Sonja Whitemon
For more than four decades, Sonja White Boney has built a distinguished career in communications, combining strategic storytelling, media expertise, and a deep understanding of how organizations connect with people. She began her professional journey in the early 1980s while still in college, working as a paid writer for an Office of Information Services role that launched her lifelong passion for corporate communications. Over the years, she developed extensive experience in media relations, employee communications, publicity, and corporate messaging, holding leadership positions with major organizations including American Airlines and FedEx. Her work ranged from serving as a corporate spokesperson and managing public relations strategies to producing employee communications campaigns and internal media content that informed and connected thousands of employees.
In addition to her corporate experience, Sonja has also shared her knowledge in the classroom, teaching Introduction to Public Relations and mass media courses at The University of Memphis. After spending nearly 20 years in Dallas, she returned to her home state of South Carolina before later relocating to Laguna Beach to be closer to family. Today, she works as a freelance writer and communications consultant, contributing to Pride Magazine while helping businesses rethink how they use digital communication. Although she once viewed social media and digital platforms as little more than noise, she has since recognized the power they hold when used strategically and intentionally.
Sonja is now focused on helping organizations cut through digital clutter and create communication strategies that truly drive engagement, action, and business growth. Her approach blends decades of traditional communications expertise with a modern understanding of digital media, allowing her to help companies build stronger visibility and more meaningful connections with their audiences. Throughout her career, she has remained grounded in values of respect, kindness, civility, and professionalism, believing that every interaction should leave people better informed and better off than before. With a reputation for perseverance, independence, and thoughtful leadership, Sonja continues to evolve alongside the communications industry while helping others do the same.
• University of South Carolina
Bachelor's degree, Journalism, Public Relations
• University of Memphis
Master's degree, Journalism, Public Relations
• Church volunteer activities
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my perseverance. I've always been an independent person and basically never had anybody to fall back on. I always knew what I wanted to do, but it took time and perseverance to get there, you know, step by step by step. Over the years, I built a track record of a nice career through that steady determination and independence.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to stop trying to do everything myself and to embrace teamwork. I was told that I can't be the expert in everything, so I shouldn't try. I needed to open up and allow people to help me, to let people who are experts in different areas do some of the professional work. I'll be honest, I struggled with that skill, but it made sense and it certainly helped me along the way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think the field is very crowded now with a lot more competition than there was before. My advice would be to be diligent about looking for work if you're just getting into the field. While you're doing that, build your resume by doing other things - it could be volunteer work or getting with a company that has a strong corporate communication department. I don't think we're at the point now where people with no experience are necessarily going to get in from the outside, so building that resume with free work helps you get your references and contacts. Then find a good company, enter wherever you can, and look for work in corporate communication. Companies will post their openings and hiring from within is preferred. Also, be a part of an organization like PRSA - go to the meetings, participate, get to know people, and build your skills.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being that I'm more freelance than anything, I think what I'm doing is the biggest opportunity that I'm aware of, and that is helping companies use digital media in a way that really benefits them and in a way that isn't just noise. How do we get customers coming in? How do we communicate, and when do we communicate through digital communication so that it's not just noise? I think that's an opportunity. People are getting worn out with emails and messaging that really doesn't apply to them, so helping companies address what people actually want or want to do is what I can help with. I think that is a big opportunity that probably hasn't been identified yet.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
For me, it's how people treat each other. I'm telling you, it feels like the world is getting meaner and meaner every day, and I don't like it. The way I communicate with people may seem a little weird sometimes, but I do it for a reason. When I go to the grocery store, I thank the checker, ask how they're doing - I just focus on the pleasantries because we need to get back to that or we're going to disintegrate. What I try to do is leave people better off than they were when they encountered me. I call everybody ma'am and sir because I think we need to get back to respect, and that helps in business and in our personal lives. It doesn't cost anything to be nice to people.
Locations
Pride Magazine
Gaffney, SC 29340