At The Bonadio Group, we are proud to introduce a new initiative aimed at promoting balance, renewal, and growth among our leadership team: The Partner Sabbatical Program. This program is designed to give our partners and C-suite leaders dedicated time away from work to recharge, pursue personal interests, and return with a fresh perspective, both personally and professionally.
The sabbatical program offers partners a one-month (30 consecutive days) sabbatical every five years, in addition to their regular paid time off. Partners can use this time to travel, engage in personal projects, pursue learning opportunities, or spend quality time with family. According to our CEO and Managing Partner, Bruce Zicari, “The Partner Sabbatical Program is an investment in our People. It reflects our commitment to supporting work-life balance and ensuring that our leaders have the opportunity to step away, gain new perspectives, and return to work with renewed energy and focus.”
Why Sabbaticals Matter
Sabbaticals offer an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional renewal. They give our leaders time to step away from the daily grind, focus on themselves, and return with new ideas, enhanced skills, and a renewed sense of purpose. As Bruce Zicari notes, “This program serves as a reminder that taking time to recharge leads to better leadership and improved service to our clients.”
Additionally, sabbaticals provide opportunities for cross-training and team development. As partners step away, colleagues gain the chance to step up and take on new responsibilities, which helps foster greater collaboration and leadership development across the firm.
How Sabbatical Time Can Be Spent
The sabbatical program is intentionally flexible, allowing each partner to design their time off in a way that is most meaningful to them. Some potential sabbatical activities include:
- Traveling: Exploring new places or spending time with family and friends.
- Pursuing Personal Projects: Dedicating time to hobbies or passion projects.
- Community Involvement: Engaging in community service or charitable activities.
- Lifelong Learning: Participating in educational opportunities that enrich both personal and professional life.
Partner within our Assurance Service Line, Randy Shepard, recently returned from his sabbatical which was primarily spent travelling. “I spent time travelling and focusing on myself and my personal journey. I went on two different cruises and when I returned, I had time to decompress by doing small projects, playing golf, and just enjoying being home,” shared Randy.
Maintaining Client Service and Leadership Balance
A major goal of this program is to show that work-life balance is achievable, even for our busiest leaders. With careful planning, client communication, and delegation, our partners can take time away without impacting service levels. This initiative reinforces our commitment to building a firm where leadership is not only about results, but also about maintaining well-being and setting an example for the entire team.
“Taking time away from the business shows that our firm thrives as a collective effort, not on any one individual. It’s an important reminder of our commitment to balance and proves to future leaders that stepping back is possible—and essential—in their own careers,” added Randy.
A New Chapter in Leadership Growth
By offering a formal sabbatical program, we are making a significant investment in the well-being and professional development of our leadership team. We are confident that this program will bring lasting benefits to our partners, our clients, and our firm.
“This isn’t just about time off; it’s about creating long-term value for our partners and our clients. We are excited to see the impact this program will have on our leadership and the firm as a whole,” added Bruce.
We look forward to sharing the experiences of our partners as they embark on their sabbaticals and return with renewed energy and inspiration.
If you’re interested in learning more about the experiences of our returning partners, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram where we will be posting their stories regularly. And if you’d like to see what a career at TBG could look like for you, check out our open positions page here!
