I am a Managing Director and the North America Head for Citi Alternative Investment Services.  I am responsible for managing one of Citi’s growth businesses encompassing over 200 Hedge Fund clients and $200 billion in assets under administration. Previously, I was Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) for Citi Markets & Banking.  In this role I managed a team that identified and evaluated geographic and product market expansion opportunities that augmented corporate strategy.  With a global focus, I have been involved in executing in excess of $5 billion in transactions in over a dozen countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, South Korea, China and India.

I began my career at Citigroup in the M&A Group of Salomon Brothers in New York. Since that time I served in Asia Pacific focusing on M&A activity in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and China; worked for the heads of the Investment Bank in formulating and implementing strategic initiatives; was a member of the Global Loans Capital Markets team assisting Fortune 500 companies maximize complex financing solutions; and was Head of Mergers and Acquisition for Cit Transaction Services

A native of Detroit, MI, I graduated from Morehouse College where I was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with Bachelor’s Degrees in Accounting & Philosophy.

What is your proudest achievement?

While we all have numerous achievements in our lives, I am most proud of three things:

• 1. Having a wonderful family.
• 2. Finding some semblance of balance in my life.
• 3. Providing guidance and assistance to the generation of leaders coming after me.

What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most?

I tend to gravitate toward thoughtful, action oriented leadership…simply put people who know how to get things done.  Steve Jobs and Reginald Lewis are two that instantly come to mind.  They both blazed remarkable trails and had a phenomenal impact on their respective industries.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I have never been a huge fan of the question: “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”  Being a big believer that the journey is more important than the actual destination, I never wanted to set limits on what I could achieve.  Life always presents us with such unique opportunities and adventures.  We should keep ourselves open to the brilliance of the unexpected.

What would be your advice to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact?

The most important product you own is your personal brand.  Shaping how people perceive you is an important determinant to your success.  Your brand should reflect who you are at your core and what you bring to the table:  hard work, integrity, candor, good judgment, tenacity, compassion, etc.  You need to ensure that everything you do, from the way you perform on your job to how you dress, is consistent with the personal brand

I am the Founder and CEO of a newly launched specialty tea company called CuriosiTeas NYC. We specialize in custom blends of fair trade certified, loose leaf teas and organic herbal blends that optimize health benefits, produce private labeling and teach tea education, sustainability and fair trade consumerism.

After working nearly seven years in the labor movement where I negotiated and enforced union contracts and as a global labor researcher working on projects in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, I’ve always wanted to combine my commitment to social justice and love for people with my passion for entrepreneurship.

I was finally afforded the opportunity months later after spending several weeks last summer in Delhi, India building homes with Habitat for Humanity International and teaching English to local villagers. A transformational cultural exchange of tea and biscuits with local villagers was the impetus for me wanting to recreate a similar experience in my local village of Harlem. After leaving my day job last December, the concept of CuriosiTeas NYC was born and has expanded its reach beyond Harlem.

What is the biggest challenge of your work?

The biggest challenge of my work as a new company is building trust and credibility with potential clients. I’ve found that my charisma and personality will get me in the door most times, but I have to make sure that I am the expert on all things tea. The industry is ever evolving, so I have to ensure that I study to be able to compete and be creative in my approach to business.

What is your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement was the actual concept to execution of the launch of CuriosiTeas NYC in less than 90 days, while supporting budding entrepreneurs like myself. I wanted to give myself the gift of entrepreneurship. My target launch date was my 30th birthday, which happened to occur during National Entrepreneurship Week in February of 2012. In that spirit, I was able to afford free vendor opportunities to 12 minority and women owned business that fell in the scope of holistic health and wellness to showcase their products and services at my launch. With nearly 150 guests in attendance, one of my vendors came to me at the end of the event and apologized for not having any products to give me as a birthday gift, because she had completely sold out of all of her products. I told her not to worry and that her accomplishment was the greatest gift she could have given me.

My second proudest achievement is using my displacement due to hurricane Katrina after college as a living testament that despite one’s circumstance, with resilience and determination one can still achieve greatness.

What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most?

I have always been an admirer of the teachings of Gandhi, whose quote, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” is carved in my heart. In the professional arena of the tea business, I’ve always admired Seth and Barry, the founders of HonesTea and pioneers in the space of fair trade certified bottled tea. Their sustainability platform and commitment to the health and wellness of their consumers is a model that CuriosiTeas NYC is committed to enhancing in our practices. Lastly, as a troop leader in my community, I admire Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts. She had a vision and despite being deaf in one ear and the challenges women faced in leaving their mark on society 100 years ago, she was able to create a sustainable organization that has impacted millions of girls throughout the nation and the world.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I see myself serving as an advisor to CuriosiTeas and as the Founder and Executive Director of the nation’s first Urban Tea Academy. Having grown up in an inner city and overcame tons of obstacles, I envision providing opportunities to youth to not only learn about tea etiquette and culture, but about urban gardening, sustainability, community development while exploring their identity and self worth. I envision taking youth on trips abroad to tea farms in China, India and Japan where they can see firsthand the process of making tea from crop to cup while appreciating the beauty and health benefits of the world’s second consumed beverage next to water.

What is one thing you’ve learned from the CUP Fellows Program that you would pass along to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact?

What I’ve learned from the CUP fellows program is that not only is important that people know your credentials when establishing a connection, but sharing a memorable and compelling story in your elevator pitch is what may open doors when you least expect it. Don’t be ashamed of who you are and where you come from, always give back and pay it forward; be true to who you are.

I am currently a Manager in the Business & Legal Affairs division of Sony Music Entertainment. In this capacity, my team is responsible for identifying ancillary markets to promote and distribute our music, which range from manufacturing deals with chains like Starbucks and Wal-Mart to digital promotions with brands like Motorola, Quaker and Pepsi.

Growing up, I wanted to become a sports/entertainment attorney. In addition to my general interest in each area, I was most passionate about being an advocate for athletes and musicians alike. When I entered undergrad, my dream was realized when I had the opportunity to intern at Sony Music Entertainment. This experience opened a new world of opportunities for me. The area that spoke to me most was Business & Legal Affairs. In this division, I wear various hats: strategist, problem solver, negotiator, researcher, and liaison. In my current role, I am able to parlay my passion for music with my enthusiasm for law.

 What is the biggest challenge of your work?

The biggest challenge of my work is bridging the gap between music and technology. As new technology develops the law, in many ways remains inert, which poses challenges as it can limit potential revenue streams. So the daily challenge becomes developing strategies that operate within the scope of the law, but still enables us meet our goals.

What is your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement is being able to pay it forward. As a child, I was blessed to be on the receiving end of the generosity of other people. The kindness of others often came in the form of mentorship and advocacy and was sealed with a promise that I would empower individuals by offering the same. Through board service and mentorship, I have had the opportunity to evoke meaningful changes in the lives of others.

What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most?

In my personal life, I most admire my mother for not only removing the word “can’t” from my vocabulary, but also  for letting me know that I was not meant to play a small role in this world, but rather I was destined to do something great!

Professionally, I admire both Carla Harris, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox:

Carla Harris has taught me the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and being vocal.  Through her pearls of wisdom, I learned: relationships matter; asking matters; and making people see you matters.

As one of a few women to head a Fortune 500 company, Ursula Burns has proven that women are just as astute and effective as their male counterparts. She is a strong leader with an ability to understand the power of technology and innovation, which is a fantastic quality to possess in business. Witnessing her leadership and accomplishments inspires me to push boundaries in my career.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

My long-term goal is to integrate my professional and educational experiences with public policy making, particularly as it relates to intellectual property protection. I intend to play an integral role in the planning and implementation of strategic initiatives in areas of legislation, regulation, and policy on a worldwide basis to protect the rights of intellectual property owners. I am determined to effectively leverage my proficiency in foreign languages and knowledge of intellectual property globally – where I plan to work on anti-piracy issues and act as a liaison to legislative bodies, government agencies and trade organizations.

Extracurricularly, I expect to continue my philanthropic work through board service. In this arena, I would like to continue focusing on youth development and education. In addition, mentorship is critical to success, as such I plan to lend my resources and serve as a mentor to students and young professionals.

What would be your advice to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact?

• - Be the change you want to see.
• - Be passionate about what you do.
• - Be impeccable with your word.
• - Operate with integrity.

The mission of Midori & Friends is to inspire children through music. We believe that when children are inspired, the very experience of learning—and, in turn, of teaching—is transformed. Inspired children pay attention. They enjoy gaining new knowledge. They ask questions and use their imaginations. They are eager to accomplish new things. In short, inspired children become passionate learners—and this is a transformation that will reap benefits for the rest of their lives. They will grow up with greater confidence and life satisfaction, and they will likely go on to earn significantly more as a result of their access to more professional options.

There is a difference between rote, enforced learning and passionate, engaged, desired learning. This is the meaningful difference that Midori & Friends programs make for our city’s students.

What is your mission?

Founded in 1992 by the world-renowned violinist, Midori, and a small, committed Board of Directors, Midori & Friends has enhanced the lives OF ALMOST 200,000 underserved New York City children and their families through providing high-quality music education programs and initiatives.

What is your organization up to at the moment?

Currently, we are planning our annual fundraiser. Viva la Musica! will be a celebration of Latin music styles, in recognition of 50% of our students who are of Hispanic origins. We seek to honor the traditions of this “next generation” of Latinos here in NYC.

This event is also our annual fundraising gala that raises crucial support for the music education programs we provide to students at New York City’s most underserved public schools. Thus, any support we receive through either attendance or sponsorship goes directly toward bringing highly engaging concerts, instrument instruction, ensemble playing, and more to the thousands of children we work with across the boroughs.

We are thrilled to have internationally renowned Latin jazz pianist, composer, and educator Arturo O’Farrill as our featured performer.  And for a powerful glimpse of our mission in action, students in Midori & Friends programs will perform as well.

We are also planning a series of recitals by our Making Music students to be held at the Sony Atrium during the week of May 14th.

What makes your organization so unique in the non-profit space?

Our offerings of long term residencies in making music teaches children all of the varied instrumental categories. Having been in business for almost 20 years, we have a sizeable number of thriving school partnerships and retention rate within schools is very strong.

How can CUP Members be involved?

CUP Members can participate in a variety of Midori & Friends programs including Adventure Concerts and also assist in our many outreach programs as well as various fundraising opportunities. In addition, we are interested in assistance in creating a younger leadership program, along with planning for our 20th Anniversary season.

Sonnia previously served as a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where she worked for 11 years.  She held various roles within the firm, most recently serving as the head of Targeted Pipeline Development within the Office of Global Leadership and Diversity.  In this role, Sonnia was responsible for setting the strategic vision and implementation of the firm’s Black, Hispanic, and Multicultural Women talent management initiatives, both internally and externally.  Previous roles at the firm include serving as the Head of Diversity Recruiting for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; Global Manager of the Investment Banking Division New Banker Training programs; and Investment Banking Financial Analyst.

In 2011, Sonnia was recognized as one of the “Most Powerful and Influential Women in the Tri-State Area” by the National Diversity Council.  In February 2012, Sonnia was recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the “Top 40 Rising Stars Under 40.” Sonnia earned a BS in Finance from Hampton University.

Prior to joining CUP, Ijeoma was the Director of Volunteer Programs at Jersey Cares (an affiliate of New York Cares), a non-profit dedicated to encouraging civic engagement  by providing individuals, families, and corporate and community groups with a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. In that role, she was responsible for forging and maintaining relationships with agency partners, volunteer program development, management, evaluations and recruitment for over 100 Monthly Calendar volunteer projects.

Ijeoma has a BS in Biology from Temple University and her Masters’ in Public Health & Public Administration from a joint program between University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers University School of Public Administration. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, promotes scholarship opportunities to women of color through the Miss Black NY & NJ pageants, and volunteers with the Nigerian Healthcare Foundation.

Who is Publicolor?

Alarmed by the ramifications of our nation’s rising high school dropout rate, industrial designer Ruth Lande Shuman founded Publicolor in 1996. Following her studies at Pratt Institute (MSID, Industrial Design) and realizing that too many of our schools look and feel like prisons—a condition contributing to our all-too-high dropout rate—Ruth founded Publicolor to use the power of color, collaboration, design, and the discipline of commercial painting to engage high-risk students in their education and create a better trained and educated workforce for our future.

Publicolor’s mission:
Publicolor combats the under-education and lack of job preparedness that fuel poverty by empowering students to reach their full potential in college and career. Publicolor engages high-risk students, ages 12-21, in their education through a continuum of design-based programs and academic support that counter the dropout rate.

What is your organization up to at the moment?
Publicolor is getting ready for another fun, engaging, colorful Stir, Splatter + Roll! SS+R, Publicolor’s biggest fundraiser of the year, will take place at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School (122 Amsterdam Avenue, just behind Lincoln Center), on April 11, 6-9pm. This year, we are honoring fashion designer Nicole Miller, design icons Lella and Massimo Vignelli, and design visionary Murray Moss. Each year, SS+R engages 500 luminaries from the worlds of education, business, philanthropy, and design in a unique event that always takes place in a school that Publicolor transformed from drab and depressing to vibrant and welcoming.

In addition, we’re excited to share that Publicolor received a competitive strategic planning grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Developed by the DeVos Institute and led by Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the strategic planning workshops started in September 2011 and will culminate in early Summer 2013. By the end of this process, Publicolor will have created clear strategies for development and formulated a plan for how the organization will grow in the next 3-5 years.

As a consultant, I am the President and CEO of The Leading Niche, a global management consulting Firm.  We have an international, corporate and federal government client portfolio.  I pursued my entrepreneurial dreams after working for many years at a large consulting Firm.  I decided that rather than work 16-20 hours a day for someone else, I could work for myself and build wealth for my family and my community.  I appreciate my former employer; my career there built a skill set that I currently leverage for my Firm.  Now, though, I am an employer and love every second of running my own business.

What is the biggest challenge of your work?

Honestly, it’s been difficult to find a network of entrepreneurial mentors. In corporate America, I had so many, but finding successful people that truly want to mentor growing Firms has been somewhat of a challenge. However, I’m still looking, so if you know of any, let me know.

What is your proudest achievement?

The successful completion of a project in West Africa. In addition to deploying a US-based team, my Firm hired 6 people locally and integrated them into our highly international team.  Our client survived the financial crisis there and was positioned for growth. After we left, those 6 individuals received offers from our financial services client, the local government and major national investment firms.  My second major accomplishment was teaching my 19-month nephew his Easter speech last week (‘Rejoice!  Rejoice!  He is risen’).  While it might sound like baby talk to most, I understand his speech!

What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most?

I am inspired by legends unknown by most whom I meet everyday…the older woman who led a voters’ registration drive in her community…the first generation graduate who started a non-profit focused on education…the 10-year old child who decided to raise money for cancer research.  I am inspired by these heroes.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

First and foremost, I see myself married with children.  I want to have balance in life where I have sold my company, moved onto the next series of business deals and helped mentor young aspiring entrepreneurs to grow their companies into multi-million dollar enterprises.

What is one thing you’ve learned from the CUP Fellows Program that you would pass along to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact?

Tell your story.  It can be powerful and crucial in impacting your local community, the nation, and yes, even the entire world!

I am a corporate attorney.  As a child, I had visions of being a lawyer and got on the path to do so early. Though, as a young child, I envisioned myself as a litigator, my interest in business and economics compelled a career as a corporate attorney. This enables me to both practice law and be a strategic business advisor.

Currently, I am Vice President and Senior Counsel in the General Counsel’s Office of American Express. In this role, I am responsible for providing strategic, transactional and general legal advice to American Express OPEN, the Amex division dedicated to making small businesses and their owners more successful. During my tenure with OPEN, I have been a key player in launching innovative new products, structuring, negotiating and implementing strategic alliances and partnerships as well as broadening OPEN’s business strategy to address its clients’ increasingly broad and complex needs.  Additionally, I have prepared Senior Executives to testify before regulatory and legislative bodies about small business credit and the needs of small businesses amid a rapidly changing regulatory and political environment.

Before joining American Express, I was Assistant General Counsel, Corporate Transactions responsible for Mergers and Acquisitions for Compass Group USA, Inc., a highly-acquisitive holding company. I began my career in private practice with the law firms Dewey & LeBoeuf and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

 What is the biggest challenge of your work?

The biggest challenge of my work is navigating, managing and addressing the interests of the various constituencies that my work impacts – the General Counsel’s Office, business clients, customers, regulators, and shareholders.

What is your proudest achievement?

As I look back, I am quite proud of, with God’s help, having the resilience and strength to overcome the tragedy of witnessing the events of 9/11, my apartment being destroyed and losing my worldly possessions in those events.

What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most?

My parents, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis and Nelson Mandela. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I will be doing something creative, innovative and intellectually stimulating in business.  I can see myself as the General Counsel of a Fortune 500 Company or as an international investor executing my own deals.

What would be your advice to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact? You must put in the work and prepare yourself; passion alone is no substitute. Also, relationships matter and the earlier you start developing them, the better. As you move throughout your career think of it in at least 3 phases: (1) skill acquisition, (2) skill refinement and (3) industry, sector or subject matter specialization. Regardless of the phase in which you find yourself, always focus on building relationships and mentoring younger professionals.

As the Managing Director of The Council of Urban Professionals Leadership Institute, Sonnia is responsible for building and implementing a multi-faceted professional development platform focused on preparing the next generation of leaders for the C-Suite. CUP’s Leadership Institute aims to be at the forefront of leveling the playing field for diverse professionals by providing innovative programming, thought leadership, and succession planning.  Sonnia is also responsible for the development and execution of the Leader Engagement and Development (LEAD) program, CUP’s signature initiative aimed at developing the pipeline of high performing mid to senior level professionals of color and women from across the finance, business, law, media, entertainment & advertising, consulting and business sectors.

An accomplished talent management professional with a diverse background in Investment Banking, Training & Development, Recruiting, and Diversity & Inclusion, Sonnia previously served as a Vice President at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where she worked for 11 years.  She held various roles within the firm, most recently serving as the head of Targeted Pipeline Development within the Office of Global Leadership and Diversity.  In this role, Sonnia was responsible for setting the strategic vision and implementation of the firm’s Black, Hispanic, and Multicultural Women talent management initiatives, both internally and externally.  Previous roles at the firm include serving as the Head of Diversity Recruiting for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; Global Manager of the Investment Banking Division New Banker Training programs; and Investment Banking Financial Analyst.

In 2011, Sonnia was recognized as one of the “Most Powerful and Influential Women in the Tri-State Area” by the National Diversity Council.  In February 2012, Sonnia was recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the “Top 40 Rising Stars Under 40.” Sonnia earned a BS in Finance from Hampton University.