Sonia Punwani is the Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy for the YMCA of the North. Sonia leads organizational strategy, brand, digital marketing, communications, innovation, and customer experience.
Sonia brings a unique mix of leadership experience in all areas of the business from marketing and strategy to operations. She previously spent over 20 years driving innovation in products and business models across the food industry, with notable organizations like General Mills, Post Consumer Brands, and Cargill. She is passionate about cultivating brands that are both purpose-driven and operationally aligned, building high-performing teams, and generating double-digit growth that exceeds industry expectations. She has also been successful at driving visibility and awareness with top-tier media, global corporate partners, and consumers.
Sonia has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Psychology) from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Virginia-Darden School of Business.
Why the Y?
The Y is such a special place and truly proves the power of human connection – when I look around and see our ability to make meaningful impact from first swim lessons… to summer camp memories… to staying active at every age… to giving back to the community. I see my own multi-generational family in the people and communities I get to serve every day at the Y. It is truly an honor to work for an organization that is often seen as the second home for many youth, families, and seniors. I also get energy from the people I work with and feel a sense of pride in developing my team members and seeing them advance in their careers, creating marketing and innovation as a function that is a destination for high-performing talent.