With the fundamental belief that strong storytellers are inherently good leaders, Dia Bondi helps her clients fearlessly raise their voices by cultivating their strengths and weaknesses. When she’s not working with her coaching clients, Dia works as a professional auctioneer with a mission to give women-led nonprofits the right amount of funds to match their bold missions.

An expert at confronting the barrage of emotions that come with public speaking, we sat down with Dia to ask her five questions about her creative process and the lessons she’s learned over the years.

Watch Dia in action on stage at Mozilla’s Annual Summit in 2013:

What is your relationship to the creative process?

My relationship with the creative process is a loving one. My most favorite is the place in the middle where things feel foggy and then BAM! Something emerges if we’re willing to look. Middles are the best worst thing.

How or where to you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from being in the mess with another person. I’m inspired when a partner challenges our collaboration, gets curious or helps us out of a hole by being courageous enough to go a different direction. Connection is everything.

What was one of your biggest creative challenges?

Making something alone. I can’t hear myself when I’m the only one there.

When did you first realize you needed to be in a creative field?

I didn’t realize I needed to be in a creative field. I woke up and found myself there, thinking all along I was in the business world. As a communications coach, my role is to draw out human connection and demand my clients meet their audiences where they are. That is a creative act we do together.

Favorite digital or nondigital tool?

Nature. I find adulthood can be a crowded place to be – getting outside is a great tool to hear myself again, to be in conversation with what needs to emerge.

BONUS: What are you reading right now?

I’m always reading The Heroine’s Journeyby Maureen Murdock. Always.

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