"Leading with Trust and Purpose": Sonia Sardana Shares Journey from IT Manager to Chief Transformation Officer, and Her Commitment to Giving Back
By Shaleen Sheth
"Collaboration is the key to long term success as an organization... we’re successful together and there are no personal wins. I encourage my team to invest in their relationships with each other and have each other’s back—what we accomplish, we accomplish together.” Today’s woman dreamer, Sonia Sardana is the Chief Transformation Officer of Innova Solutions. an award-winning global technology services company that is accelerating client success through digital innovation. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win for our Women in Philanthropy series with Akshaya Patra USA, Sonia reflects on her journey in business transformation, her approach to team building, and how she gives back through Akshaya Patra and the Innova Foundation. She shares, “Youth are our future, and we are passionate about nourishing their spark.” Enjoy her story!
1. Sonia, you’ve had an incredible journey at Innova Solutions. Can you share the lessons you learned along the way in navigating from IT program Manager to Chief Transformation Officer/executive leadership? How did you discover your leadership style?
Over the last 12+ years at Innova Solutions, I have worked in several different leadership positions across the organization, including IT, sales and operations, and I’ve accumulated many learning opportunities and lessons learned throughout my years and roles. I have always been incredibly passionate about lifting women up in business and leadership. I like to lead with trust, giving my team members the opportunity to step up to the next level and showcase their skills and abilities beyond their current role. I am a big believer in promoting from within and mentoring younger staff and women, having conversations and sharing advice with them. One of the lessons that I often share is one I had to learn early on in my career: how to have critical conversations when the stakes are high. As a leader, it’s important to remember that how you handle conflict sets the standard for the rest of your team, and unfortunately, women in business often face more scrutiny for how they react in these situations. That’s why I always stress the importance of keeping a clear head and focusing on the facts to achieve the best possible resolution.
2. Transforming an organization’s systems, processes, and people is a massive undertaking and I am sure it takes a great team. Can you share a specific example of a principle or practice you’ve implemented that was particularly effective in creating a cohesive and high-performing team?
Collaboration is the key to long term success as an organization, so I focus on nurturing a dynamic where people can work together while leveraging their individual strengths. As for a specific practice, I try to lead by example when it comes to recognizing the importance of teamwork; we’re successful together and there are no personal “wins.” I encourage my team to invest in their relationships with each other and have each other’s back—what we accomplish, we accomplish together.
3. Beyond your professional responsibilities, you are actively engaged with philanthropy. Let’s talk about your work with Akshaya Patra. What inspires you about the AP mission? How do you hope to stay involved in the future?
Innova Solutions partners with Akshaya Patra to provide two free meals for each student in elementary schools that the Innova Foundation has adopted across India. The partnership came about when we noticed that due to extreme poverty, students from low-income families were being forced to drop out of school to earn money and support their families. This not only limits their opportunities for education and future success, but also perpetuates the cycle of poverty for future generations. Partnering with Akshaya Patra provides motivation for children to attend our adopted schools because in addition to the improved learning environment with renovated facilities and digital learning tools, they know they will receive nutritious meals at no cost. Youth are our future, and we are passionate about nourishing their spark.
4. You are a strong advocate for DEI, and Diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial in today’s workplace. Can you tell us about a DEI initiative you are most excited about at Innova Solutions and its impact on the organization?
At Innova Solutions, diversity is one of our core values and informs our ability to understand, embrace, and serve our clients both globally and domestically. Not only do we work hard to attract and retain diverse talent through training, reporting & process improvements, and an active DEI committee, but we also work externally to make sure we mentor diverse companies and form partnerships with qualified and trusted diverse groups and organizations. As one of the largest Minority Business Enterprise members of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, we walk the walk both internally and externally to promote diversity. Last year, we launched employee resource groups, or ERGs, to promote inclusion and establish safe spaces for affinity groups. Feedback from these groups is gathered and used to inform future DEI initiatives, and we’re seeing widespread participation from executives, leaders, managers, and employees across all geographies. I’m especially proud of the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) ERG, a community which empowers our women Innovators to succeed in business and beyond through learning and networking opportunities.
5. You also have the Innova Foundation which is creating a lot of impact. Can you share a specific project or cause you’re passionate about and why it’s important to you?
Starting at home in Atlanta, the Innova Foundation has delivered vital humanitarian support in partnership with more than 175+ non-profit organizations since 2013. In the past year, we’ve expanded our initiatives to impact even more communities in need around the globe. From the opening of the Innova EmpowerHERment Center in collaboration with Dress for Success Atlanta to the donation of a 10KVA solar panel system to provide eco-friendly power to The Earth Saviours’ elderly residents in Haryana, India, we’ve been able to touch countless lives thanks to the passionate support of our clients, partners, and Innovators.
With so many incredible partners, it’s hard for me to pick a “favorite,” but the YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s Teen Girls in Technology program stands out as one of my most personal causes. The whole partnership was sparked by my sister Shivani and I volunteering with the program during high school as SAT prep tutors. Later, when Innova was looking for more ways to give back near our headquarters in Atlanta, we had the idea to adopt the program as its official sponsor. Many of the girls who join the program come from low-income families, and through STEAM-focused activities and hands on learning, we’ve been able to spark the curiosity and confidence they need to pursue higher education and eventual careers in technology. These girls are often the first in their families to attend college, so it’s safe to say that this program is truly transforming lives.