working for Jonathan to develop the Operations, Implementation, and Human Resource arms of a startup organization for 2020. I can say without a doubt that he is one of my favorite leaders that I have had the opportunity to work with within my career. Jonathan's focus is on setting up systems and processes after gathering data and what is rare is he is masterful at including the care and feeding of the culture at the same time. He never dropped his focus on team members' empowerment and their experience of being heard and supported as we worked through the fast paces and chaos of a startup company during a pandemic. Jonathan's thoughtful approach to operations allowed the space for creative solutions that enabled the company to grow exponentially in a very quick time frame. I look at the quality of a leader by answering one question - would I be willing to work with them again - in the case of Jonathan Bonanno, the answer is an unequivocal and resounding YES!

Amayea M.

Jonathan is extremely intelligent and organized. There has never been a time that I asked for something to be done, that was not taken care of in an expedient and accurate manner. He created systems for the continuous training of team members. Jonathan handled all business, operation, and HR issues - all while providing concierge service. Jonathan dealt with Vendors and coordinated all our team meetings. Jonathan is capable of multitasking on a high level. He worked and completed his master’s degree while supporting my practice, plus he is co-owner of several businesses, and now he is working on his Ph.D.! Jonathan will excel at any position he would like to.

Dr. Carol

I have been in dentistry for over 20 years and as a hygienist since 2001, working in large corporate offices to small, million-dollar, cosmetic offices. Jonathan Bonanno by far was the best, most helpful, and most innovative leader I’ve ever worked with. He not only handled managing the office well, but motivated, led, and encouraged us all as a team to get to the next level. He had fresh ideas, listened, multi-tasked like no other, and always followed through in a timely matter with answers to questions and implementing changes needed. Jonathan’s experiences with processes, IT skills, directing operations, management skills, system checks and balances, customer service, and intellectual thinking that he brought to our office were like no other! It was not only a pleasure but a great opportunity to work with him. I not only highly recommend him but encourage anyone to take the opportunity to work with him to raise their company’s value!

Gina R.

Jonathan, your presence with us last night was truly exceptional. Your message landed with depth, clarity, and immediate relevance — so many takeaways paired with thoughtful implementation guidance. I’m incredibly grateful for Sean introducing us. And this says it all — a note from one of our members who joined via Zoom: “Thank you for always including me! Tonight’s session was exactly what I needed. I left work having just witnessed two of my team members finally open up about long-standing frustrations they’ve been holding back. Your message helped me realize how vital it is to create space for those conversations."

Ashley C.

Jonathan is remarkable in his delivery, approach, and attention to both the big picture and the details! Highly recommend.

Sarah C.

I can't thank you enough for the help and guidance you give me. You have made such a significant impact in my world.

Glenda A.

Thanks for the training! My team and I are excited to take the ideas you shared with us and incorporate them into our regular meetings.

Dr. Ryan

Jonathan worked with my company and I would highly advise him to work with yours too. He had a chance to work closely with my VP of operations and helped her to work closely with her entire team and had nothing but great things to say. Also an awesome podcast host!

Elijah D.

The team at Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura] is experienced, and insightful, and they really care. I highly recommend working with them!

Dr. AJ

Jonathan helped us lead a complete transformation of our team that I did not think was possible! I truly do not know where we'd be without him. We are a cohesive team with purpose and positive forward motion thanks to the lessons learned from him! I just cannot thank you enough for your wisdom and guidance, thank you so much, Jonathan! 20/10 recommend!

Erin S.

Jonathan operates by his commitment to leaving people better than he found them! You are too good at your trait!

Ashley A.H.

Loved my experience working with Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]! Jonathan - thank you for your linguistic jujitsu on my team's brain! 👊🏼🙌🏼

Dr. Sean

Jonathan has a true entrepreneurial spirit and has a lot of knowledge of different businesses. He was able to assist our team in figuring out our next steps and helped us take action in areas that needed work. He truly cares about all of his clients and I highly recommend him!

Islam S.

I was very pleased to come across Jonathan and his company Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]. As the office manager of a growing dental practice, I am always looking to partner with others that can assist us in developing our office’s culture. Jonathan brought his enthusiasm, leadership skills, and coaching expertise during our weekly calls. He even came out to our office and did a staff-building exercise with our team. Even with over 20 years of experience in the field myself, I can’t say enough how helpful Jonathan’s coaching was!

Diane T.

Jonathan is talented! I appreciate the value and great energy he brought. I'm so thankful for his insight and the team loved the process! Jonathan was able to tap into deep rooted disconnects with the team. He has ways of getting honest feedback. Slowing us down and getting us to articulate the issue while staying focused on mending the connection. It's worthwhile to connect with your team at this level and really understand how they are perceiving the information presented. We did a bunch of personality tests. Individual and team tests. The results helped us communicate and understand each other better. That understanding makes for a more meaningful and impactful work environment. I'm forever grateful!

Michelle B.

I had the pleasure of working for Jonathan to develop the Operations, Implementation, and Human Resource arms of a startup organization for 2020. I can say without a doubt that he is one of my favorite leaders that I have had the opportunity to work with within my career. Jonathan's focus is on setting up systems and processes after gathering data and what is rare is he is masterful at including the care and feeding of the culture at the same time. He never dropped his focus on team members' empowerment and their experience of being heard and supported as we worked through the fast paces and chaos of a startup company during a pandemic. Jonathan's thoughtful approach to operations allowed the space for creative solutions that enabled the company to grow exponentially in a very quick time frame. I look at the quality of a leader by answering one question - would I be willing to work with them again - in the case of Jonathan Bonanno, the answer is an unequivocal and resounding YES!

Amayea M.

Jonathan is extremely intelligent and organized. There has never been a time that I asked for something to be done, that was not taken care of in an expedient and accurate manner. He created systems for the continuous training of team members. Jonathan handled all business, operation, and HR issues - all while providing concierge service. Jonathan dealt with Vendors and coordinated all our team meetings. Jonathan is capable of multitasking on a high level. He worked and completed his master’s degree while supporting my practice, plus he is co-owner of several businesses, and now he is working on his Ph.D.! Jonathan will excel at any position he would like to.

Dr. Carol

I have been in dentistry for over 20 years and as a hygienist since 2001, working in large corporate offices to small, million-dollar, cosmetic offices. Jonathan Bonanno by far was the best, most helpful, and most innovative leader I’ve ever worked with. He not only handled managing the office well, but motivated, led, and encouraged us all as a team to get to the next level. He had fresh ideas, listened, multi-tasked like no other, and always followed through in a timely matter with answers to questions and implementing changes needed. Jonathan’s experiences with processes, IT skills, directing operations, management skills, system checks and balances, customer service, and intellectual thinking that he brought to our office were like no other! It was not only a pleasure but a great opportunity to work with him. I not only highly recommend him but encourage anyone to take the opportunity to work with him to raise their company’s value!

Gina R.

Jonathan, your presence with us last night was truly exceptional. Your message landed with depth, clarity, and immediate relevance — so many takeaways paired with thoughtful implementation guidance. I’m incredibly grateful for Sean introducing us. And this says it all — a note from one of our members who joined via Zoom: “Thank you for always including me! Tonight’s session was exactly what I needed. I left work having just witnessed two of my team members finally open up about long-standing frustrations they’ve been holding back. Your message helped me realize how vital it is to create space for those conversations."

Ashley C.

Jonathan is remarkable in his delivery, approach, and attention to both the big picture and the details! Highly recommend.

Sarah C.

I can't thank you enough for the help and guidance you give me. You have made such a significant impact in my world.

Glenda A.

Thanks for the training! My team and I are excited to take the ideas you shared with us and incorporate them into our regular meetings.

Dr. Ryan

Jonathan worked with my company and I would highly advise him to work with yours too. He had a chance to work closely with my VP of operations and helped her to work closely with her entire team and had nothing but great things to say. Also an awesome podcast host!

Elijah D.

The team at Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura] is experienced, and insightful, and they really care. I highly recommend working with them!

Dr. AJ

Jonathan helped us lead a complete transformation of our team that I did not think was possible! I truly do not know where we'd be without him. We are a cohesive team with purpose and positive forward motion thanks to the lessons learned from him! I just cannot thank you enough for your wisdom and guidance, thank you so much, Jonathan! 20/10 recommend!

Erin S.

Jonathan operates by his commitment to leaving people better than he found them! You are too good at your trait!

Ashley A.H.

Loved my experience working with Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]! Jonathan - thank you for your linguistic jujitsu on my team's brain! 👊🏼🙌🏼

Dr. Sean

Jonathan has a true entrepreneurial spirit and has a lot of knowledge of different businesses. He was able to assist our team in figuring out our next steps and helped us take action in areas that needed work. He truly cares about all of his clients and I highly recommend him!

Islam S.

I was very pleased to come across Jonathan and his company Chief Psycho [formerly Cultura]. As the office manager of a growing dental practice, I am always looking to partner with others that can assist us in developing our office’s culture. Jonathan brought his enthusiasm, leadership skills, and coaching expertise during our weekly calls. He even came out to our office and did a staff-building exercise with our team. Even with over 20 years of experience in the field myself, I can’t say enough how helpful Jonathan’s coaching was!

Diane T.

Jonathan is talented! I appreciate the value and great energy he brought. I'm so thankful for his insight and the team loved the process! Jonathan was able to tap into deep rooted disconnects with the team. He has ways of getting honest feedback. Slowing us down and getting us to articulate the issue while staying focused on mending the connection. It's worthwhile to connect with your team at this level and really understand how they are perceiving the information presented. We did a bunch of personality tests. Individual and team tests. The results helped us communicate and understand each other better. That understanding makes for a more meaningful and impactful work environment. I'm forever grateful!

Michelle B.

I had the pleasure of working for Jonathan to develop the Operations, Implementation, and Human Resource arms of a startup organization for 2020. I can say without a doubt that he is one of my favorite leaders that I have had the opportunity to work with within my career. Jonathan's focus is on setting up systems and processes after gathering data and what is rare is he is masterful at including the care and feeding of the culture at the same time. He never dropped his focus on team members' empowerment and their experience of being heard and supported as we worked through the fast paces and chaos of a startup company during a pandemic. Jonathan's thoughtful approach to operations allowed the space for creative solutions that enabled the company to grow exponentially in a very quick time frame. I look at the quality of a leader by answering one question - would I be willing to work with them again - in the case of Jonathan Bonanno, the answer is an unequivocal and resounding YES!

Amayea M.

Jonathan is extremely intelligent and organized. There has never been a time that I asked for something to be done, that was not taken care of in an expedient and accurate manner. He created systems for the continuous training of team members. Jonathan handled all business, operation, and HR issues - all while providing concierge service. Jonathan dealt with Vendors and coordinated all our team meetings. Jonathan is capable of multitasking on a high level. He worked and completed his master’s degree while supporting my practice, plus he is co-owner of several businesses, and now he is working on his Ph.D.! Jonathan will excel at any position he would like to.

Dr. Carol

I have been in dentistry for over 20 years and as a hygienist since 2001, working in large corporate offices to small, million-dollar, cosmetic offices. Jonathan Bonanno by far was the best, most helpful, and most innovative leader I’ve ever worked with. He not only handled managing the office well, but motivated, led, and encouraged us all as a team to get to the next level. He had fresh ideas, listened, multi-tasked like no other, and always followed through in a timely matter with answers to questions and implementing changes needed. Jonathan’s experiences with processes, IT skills, directing operations, management skills, system checks and balances, customer service, and intellectual thinking that he brought to our office were like no other! It was not only a pleasure but a great opportunity to work with him. I not only highly recommend him but encourage anyone to take the opportunity to work with him to raise their company’s value!

Gina R.

Keep up with Chief Psycho

Your boss doesn’t remember 1/2 of what you did…

Did you know a manager’s memory accuracy drops to 23% after just 6 months?

Here’s what that means for your career:
📉 That Q3 project you crushed? Forgotten.
💸 That raise you earned? Overshadowed by last week’s minor mistake.
🚫 That leadership potential? Lost in a fog of recency bias and stress.

And here’s the double-bind: high stress doesn’t just impact your focus—it also messes with your boss’s memory of your performance.

So no, you’re not imagining it. The system really is stacked.
The fix?
✅ Document your wins
✅ Create visibility
✅ Build proof of your impact

Because your career isn’t judged by your performance it’s judged by what they remember.

#RealityCheck #CareerStrategy #CognitiveBias #ChiefPsycho

July reflections: What happens when you combine 120 miles of running with reading 47 peer-reviewed studies on workplace psychology?

Three insights that changed how I think about leadership:
1️⃣ Physical training IS mental training. Acute aerobic exercise offers general benefits to cognitive performance irrespective of executive function demands. Every mile I run makes me a better decision-maker
2️⃣ Vulnerability is data, not weakness. The leaders who hide their struggles create psychologically unsafe cultures. The leaders who share them create trust
3️⃣ Your emotional state affects your team’s biology. Annual healthcare spending on workplace burnout is anywhere from $125 billion to $190 billion. Leadership isn’t just about strategy - it’s about nervous system regulation

This month I’ve shared the science behind what most people call “soft skills,” but there’s nothing soft about neuroscience, cortisol levels, and cognitive load.

The future of leadership is psychological literacy. The leaders who understand human biology will outperform those who only understand business strategy.

Thanks for following along on this experiment. More research, more miles, more radical honesty coming in August.

#LeadershipReflection #PsychologyAndBusiness #MonthlyWrapup #ChiefPsycho

Did you know that micromanagement triggers the same neural pathways as physical threats?

When someone constantly questions your decisions and monitors your every move, your autonomic nervous system can’t distinguish between that and actual danger.

Workplace stress has been reported to cause 120,000 deaths in the US each year, and micromanagement is a leading contributor.

The physiological result:
🔺 Elevated cortisol levels
🔺 Impaired cognitive function
🔺 Decreased creativity and problem-solving
🔺 Chronic activation of the fight-or-flight response

Your team’s poor performance under micromanagement isn’t about attitude. It’s about biology.

When you micromanage, you’re literally triggering a threat response that makes everyone perform worse.

#MindScience #Micromanagement #StressResponse

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