Meet Our Founder

Dr. Sonya Anderson has been a leader in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, working to advance education, employment, and life opportunities for youth throughout the United States and around the world.   

With a career that spans education, international development, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership, Sonya has led such efforts as advocating for gender equity and education reform in Africa and the Caribbean; advancing federal early childhood education policy on Capitol Hill; and supporting education and leadership opportunities for girls and boys of color in the US and abroad.

Sonya is the CEO of Embark Strategies, where she and her team provide thought partnership and technical support to forward-thinking organizations in their efforts to plan, design, implement, and grow. In this work, Sonya brings her exceptional strategic, relationship, and management skills to a range of contexts and issue areas to guide organizations through moments of inflection, opportunity, and change.

Sonya holds an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Yale University, a master’s degree in international affairs from the University of Ghana, and a doctorate in education planning and policy from Harvard University.

She is a native of Mississippi who now calls Chicago her home.