Karleigh Sonnenberg

I attribute my success to the strong foundation I built through early involvement in my community and a commitment to personal growth. From a young age, I was actively engaged in organizations such as 4-H, the Junior Fair Board, and my church, while also participating as a three-sport athlete and completing college credit courses during high school. These experiences taught me the importance of discipline, time management, and prioritization. They helped me develop the ability to balance responsibilities, focus on what needs to be accomplished, and maintain the personal well-being necessary to continue growing both professionally and personally.

The best career advice I have ever received has come from my grandfather, Grandpa Sonnenberg, whose guidance and encouragement have been a constant source of strength throughout my life. Through every success and challenge, he has reminded me to stay focused, remain resilient, and approach each situation with perspective and confidence. As I balance the demands of adulthood, my career, and continuing education, his thoughtful advice has helped me prioritize what can be accomplished today while trusting that future challenges can be addressed when they arise. His wisdom has taught me the importance of perseverance, maintaining a positive mindset, and believing in myself. More than a mentor, he has been a steady foundation of support who has shaped the person and professional I continue to become.

The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to embrace rejection and not be discouraged by being told no. Rejection is not the end of an opportunity; it is a chance to learn, adapt, and find a new path forward. If I had allowed the fear of rejection to hold me back, I would not be where I am today. Building confidence, staying humble, and being willing to step outside of your comfort zone are essential to growth and success. Believe in your abilities, advocate for yourself, and recognize that you have the power to make an impact and be a valuable voice in every room you enter.

The values that guide my personal and professional journey are rooted in faith, meaningful relationships, and personal wellness. My faith provides a strong foundation, offering perspective, strength, and purpose through every season of life while reminding me to lead with humility, gratitude, and compassion. I deeply value the relationships I have built with family and friends, as I believe a strong support system is essential for navigating both successes and challenges. These connections provide encouragement, resilience, and a sense of community that continues to inspire me. I also prioritize health and wellness, believing that consistent, intentional choices create a foundation for long-term success and balance. Whether through teaching Pilates, staying active, training for endurance events, or making daily choices that support my well-being, I strive to embrace progress and continuous growth. Together, these values allow me to approach life and my career with resilience, gratitude, and a commitment to positively impacting those around me.

My values that are the most important to me would be my faith. No matter what you believe in, just having something that is the higher power over me, and this is what I fall back on when I'm going through it. Below my faith, obviously my friends and my family, those support system. I have found that the support system that you have around you is the most important thing for you to get through anything hard. And then below family and friends is health. Moving the body every day. It doesn't have to be rigorous, but really prioritizing how can I be a little bit more mobile today.