Name: Sonya Robinson
Current Profession(s): Chief Diversity Officer and VP of Corporate Responsibility - State Farm
Please describe your role(s) in your profession(s): I develop and execute strategies that promote diversity, inclusion and belonging within the organization. The role focuses on creating processes and initiatives to support diversity in hiring/retention, employee development and workplace culture. This is successfully implemented through collaboration with all business functions within the organization to ensure integration and accountability.
The areas I lead in Corporate Responsibility involve initiatives related to community engagement and philanthropic efforts to advance the company's commitment of doing good.
Please describe your pathway to your current profession(s): I started with State Farm 31 years ago upon completing an undergraduate degree in pre-law. My intent at the time was to stay long enough to save money for law school but I fell in love with the company's mission and culture. I opened up a State Farm agency in 1999 where I educated and served multi-cultural families on the importance of insuring against risks and protecting their loved ones through financial literacy. I later returned to the corporate side of the company serving in multiple senior executive leadership roles prior to assuming my current position.
What is your education/training background? I have an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with a Political Science minor. I completed a Master of Science Management degree in 2015 from the American College and will graduate this May from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU with an Executive MBA.
Advice you'd give to your younger self: Know your voice and embrace your authenticity. Your unique perspectives and experiences are valuable so know your worth; it is a commodity. Advocate for yourself and other talented women and seek mentors and sponsors who will do the same. Don't be fearful of change... take risks and alter course if the path leads to greatness.
And finally, never forget what is most important... God and family. All else can be replaced.
Who has influenced you? I have been blessed with many influential people that have come from all walks of life. They have appeared in unexpected ways and through various experiences. I am most influenced by those whose journey wasn't the easiest path but in spite they persevered. The lesson I would share is that it doesn't have to be the most successful person in your eco-system that influences you. Take small lessons and inspiration from those stories that most resonate with your desired path.
Tell us about anything you are passionate about outside of your profession(s): I love spending time with my family and traveling the world. Some of my favorite memories are game night with my husband Darick and daughter Soniyah. Unfortunately, I am quite competitive and sometime lose sense of the fact that "it's just a game"! We have traveled to 20 countries and have many more on our bucket list.
Please feel free to tell us anything else that you'd like to share: It's an honor to be acknowledged during Women's History Month and I am grateful. Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It gives us an opportunity to highlight the often-overlooked roles that women play in shaping societies, businesses, cultures, sports, politics and families. I am grateful to the Arizona Cardinal's organization for the role they play in observing this important month.
