TEL Alumni Spotlight, Sonya Mehta
Winter 2024
We are grateful to TEL 2020–2021 Cohort member Sonya Mehta for sharing her inspiring leadership journey. A former bilingual kindergarten teacher in Oakland, Sonya’s unique career has spanned classroom education, policy development, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Sonya is a leader deeply committed to equity, sustainability, and transformation. From her early days in the classroom to founding her own virtual assistant agency, she has consistently sought to create spaces where people and systems can thrive. Her journey reflects the power of aligning purpose with action and serves as an inspiration to those aspiring to lead with integrity and impact.
A Journey Rooted in Equity and Community
Sonya’s leadership journey began in the classroom, where she taught bilingual kindergarten in Oakland for five years. During this time, she led initiatives that strengthened her school community, including building a school garden and creating pathways for parents to join the school staff. These experiences shaped her desire to address systemic challenges. “From the start, I wanted to nurture the students in front of me while also addressing the broader systems impacting them,” she shared.
Building Sustainable Systems
At The Teaching Well, Sonya expanded her impact by leading programs that addressed teacher burnout and retention while centering racial equity. She played a pivotal role in launching a national racial healing program for educators during the pandemic, a program that continues to make an impact today. Through her leadership, she gained invaluable experience in fundraising, designing services, and scaling sustainable initiatives.
Expanding Possibilities as an Entrepreneur
In 2022, Sonya founded Expand Your Capacity Virtual Assistant Agency, which pairs talented assistants with leaders who need additional capacity. The agency prioritizes professional development, embodying Sonya’s belief in fostering growth for everyone involved. Alongside running her agency, Sonya coaches leaders and supports nonprofits with fundraising. “My work is about unlocking potential and creating space for leaders to focus on what only they can do,” she explained.
The TEL Experience
“The TEL program was life-changing for me,” Sonya shared. “It taught me that all the systemic change we want to create must start with inner reflection.” The Mobius strip analogy, which illustrates the continuous interplay between inner work and outer transformation, remains a guiding principle in her leadership. “I often return to the lessons I learned at TEL, particularly the idea that personal growth and systemic impact are inseparable.”
Sonya also reflected on the power of community fostered through TEL. “The relationships I built were invaluable,” she said. “My mini-cohort still meets regularly, and we just processed the recent election together. TEL gave me a space to connect with leaders who share a commitment to equity and transformation, and those connections continue to sustain me.”
Looking back, Sonya emphasizes that TEL provided not just professional development but also a framework for aligned, values-driven leadership. “It’s a reminder that who we are as individuals profoundly shapes the change we can create in the world.”
Final Reflections
“To anyone considering TEL, I’d say lean into the process,” Sonya advised. “It’s an opportunity to reflect deeply on your purpose and align your leadership with your values. The journey is transformative if you let it be.”
Sonya Mehta’s leadership is a testament to the power of introspection, equity, and intentional action, embodying the transformative spirit of the TEL program.