Sonia Thomas

For me, success has never been about titles or accolades (even though getting a Certificate of Completion is a bit of a kryptonite for me! Seriously, success is about integrity, intention, and consistency. I’ve always believed that keeping your word is one of the purest measures of success. It's self satisfying and makes you feel like an honorable, stand up person. If I say I’ll do something, I do it. And if I can't - I'll communicate that in a timely manner. If I don’t know something, I’ll be transparent about it and take the initiative to learn or ask questions. That level of honesty builds trust and keeps me grounded in purpose.

I also define success through intentional living. Every day, I set small, meaningful goals—whether it’s taking my dog on a 20 minute walk, completing a random task, refining a strategy, or simply planning my day, - I commit to achieving them and I feel successful!. Those small victories create momentum and a deep sense of satisfaction. I wake up each day with the intention of living a life built on authenticity, staying grounded in my principals, growth, and purpose. To me, that’s the true meaning of success.

Early in my career, my Executive Director at Public Housing Authority shared advice that has guided nearly every step of my professional life. I had a meeting and invited a City Council member. I failed to create an agenda and really didn't have an intentional purpose for the meeting. Afterwards, my Director called me into his office and chastised me for wasting people's time. He told me, “Never invite people to a meeting unless you know exactly why they’re there.” He believed every meeting should have a clear purpose and that I should always be ready to explain what I needed from each person, how they could help, and what role they would play in the plan. That simple guidance taught me the value of intentional leadership and purposeful communication.

He also told me something I’ll never forget: “Never dismiss an opportunity to learn something new — it might be 25 years later when you reach back into your mind and realize that knowledge is exactly what you need.” Those words have proven true time and again. I’ve learned that every lesson, no matter how small or seemingly unrelated, becomes part of the foundation that supports future success. That advice shaped not only how I lead, but also how I approach every opportunity—with curiosity, clarity, and gratitude for the chance to keep learning.

I want every young woman to know this: don’t ever “self-defeat.” The world will hand you enough rejections—you don’t need to add your own. I face rejection every day, but I refuse to take it personally. Each “no” just means I’m one step closer to the “yes” that’s waiting for me. What keeps me moving is the unshakable belief that my opportunity is coming, and I’m going to be ready for it.

Persistence, perseverance, and unstoppable determination DO produce results. So don’t get stuck in the "Land of “No.” Step boldly into your goals with the mindset that success WILL happen. Manifest it, visualize it, and work relentlessly until it’s yours. Maybe success will be incremental - recognize and appreciate those small wins - don't overlook them because you're so focused on the big win. Count the small blessings and moments of abundance along the way. Because when you combine grit with vision, and gratefulness, the Universe will get reward you and get you to where you need to be.

What I see in my consulting work is not a lack of commitment, but a gap in awareness: busy leaders underestimate how much structure, coordination, and intentional stewardship it takes to manage funds well. My biggest challenge is finding the right strategy to get their attention and help them see that today’s funding landscape comes with far more scrutiny, oversight, and expectations than in the past. I want them to understand that strong grants management is no longer optional—it is essential to protecting their awards, avoiding findings, and staying competitive for future funding.

At the same time, my concern goes much deeper than compliance for its own sake. Because my roots are in community activism, I am keenly aware that when funding dries up, it creates a domino effect: the programs and services those dollars support begin to disappear, and the communities that rely on them are the ones who pay the price. My goal—and the reason I started this consulting practice—is to help keep those programs alive by strengthening how funds are managed, so critical services stay in place for the people who need them most.

What I see in my consulting work is not a lack of commitment, but a huge disconnect - a gap in awareness: funded agencies underestimate how much structure, coordination, and intentional stewardship it takes to manage funds well. My biggest challenge is finding the right strategy to get their attention and help them see that today’s funding landscape comes with far more scrutiny, oversight, and expectations than in the past. I want them to understand that strong grants management is no longer optional—it is essential to protecting their awards, avoiding findings, and staying competitive for future funding.

At the same time, my concern is highly personal and goes much deeper than compliance for its own sake. Because my roots are in community activism, I am keenly aware that when funding dries up, it creates a domino effect: the programs and services those dollars support begin to disappear, and the communities that rely on them are the ones who pay the price. I've personally benefitted from community programs.

My goal—and the reason I started this consulting practice—is to help keep those programs alive by strengthening how funds are managed, so critical services stay in place for the people who need them most.