Thriving at the Top: Dione Song of Love, Bonito on shaping workplace culture, how she disconnects from work and her book recommendations for leaders

As a CEO, I see myself as an architect and orchestrator. I focus on global strategy and company performance, ensuring that we attract good talent that fits our culture, as well as building resilient structures and processes. Success to me is when I am able to build an organisation that can exist beyond me, and business will continue to thrive even if and when I am not around. 

With a strong underlying foundation and the right hires in place, I then learned to fully trust my team leads, and give them the autonomy and space to flourish. Where I come in is creating a safe and open culture for employees to share candid feedback with me on their challenges and gaps. 

Creating magic at Love, Bonito is always a team effort and having a strong team definitely eases the burnout. 

Is work-life balance achievable for CEOs and other top level leaders? How do you make time for friends and family / hobbies / self-care?

That’s a great question! I believe in work-life integration instead of work-life balance. At the end of the day, the workplace is where we spend 70 percent of our time, and it’s important that we understand our why and have a strong sense of purpose at work.

I also strongly believe that the workplace is somewhere you can bring your true self and personality to work, and also build meaningful relationships with your teams beyond just being colleagues. 

That said, I do have certain quirks, such as preferring to leave office before the sun sets as it makes me feel sad when the sky is already dark. I compromise by waking up early and starting before everyone else does. 

I also have a structured calendar, with Monday blockout days for deep work, Tuesdays to Thursdays for one-to-ones with team leads, all-hands sessions, or networking nights, and no calls after 3pm on Fridays. Saturdays are also sacred days where I typically abstain from work. 

Many CEOs feel the pressure to be constantly available and connected. How do you set boundaries? What routines or habits do you do that help you disconnect from work?

Specifically for email and Slack, you might be surprised but I actually don't enable push notifications to my mobile at all. I only see texts when I open my app. I prefer this as it also reduces the urge to check my phone constantly. On a daily basis, I also have a no-phones-at-dinner rule. 

Beyond that, I set non-negotiable blocks for self-care and take the time to go for morning walks and gym sessions. I decompress by watching reality shows on Netflix, spending quality time with my family, and going for longer holidays twice a year. 

Continuous learning and personal growth are vital for sustainable leadership. What are some ways you invest in your own development amidst your busy schedule?

I read and listen often. The latest book that I’m loving is The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp. 

I also set aside time to network with various subject matter experts, founders, CEOs, and have one-on-one personal coaching. 

Are there any resources that have been helpful to you in your role as a CEO, e.g. books, podcasts, etc, that you would recommend?
Yes, many! Some great go-to books include:

• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman 
• No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings, Erin Meyer 
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don’t by Jim Collins 
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz 
• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek 

For podcasts:

• The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett 

Additionally, one of my favourite non-business-related reads is The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. 

What advice, key practices or principles would you share to ensure CEOs lead in a sustainable manner?

It's ultimately more about keeping a positive and healthy mindset in this role as it can get tough and lonely. To lead sustainably means to be able to do it healthily and from a place of full consciousness, clarity and love. 

Be honest with yourself, be clear about your non-negotiables, what gives you joy, and shape your time this way. 

Be authentic and lead in a way that is congruent to your true self. Oftentimes, we feel the need to be someone we are not and we don't have to. 

I also live by the “half cup full” mentality, being agile and iterating with the flow. 

Lastly, learn to be okay seeking help when you need to—it can be a listening ear, a coach, etc. [someone] that you can share your struggles with.

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