As the Chief Human Resources Officer at Disney, Sonia Coleman is celebrated for her empathetic and insightful leadership style. Her impact can be felt across all of Disney’s businesses.
But what truly stands out about Sonia's journey is her personal story of resilience, dedication, and innate passion to help others reach their full potential. Her career path has been a testament to her commitment to mentorship, diversity, and inclusion - values she continues to champion at Disney. Her story is not about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about lifting others as she ascends, inspiring countless individuals along the way.
Watch below to hear more about Sonia's incredible journey, insights on leadership, and the positive changes she's driving within the organization.
A: Thank you, Edith. First of all, thank you and Medley for having me. As you said, we met almost a year ago, and I will tell you that you have imparted such great insight and wisdom. You’ve helped me grow and helped me step into this role in a meaningful way, and I’m truly grateful to you.
As I think about my personal journey and my career, I believe the way I was raised really shaped my thinking about leadership. I always share a little bit about my mom — her influence was so important. I was raised by a single mom, Vicky P., as we called her, and I have two sisters, my twin sister Tanya and my younger sister Sabrina.
My mom taught us some really important values throughout our lives. One thing she instilled in us was the importance of hard work. We didn’t have to be the best, but we had to give our best in everything we did.
I think that has stuck with me throughout my life and career. No matter what I do, I think about how to put my best self forward.
Another lesson was the importance of supporting each other, whether in competition or in any other environment. We played sports our entire lives. Tanya was an incredibly good athlete, and although we were ambitious and competitive, we always cheered for each other, even when we were on opposite teams. That taught me a lot about leadership and teamwork.
Lastly, my mom instilled in us the values of kindness and acceptance. She grew up in the Jim Crow South but loved everyone and never judged anyone. That has stayed with me, and I bring that same kindness and acceptance into my leadership approach today.
A: My mom was incredibly courageous. She made the bold decision to move my sisters and me from Mississippi to California because she knew that we would have a better future and education there. She only knew one person in California and did this against her family’s wishes because she wanted something better for us. She sacrificed everything to create a path for us. My mom was young, only 20 years older than us, and we grew together. At 30 years old, she had 10-year-old twins and an 8-year-old and was doing everything she could to ensure we were in the right environment. It was a big risk, but she always put our future first.
A: My mom didn’t necessarily have expectations about our careers, but she did ensure we worked hard no matter what we did. She made sure we understood that we were just as good as anyone else in the room. She didn’t dictate our paths but taught us to strive for what we desired. My mom only had a high school education, yet all three of us — my twin sister, my younger sister, and I — have earned our master’s degrees. That wasn’t her goal for us; she wanted us to have a fulfilled life with fewer struggles than she had, and she wanted us to be happy.
A: My career has been full of trial and error — successes and failures. I found my way into the people business almost by accident. I was working at a Home Depot in Northern California, and they needed someone to train employees on new equipment and technology. They asked me to do it, and I loved it. That experience led me to further opportunities in training and development.
I was working while going to school, and I chose to study organizational leadership because I loved the balance of business and people. I’ve always had a high business acumen, but I was able to couple that with how to lead others with kindness and compassion.
It didn’t start that way for me, though. In the beginning, I was hard and demanded excellence without leaving room for empathy. But I had people along the way who guided me, and that helped me evolve as a leader. From there, I moved into learning and organizational development, which felt like a natural fit for me. I understood business, but I also knew how to apply human capital strategies to drive impact. I’ve always been in HR, and I love what I do because I’m surrounded by people who do it exceptionally well.
A: We are here to bring joy, wonder, and entertainment to the world. I feel a sense of pride working for a company whose mission is to create magical moments for people of all ages. Every person I meet has a story about how Disney has positively impacted their life. We work with incredible storytellers, innovators, and technologists who bring this mission to life every day. Our values of collaboration, curiosity, creativity, and inclusion guide everything we do. We remind people of our values and our mission, which is to represent the world’s rich tapestry of stories with no agenda—just great storytelling.
A: It’s important to remind our teams of our values—collaboration, curiosity, creativity, and inclusion. We’re here to entertain, tell stories, and create experiences for the world. We stay focused on that. Our goal is to represent the world’s stories and cultures through great storytelling, and that’s what drives us.
A: Sure, let's start with when I said no! There was a time when I said no to a bigger role because success for me didn’t mean more responsibility or a higher title. It meant aligning with what I believed I was here to do and how I could serve the company.
However, there were also moments when I hesitated to take opportunities because I was afraid of taking risks. Fortunately, I had an incredible mentor, Jane Parker, who tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’re going to do this.”
I was uncomfortable, but she pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, and it turned out to be the best decision. That discomfort fueled my growth and gave me confidence.
A: My advice is to stay open, be curious, and embrace discomfort. Curiosity drives growth, and discomfort helps shape who you want to be as a leader. Surround yourself with people who think differently from you, and create space for diverse perspectives. That diversity of thought leads to better outcomes, more innovative solutions, and a successful business.
A: It’s crucial to have the right people in the conversation — people with different perspectives, experiences, and capabilities.
It’s not about title or level; it’s about ensuring we have the diversity of thought needed to solve problems effectively. When you have people from different backgrounds and experiences around the table, you get better outcomes and a broader understanding of potential consequences.
A: I’m intentional about where I spend my time. I make sure to get out in the market and meet with people throughout the organization, including our summer interns. I was recently in Argentina and Brazil, and the passion and optimism I saw in the leadership there was inspiring. I believe it’s important to stay connected with employees at all levels because their perspectives are valuable.
A: I’m intentional about recharging. I love watching TV every night, which works well since I get to preview the good stuff before it’s released! On weekends, I spend time alone to refuel, and I also make time for my family — my husband Carl and my sisters. That’s how I recharge and keep myself grounded.
A: Lead with empathy, compassion, and understanding. Recognize the power and responsibility you have as a leader and the impact you have on people’s lives. Always be thoughtful about the decisions you make and their consequences.
