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.
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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.
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This is not about capability. You have proven yours.
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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 with PCC ICF certification and 17 years of Fortune 500 experience before I ever stepped into a coaching room.
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I have sat in the rooms my clients are walking into. I know what the pressure feels like. And I know the blueprint to get through it.
My coaching is not generic development. It is a made-for-you program built around your specific situation, your stakeholders and the leader you are becoming.
We work on:
Mental Fitness — Respond to pressure with clarity instead of reactivity.
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Executive Presence — Close the gap between how capable you are and how you land in the room.
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Stakeholder Influence — Create alignment and make your vision feel like their idea.
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Leadership Identity — Make the shift from doing to leading. From proving yourself to operating from genuine authority.
How it Works
My engagements are typically six months. We work 1-on-1 in private sessions designed around your real situations, your real challenges and your real stakeholders.
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There are no off-the-shelf frameworks or generic workbooks. Every session is built around what is actually happening in your world right now.
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Optional components include 360-degree feedback and Facet5 assessment to deepen self-awareness and accelerate the work.
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I work with leaders across Toronto, Canada, the United States, EMEA and APAC. Sessions are conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Clients From
I have coached senior leaders from some of the world's most demanding organizations including Coca-Cola, Airbnb, HSBC, Unilever, Nestle, McDonald's, AB InBev, Diageo, Merck, Estee Lauder, Enbridge, Northwestern Mutual and more.
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My clients hold titles including Vice President, Senior Director, Director, Managing Director and C-suite across functions including 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, PCC ICF certified, based in Toronto and working globally.
Before coaching, I spent 17 years in Fortune 500 companies across FMCG, Technology, Healthcare, Banking, Energy and Mining — in local, regional and global roles across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
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I held positions across functions, led cross-cultural teams and navigated the exact complexity my clients face today. I know what the boardroom feels like from the inside.
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I founded my coaching practice to give ambitious leaders the one thing that is hardest to find at the top: a clear-eyed, trusted partner who has been where you are and knows the way through.
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, 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 free 30-minute discovery call to understand your situation and discuss fit before any commitment is made.