Delta Leadership Networking: Get to Know Amy Bonner
For attendees of Delta Leadership Networking to get to better know speakers in advance of events, I created my own "Colbert-style" questionnaire.
Amy, a Tsawwassen resident, is an inspiring human fulfilling multiple leadership roles: Director of Finance at TELUS, founder of UNION Swimwear, Director of Reach Child & Youth Development Foundation, Director & Treasurer for the Canadian Association for Williams Syndrome, and mother to 2 amazing daughters.
Amy organized Delta's first Happiest Walk in Canada and is the author of Life with Williams Syndrome bringing both much needed awareness and funds to her daughter, Olivia's rare genetic condition.
Amy's leadership conversation at Delta Leadership Networking will focus on:
- the impact of "bright lines" on performance & leadership
- adopting a "how can I help you succeed?" mindset
- how to apply leadership learnings from one role to another
Delta Leadership Networking Questionnaire:
Q1: What attracted you to live / work in Delta?
AB - I grew up in Ladner - attended DSS. I moved downtown Vancouver in 2007, did a 2.5 year work term in Melbourne Australia from 2010 - 2013 - came back to Vancouver (Yaletown) until 2016. I had gone up to Squamish to visit a girlfriend who worked remote for TELUS there, randomly went to an open house and put in an offer. Quit my job at lululemon and moved up to Squamish in 2016. I met my partner in 2017 and he owned a stand alone house in Tsawwassen - so I decided to move back when we started dating. Fun fact - we tore that house down (coined the ugliest house in tsawwassen), built our dream home - which is where we live today.
Q2: Where in Delta do you most love being in nature?
AB - I'd have to say the beach. My sister lives on the beach and I love to take my girls there to play in the sand. I work from there every couple weeks and always manage to get a 5km run and / or walk on the dyke.
Q3: Favourite animal that lives in Delta?
AB -The donkeys at Emma Lea farms.
Q4: What is the most under appreciated thing about Delta?
AB - I loved growing up in ladner because it was flat. My friends and I would ride our bikes everywhere, it was so great not to have to battle it out on the hills. It was such a great place to learn how to ride a bike.
When I turned 16 - my sister and I bought these motorized scooters and a few other friends bought some too - we had a "scooter gang" where we would rip around the streets at night.
Q5: Why do you do what you do?
AB - TELUS - I love working for a big company with a large social purpose. I'm on the emergency response team (from finance) and it's so incredible seeing the real tangible impact that TELUS can make in communities that are devastated by natural disasters like wildfires and floods. This summer we were getting creative on how to best serve those in Jasper - one thing we did was providing emergency comfort packs to the people in the displacement areas and also deploying our vehicles to pick people up and drive them into the area (when safe) to get some of their belongings.
I also like working from home - it suits my lifestyle and current family demands.
Williams Syndrome Community - I was so lost in the early days of our diagnosis, I want to make sure others don't feel as alone and scared as I did.
Q6: What do you know for sure?
AB - I love this question. These are all quotes on my desktop that I look at every day:
- How you do one thing is how you do everything.
- Don't wish it were easier - wish you were better.
- Winnie the pooh: "You are braver than you believe. You are smarter than you seem. and stronger than you think. And loved more than you know. Don't be afraid to be amazing."
- If you want to change anything about your life, just do the things you don’t feel like doing. It really does boil down to that. You’re never going to feel like doing the things you need to do, to have what you want.
Q7: What's worth doing even if you fail?
AB - Everything.
Q9: Where do you see the greatest opportunity over the next year?
AB - My greatest opportunity will be to initiate or insert myself as a change agent to solve the assisted living challenge.
Q10: What do you do to continually grow and develop as a leader?
AB - Podcasts, books, e-learns, network, mentorship relationship.
I make little agreements with myself that are non-negotiable (out of bed 10 mins or less, don't even have one bite of the kids leftovers, no cereal, no eating after 7pm, love a fitness challenge)
Q11: In the movie of your life, what song plays during the closing credits?
AB - Float On by Modest Mouse
Q12: Why did you say "yes" to speaking at Delta Leadership Networking?
AB - I will never say no to Graham Snowfield. From the very beginning he has showed up with kindness, compassion, and friendship.
To be updated on future Delta Leadership Networking events click here.
