Her Story
About Sonia
Sonia Palacios serves as a Risk Analyst with nearly six years of experience in risk management, specializing in business continuity, third-party risk management, and incident response. Her career reflects a diverse and progressive professional journey. Before entering the risk management field, she spent 16 years in retail, including 13 years in management, where she developed strong leadership, operational, and crisis management skills. She later spent seven years as an insurance agent, gaining valuable experience in risk assessment, client protection, and contingency planning. Palacios transitioned into corporate risk management after joining her current company as a COVID-19 contact tracer. Her leadership abilities, operational experience, and strong understanding of risk quickly distinguished her, ultimately leading to her advancement into her current role as a Risk Analyst. Today, she focuses on strengthening organizational resilience, identifying vulnerabilities, supporting business continuity planning, managing third-party risks, and coordinating incident response efforts. She is currently enrolled in an accelerated program at Western Governors University, where she is pursuing both bachelor's and master's degrees in Information Security. Committed to continuous professional development, Palacios recently earned her Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) and Third-Party Risk Management Practitioner (TPRMP) certifications. She is also actively involved in the DRI community, the Third-Party Risk Association (TPRA), and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). Palacios attributes her success to her love of learning, willingness to step outside her comfort zone, and ability to grow from every experience. Guided by integrity, continuous learning, and resilience, she has successfully navigated multiple career transitions and personal challenges while expanding her expertise and making meaningful contributions to the field of risk management.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sonia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my love of learning, my willingness to step outside my comfort zone, and the valuable lessons I have gained from each experience throughout my personal and professional journey. I believe that remaining open to growth, embracing new challenges, and learning from both successes and setbacks have continually helped me develop, adapt, and move forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is the importance of creating a supportive environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. I believe effective leadership is not only about guiding others but also about leading by example, encouraging growth, and helping people recognize their own potential. By supporting and empowering those around me, I have learned that strong leadership can inspire confidence, foster collaboration, and create lasting success.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to never let fear make decisions for you. Continue investing in yourself, developing your skills, and pursuing opportunities that challenge you to grow. Some of the most meaningful opportunities may require you to step outside your comfort zone, but embracing those challenges can build confidence, expand your perspective, and open doors to new possibilities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges women face in business continuity and IT fields, noting the lack of visibility for women in these male-dominated areas. She highlighted the importance of women uplifting each other through organizations like DRI's women's foundation and TPRA's women's group. Palacios identified the biggest opportunity as organizations moving away from gender-based role assignments toward evaluating based on experience and expertise, which would lead to more women in leadership positions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, continuous learning, and resilience. Integrity guides me to remain honest, authentic, and accountable in every decision I make, while continuous learning encourages me to remain open to growth and new perspectives. Resilience has helped me navigate career transitions, overcome challenges, and continue moving forward with confidence. Together, these values have shaped my professional journey and contributed significantly to my personal growth.
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