Meet Sonia

Born in Lisbon, I spent my formative years across Europe and Latin America, living in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, and the UK. My parents created a solid, loving home, emphasizing the importance of education as the foundation for a meaningful life. Their dedication, coupled with my father’s passion for academic excellence and my grandfather’s legacy as the founder of a leading school in Chile, inspired a deep belief in the transformative power of learning. Even amidst inequality, they prioritized our education and instilled in us values of hard work, resilience, and gratitude.​

 

After completing my undergraduate degree in the UK, I embarked on a transformative journey through Latin America. Starting with a research project in the Amazon rainforest, I embraced opportunities to teach, lecture, and connect with diverse cultures. A decade at Unilever, and another at National Geographic, further enriched my understanding of global disparities in happiness, opportunity, and access. Witnessing poverty and inequality deepened my conviction that education is the key to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges and creating pathways to opportunity.​

 

Throughout my career I’ve lived in London, Lisbon, Madrid, São Paulo, Hong Kong and Tokyo, collaborating with teams across 34 countries. As my husband and I raised our children, we prioritized exposing them to different cultures and realities. Whether working at a school in Uganda, visiting a home for lost girls in Delhi, or supporting fundraising initiatives we aimed to instill empathy, a global perspective, and a commitment to giving back.​

 

In Asia, we established a design business that not only celebrated the world’s leading designer furniture brands but will also champion local craftspeople, helping elevate their work to the global stage. With education valued as a cornerstone of societal harmony in Japan, it was here that I became captivated by the philosophy of ikigai, a concept that transcends borders and speaks to the universal desire for a fulfilling life.​

 

This journey inspired me to become an Executive Career Coach, blending my professional expertise and cultural sensitivity to help individuals unlock their ikigai and transform it into their ideal careers. With over 30 years of experience steering multinational teams in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, I guide others toward a life of purpose and alignment, driven by the belief that meaningful change begins with empowered individuals.​

 

I am passionate about purpose-driven careers, and work with management boards, CEOs, high-performing teams and young adults. My career spans leadership roles at Unilever, National Geographic, Fox Broadcasting Group, News Corporation, NBC Universal Networks, and IROCO Design, our pan-Asia design-tech.  ​

 

Currently, I am an Executive Career and Leadership Coach at IESE Business School in Madrid, and hold a Certificate in Executive Coaching from the University of Cambridge. I am a Senior Professional Career Coach accredited by the IACC/ICF (US), a registered professional with the Career Development Institute (UK), and Career Coach for Asia Pacific Alliance of Coaches (Singapore).​

 

Beyond coaching, I am a Board Member and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (UK and HK), I was a member of the Special Advisory Committee of the British School of Tokyo (Japan), and served as a Team GB Tokyo 2020 Olympic Ambassador.

 

I speak English, Spanish and Portuguese and a smattering of Japanese, and live between Tokyo and London with my rock-solid husband, three beautiful kids, and Hachi, our large golden retriever.