With over two decades of expertise in HR management and transformative change, Sonia Fernandes has been instrumental in shaping organizational, cultural and talent ecosystems to drive business growth. Her extensive career spans global entities such as KPMG, Bain & Co., the BBC and MediaCom (a WPP agency), where she spearheaded progressive HR strategies with a focus on design and execution.

Having lived and worked in diverse geographies, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and India, Sonia possesses deep knowledge in international HR. She specializes in integrating cross-border HR strategies and operating models to align with commercial objectives. Notably, Sonia’s innovative approach to HR includes successfully scaling an artificial intelligence employee engagement program globally across 70 countries. This initiative provided a real-time voice to the people and insights, empowering leaders with data-driven decision-making capabilities.

Sonia is a collaborative force in driving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, having designed and implemented 75 grassroots programs across 15 countries. Additionally, she has played a key role in scaling mental health programs, leading M&As from due diligence to integration, implementing strategic talent-mapping programs, and overseeing large-scale recruitment projects.

Balancing local needs with global scalability, Sonia champions a "people-first, better results" approach, fostering a human-centric and high-performing culture. Born in Mumbai, India, Sonia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Mumbai and a Master’s in Management and Employment Relations from The University of Auckland, New Zealand.