The intersection of psychology, leadership, and no-bullshit truth-telling.

Meet the Chief

I’m Jonathan Bonanno — founder, practitioner,  speaker, strategist, and the person leaders call when they’re done pretending everything’s fine.

I didn’t set out to become a consultant.
At 16, I was scrubbing into surgeries, chasing my dream of becoming a plastic surgeon. I worked as a CNA and rotated through hospitals, long-term care facilities, and trauma units. But the human cost of healthcare — the burnout, the silencing, the systemic gaps — hit me early. And hard.

So I pivoted. Not away from healthcare, but deeper into it — through the people who hold it up: the teams.

From Hospitals to Boardrooms:
I cut my teeth inside some of the largest healthcare corporations in North America — leading people operations, cultural transformations, and major initiatives like REMS programs for post-transplant patients and schizophrenia care. Those years showed me what works, what breaks, and what gets swept under the rug.

Then came dentistry.
As Chief Operating Officer at Performance Partners, I helped transform a scrappy consulting firm into a full-fledged Dental Service Organization (DSO). I co-founded Dental Virtual Support Solutions (DVSS), led emergency response efforts like US Dental Triage during the pandemic, and facilitated multimillion-dollar practice sales with heart and operational precision.

But Titles Don’t Tell the Whole Story:
I’ve built a career on one radical belief: Psychological safety isn’t optional — it’s the lever that moves everything.

Through ZIA, my people-first integration firm, and Chief Psycho, my consulting and coaching brand, I now help dental and healthcare teams get honest, get healthy, and get aligned.

We use tools rooted in psychodynamic psychology, I/O science, and real-world operations — no gimmicks, no guru nonsense. Just the hard, human work of healing systems through the people who power them.

Credentials, If You Care About That Kind of Thing:
- Ph.D. (cand.) in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- M.S. in Business Management
- B.S. in Business Administration
- Certified in talent optimization, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and social-behavioral research
- Denobi Award winner
- Host of The Chief Psycho Podcast
- Co-host of The Psycho x Incito Xperience (coaching cohort + retreat for servant leaders)

Why I Really Do This:
Because too many leaders suffer in silence.
Because teams break when trust breaks.
Because your story deserves to be heard — without judgment, without shame, and without having to tone it down.

If you’ve ever been told you’re too much, too intense, or too emotional — welcome home.

Portfolio

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ZIA

Talent in Motion • Talent Optimization Consulting

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The Chief Psycho Podcast

The Human Element of Entrepreneurship

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The Psycho x Incito Xperience

Serving the Servant Workshop & Retreat

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Shave Ice

Sun-Kissed

Hawaiian Shaved Ice & Unique Raspado Creations

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Press & Media

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Safe Spaces, Strong Teams: Building a High-Performing Dental Team

The Raving Patients Podcast with Dr. Len Tau

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Transform Your Comfort Zone Into a Growth Zone

Outlier's Edge Podcast with Niiamah Ashong

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Combatting Imposter Syndrome

The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast with Dr. Eric Block

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Transform Your Practice with Trust & Empathy

Wisdom Billing with Ashley Bond

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How Talent by ZIA Transforms Dental Practices

Dental Office Managers Community with Kyle Summerford

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The Importance of Psychological Safety in the Workplace

InsideDentistry: August 2024 | Volume 20, Issue 8

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Top Podcast for Mental Health & Leadership

DentistryIQ: Top podcasts every dental office manager should be listening to

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From Hire to Higher Performance: Mastering Talent Acquisition and Optimization

DEO Magazine: July/August 2024 Edition

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Creating Psychological Safety In The Dental Team

Beyond the Prophy with Jasmin Haley

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Aligning Your Talent Strategy To Your Dental Business Strategy

Hosted by Dental Entrepreneur Organization (DEO) in collaboration with ZIA

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Transforming Dental Recruitment

The Tooth Sleuth Podcast with Greg Essenmacher

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Thriving Dental Teams: Banish Fear & Build Trust

The Mint Door Podcast with Dr. Karen Tindall & Dr. Laura Schwindt

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DEI in Hiring

Practice Care Podcast with Carl White

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The 2024 Denobi Awards

Recognized for Change and Innovation in Dentistry

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I Want to Have Fun Without Drinking Too Much

Morning Smiles by Sober Life Rocks with Margy Schaller

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Using Psychology to Attract and Retain Top Talent

Dentistry Speaks with Kevin Henry

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Safe Space in the Workplace

Better, Richer, Stronger with Dr. Alan Stern

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The Foundations of Great Culture

The Health and Wellth Podcast with Dr. Vince Buscemi

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How to Lead and Be the Change

The Dental Handoff with Dr. Kelly Tanner

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Outstanding Leadership

Recognized for Outstanding Organizational Leadership by Health 2.0 - 2022 Winter Edition

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Importance of Talent Attraction, Acquisition, & Retention

The Clear Perspective Podcast with Allison Lacoursiere

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