Sonya is an executive coach who partners with clients to support them in uncovering their full leadership potential. She is a systems thinker who knows that none of us operates in a bubble. Her approach takes into account the complexities and nuances of the client’s environment—both professional and personal—to support them in constructing and implementing a mission-driven vision of leadership that aligns with their distinct values. Sonya has a particular interest in working with leaders at their growth edge to enhance their understanding of their intersecting identities, inner critics, and saboteurs. In doing so, she empowers each client to lead with creativity, vulnerability, and authenticity.

Sonya’s coaching is deeply influenced by her twenty plus years of experience as an attorney and business owner. She spent her legal career primarily representing defendants on death row and children sentenced to life without parole throughout the American South. As a law professor, mentor, and trainer, she took what she learned in the trenches and applied it to effectuating equitable, systemic change in the criminal justice system. In doing so, she served as counsel in matters before the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous other appellate courts on behalf of institutions such as the American Bar Association, Brennan Center for Justice, Constitution Project, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. By working to forge partnerships in the legal community on behalf of her clients and in service of systemic change, Sonya developed a collaborative, creative approach to her leadership that she brings to her work as a coach in both the corporate and nonprofit settings. She loves working with clients who are committed to forging systemic change in their own organizations, particularly in the diversity, equity, access, and inclusion arena.

Sonya is Founder and Principal of Affinity Coaching, LLC and a Senior Executive Coach for AIIR Consulting LLC. She is an ACC-certified member of the International Coaching Federation and holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She is also certified to administer The Leadership Circle ProfileTM 360º assessment. Her practice areas include: leadership and adult development, Internal Family Systems, and mindfulness.

Sonya received her B.A. in Political Science cum laude from Stanford University and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She has twice received the President’s Award from the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and was named one of Florida’s “Legal Elite” attorneys in appellate law by Florida Trend Magazine.