Who I Work With
I work with VP, Senior Director and C-suite leaders who are stepping into a new role, struggling to land the way they know they can, facing stakeholder friction or political complexity, feeling the gap between how capable they are and how they are being perceived, or exhausted from performing under pressure with no one at their level to be honest with.
If you are a senior leader in Toronto — or anywhere globally — and something is not fully landing at your level, this is exactly the work I do.
The Reality at the Top
71% of CEOs report experiencing imposter syndrome. And it gets worse after promotion, not better.
Research from Gartner shows that 49% of people promoted within their own companies are underperforming 18 months later. McKinsey reports that 27 to 46% of executives in transition are regarded as failures or disappointments two years in.
This is not about capability. You have proven yours.
It is about the gap between how good you are and how you are showing up in a new context.
That gap is closeable. Faster than you think.
What Executive Coaching With Me Looks Like
I am a Columbia Business School–certified Executive Coach and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), the highest global credential in coaching. Before coaching, I spent 17+ years in Fortune 500 leadership roles, operating in the same high-pressure environments my clients navigate today.
I’ve been in the rooms you are walking into. I understand the pressure, the visibility, and the expectations. And I know how to help you perform and lead through it.
My coaching is not generic development. It is a tailored, high-impact partnership designed around your context, your stakeholders, and the leader you are becoming.
We work on:
Mental Fitness — Stay clear, focused, and composed under pressure—responding with intention instead of reactivity.
Executive Presence — Close the gap between how capable you are and how you land in the room.
Stakeholder Influence — Build alignment, earn trust quickly, and move others toward decisions and action.
Leadership Identity — Shift from execution to leadership—moving from proving yourself to operating with confidence and authority.
How it Works
My engagements are typically six months of focused 1-on-1 coaching, designed around your real-world leadership challenges, stakeholders, and transition context.
We work directly on what is happening in your world right now—high-stakes decisions, complex relationships, and performance expectations that cannot wait.
There are no generic frameworks or off-the-shelf programs. Every session is tailored to your situation and the leader you are becoming.
Optional elements such as 360-degree feedback and the Facet5 assessment can be included to deepen self-awareness and accelerate performance impact.
I work with senior leaders across Toronto, Canada, the United States, Latin America, EMEA, and APAC, with all sessions delivered via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Clients From
I have coached senior leaders from some of the world's most demanding organizations including Apple, Coca-Cola, Ericsson, Salesforce, Airbnb, HSBC, Russell Investments Unilever, Nestle, McDonald's, AB InBev, Diageo, Merck, Estee Lauder, Northwestern Mutual, Scotiabank, RBC, CPPIB and more.
My clients operate at Vice President, Senior Director, Director, Managing Director and C-suite level, spanning functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Technology and General Management.
What Clients Say
"Sonia quickly established the trust and psychological safety that allowed me to grow in ways I did not expect. I grew both personally and professionally over that year."
— Director, Northwestern Mutual
"She helped me gain the self-awareness to make critical changes. The result: I achieved a milestone career goal I had been working toward for years."
— Vice President, Fortune 500 Financial Services
"Sonia helped me see the barriers I was setting for myself and how to break through them. I am a much better leader and business partner because of this work."
— Senior Director, Global Technology Company
About Sonia Gonzalez
I am a Columbia Business School–certified Executive Coach and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), the highest global credential in coaching. I am based in Toronto and work globally with senior leaders across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Before coaching, I spent 17+ years in Fortune 500 companies across FMCG, Technology, Healthcare, Banking, Energy, and Mining—holding local, regional, and global leadership roles.
I led cross-functional, cross-cultural teams and operated inside the same complexity my clients face today. I know what it means to deliver under pressure, navigate ambiguity, and perform at executive level expectations when the stakes are high.
I founded my coaching practice to give ambitious leaders what is hardest to find at the top: a trusted, clear-eyed partner who has lived the complexity of senior leadership—and knows how to help you navigate it and perform at your next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an executive coach in Toronto do?
An executive coach works 1-on-1 with senior leaders to accelerate their performance, develop their leadership presence and navigate complex transitions. Unlike training or mentoring, coaching is a personalized process focused on your specific situation, challenges and goals.
How is executive coaching different from leadership training?
Leadership training delivers content to groups. Executive coaching delivers transformation to individuals. Coaching works in real time with your real situations, your real stakeholders and the real pressures you are facing right now.
Who is executive coaching for?
My clients are typically VPs, Senior Directors, Managing Directors and C-suite executives navigating a career transition, building their executive presence or making the shift from functional expert to enterprise leader.
How long does executive coaching take?
My engagements are typically six months. This is enough time to create real lasting behavioral shifts — not just insights.
Do you work with leaders outside of Toronto?
Yes. While I am based in Toronto, I work with leaders across Canada, the United States, Latin America, EMEA and APAC. All sessions are conducted virtually via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
How much does executive coaching cost?
My coaching is priced based on impact, not hours. I offer a complimentary 20-minute Leadership Fit call to understand your situation and discuss fit before any commitment is made.