Life & Work with Sierra Marie Bonn of El Dorado, KS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Marie Bonn.

Hi Sierra Marie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in engineering technology, but quickly realized my passion was less about the machines I was working on and more about the people, systems, and creative problem-solving that make big ideas possible. That curiosity about how innovation shapes lives led me to earn my Master’s in Innovation Design, where I became deeply immersed in design thinking, strategic planning, and change management.

During that time, I founded Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation of innovators — especially women and underrepresented minorities — through hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education. Over the past five years, we’ve delivered classroom programs, hosted community workshops, and provided free curriculum to educators, reaching thousands of students across the country. We’ve helped students see themselves as problem-solvers, creators, and leaders, and equipped teachers with tools to bring creativity and critical thinking into their classrooms.

Through building Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!, I learned how to turn my own passions into a platform for empowering others, and how the right blend of vision, structure, and support can turn a spark of inspiration into tangible change. Those lessons inspired me to launch ImpACT Consulting, where I now help individuals, organizations, and community leaders bring their own ideas to life with clarity, strategy, and purpose.

Today, my work blends creativity, strategy, and service — guiding others to align their missions, create actionable plans, and build systems that make their work not only impactful, but sustainable.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In my early-twenties, I went through what I call my “quarter-life crisis.” On paper, I was doing all the “right” things… I was pursuing a worthwhile degree and I had clear goals, but I felt completely disconnected from my sense of purpose. That period of uncertainty was uncomfortable and humbling, but it’s what ultimately led me to create Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead! — and it’s the reason I’m able to meet clients where they are when they’re facing the same kind of crossroads.

Starting the nonprofit wasn’t just about launching programs — it was about rebuilding my own sense of direction. I had to be vulnerable enough to ask myself: What lights me up? Where can I make the biggest difference? That process of rediscovering my passion is exactly what fuels my coaching today. I know what it feels like to be searching for your “why,” and I help others navigate that same journey, whether they’re individuals, organizations, or community leaders.

Through it all, I’ve relied on the principles of design thinking: stay curious, test ideas, learn from what doesn’t work, and adapt quickly. The same creative problem-solving tools that helped me turn my crisis into a calling are the ones I now use to help others align their vision with action — so their work is not just impactful, but deeply fulfilling.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, intentionality, and service.

Through Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!, I empower the next generation of innovators to see themselves in STEAM careers. One of my proudest projects is a children’s book I wrote and illustrated, gifted to thousands of 4th graders across Kansas. Fourth grade is such a pivotal age — it’s when students begin forming beliefs about what they’re “good at” and who they can become. I wanted them to see creativity, problem-solving, and innovation as part of their identity. Proceeds from the book benefit a scholarship I established to financially empower young innovators to pursue their academic and career goals.

Through ImpACT Consulting, I help people and organizations go from big vision to clear plan to measurable results. Whether it’s a small business owner strategically leveling up, a professional carving out a personal brand to open new doors, or a company strengthening its teams through skills like design thinking and organizational management — I bring the tools, clarity, and accountability to make growth intentional.

What sets me apart is that I’ve lived the journey I guide others through. My own path taught me the power of connecting passion with strategy, and my background in design thinking gives me the framework to help others do the same. My work — in both the classroom and the boardroom — is about building systems, confidence, and momentum that last.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One of my mentors, Cori Wallace, has a way of describing relationships that’s stuck with me. She says there are “Vending Machine” relationships — transactional, one-sided connections where you only show up when you want something, and there are “Barn-Raisings” — mutually beneficial relationships built on generosity, collaboration, and shared investment in each other’s success.

That philosophy has shaped the way I approach mentorship and networking. I’m not looking for the most people in the room. I’m looking for the right people, the ones whose values align with mine and who challenge me to think differently. I focus on showing up with something to give, whether that’s sharing a resource, making an introduction, or simply listening without an agenda.

I also believe in “proximity with intention.” Put yourself in spaces (in-person or online) where the kinds of conversations you want to be having are already happening. Join professional organizations, volunteer for committees, attend events outside your industry to spark fresh ideas. The people you meet in those spaces will often become collaborators, mentors, clients, or friends in ways you can’t predict.

Looking ahead, I think the future of mentorship and networking will look less hierarchical and more collaborative — more barn-raisings, fewer vending machines. My advice? Be the person who not only seeks out mentors but also becomes one. The more you give, the more the right opportunities and people will naturally find their way back to you.

Pricing:

• Individual Coaching (Personal Branding, Career Readiness, Strategic Goal Setting) – from $75/session
• Small Business Strategy (Brand Development, Strategic Growth, Systems Building) – from $500
• Organizational Training & Workshops (Teamwork, Design Thinking, Organizational Management, Leadership Development) – from $1,200/half-day
• Speaking Engagements (Keynotes, Panels, Conference Workshops) – Pricing available upon request

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sierrabonn.com
• Instagram: @sierramariebonn, @Imp.actconsulting, @letsgofullsteamahead
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierramariebonn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SierraMarieBonn
• Other: impactconsultingagency.org and letsgofullsteamahead.com