From EMT to Entrepreneur
Kristopher Jonas didn’t set out to become the founder of a plasma collection company. His early career included EMT work and donating plasma himself during college. That’s how he found the field—and eventually, his purpose.
After years of advancing in the industry and managing teams of over 2,500 employees, Kris founded Proesis Bio in 2022, a company built around a simple but powerful mission: improve the plasma donation experience for donors and patients alike.
But building a purpose-driven business from the ground up meant facing big decisions—and Kris didn’t want to navigate them alone.
Leveling Up with Honest Feedback
Kris first connected with Deliberate Directions in 2017, when he shared office space with the team. What started with a strategy session evolved into ongoing one-on-one coaching with Allison Dunn. The focus early on: help Kris become a better leader for a large team in a high-pressure corporate role.
That coaching experience paid off. He used it to improve performance, navigate leadership challenges, and eventually prepare for entrepreneurship.
When he launched Proesis, Kris transitioned to Whetstone Board of Advisors, a peer group facilitated by Allison. The format gave him fresh perspectives and the kind of unfiltered feedback he needed to grow.
“I get to help people with their issues as they get to help with mine,” he said. “It helps me to learn my voice.”
Building Culture with Intention
Even with years of leadership experience, Kris knew he still had blind spots—especially when it came to managing conflict or receiving critical feedback. In coaching, he worked through a performance review that had left him defensive. With Allison’s help, he reflected on how to handle it differently and lead more authentically.
He also brought in Allison to coach his team through the Engage & Grow program. Watching his team grow from the outside gave him space to develop his own leadership style—and created a more engaged, aligned workplace culture.
In a Whetstone deep dive, Kris presented his entire business model and donor experience process to the group. Their feedback helped him refine messaging, consider user experience more deeply, and ensure that his values were showing up in the donor journey.
Learning to Lead Authentically
Kris describes Whetstone as “engaging, repetitive, and accountable.” While he appreciated the one-on-one structure of past coaching, the group setting has helped him stay consistent—and grow faster through community.
One of the most impactful lessons came from a quote shared by another member: “Fear may cause us to act small.” That line stuck with Kris. He realized that when he holds back—whether it’s in communication, delegation, or strategic decisions—it’s often fear, not logic, that’s in the driver’s seat.
Now, he’s working on becoming a more authentic leader. Not just in theory—but in how he shows up, speaks up, and connects with both his team and his mission.
A Leader with Purpose
Today, Kris is growing Proesis with clarity and intention. His mission-driven mindset remains central, but now he’s backed by the strategy, structure, and support of a coaching community that keeps him sharp.
He describes Allison as “professional, mature, and strong”—a coach who has helped him evolve as a leader, entrepreneur, and communicator.
“It helps me to learn my voice,” Kris said. And that voice is now driving a business built to make a real difference.
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