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Sunny Bonnell

Thought Leader

Sunny Bonnell is the co-founder and CEO of Motto, a brand strategy and design agency she built with her business partner Ashleigh Hansberger. Motto works with companies to develop brand identities, positioning, and purpose-driven strategies, serving clients across a range of industries. Bonnell is widely recognized as a creative entrepreneur who champions the idea that bold, visionary branding is a competitive advantage. Bonnell co-authored the book 'Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different,' which reframes unconventional traits — such as being rebellious, obsessive, or audacious — as strengths rather than liabilities. The book became a vehicle for her broader thought leadership on leadership, brand building, and embracing what makes individuals and organizations distinctively themselves. She is a sought-after speaker and has contributed to conversations around brand strategy, entrepreneurship, and visionary leadership at conferences and in media outlets. Her work at Motto and her writing have established her as a distinctive voice in the branding and marketing world.

Last updated Nov 1, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment · Connections updated Nov 2, 2026

Role
co-founder and CEO
Company
Motto
Based
New York, New York, United States
Connections
1

AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited

Years in industry
15 years

Bio

Sunny Bonnell is the co-founder and CEO of Motto, a brand strategy and design agency she built with her business partner Ashleigh Hansberger. Motto works with companies to develop brand identities, positioning, and purpose-driven strategies, serving clients across a range of industries. Bonnell is widely recognized as a creative entrepreneur who champions the idea that bold, visionary branding is a competitive advantage. Bonnell co-authored the book 'Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different,' which reframes unconventional traits — such as being rebellious, obsessive, or audacious — as strengths rather than liabilities. The book became a vehicle for her broader thought leadership on leadership, brand building, and embracing what makes individuals and organizations distinctively themselves. She is a sought-after speaker and has contributed to conversations around brand strategy, entrepreneurship, and visionary leadership at conferences and in media outlets. Her work at Motto and her writing have established her as a distinctive voice in the branding and marketing world.

Career

  • co-founder and CEOCurrent

    Motto

Roles with a cited source. All linked roles are in the Roles tab.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Brand StrategyBrand IdentityEntrepreneurshipVisionary LeadershipPurpose-Driven BrandingCreative DirectionThought Leadership

Speaking topics

Bold Brand BuildingVisionary LeadershipEntrepreneurshipEmbracing Unconventional StrengthsPurpose-Driven Business

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Co-founded Motto, a brand strategy and design agency with a national client base
  • Co-authored 'Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different' with Ashleigh Hansberger

Publications

  • Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different (HarperCollins, 2019)
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