Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Guimbellot.
She is an Organization developer, writer, editor, media consultant, activist and Honored for Top 30 Influential Women, Woman of Empowerment, Top 10 Bachelorettes award, Congressional Honors for Cultural Awareness, and International Trade, & Humanitarian efforts. Her high profile and organizational skills have led to many successful campaigns and the creation of Chambers of commerce organizations after working with numerous chambers. Often sought out for her acumen in diplomacy and influence in serving for strategic partnerships working in a collaborative leadership role. Sonia had led campaigns for the city’s Controller and had the VA partake in bipartisan private sector initiatives where she united businesses, politicians, and sports celebrities for veteran awareness causes before it was popular to do so. Sonia’s love and optimism for the city of Houston have garnered accolades from many civic groups and women’s organizations. Another favorite major capacity that most still are not aware exists, was a campaign to help the Houston Sports Authority, a body that manages all of the city’s stadiums to ensure seamless management of large scale sports events such as the World Corporate Games. Sonia works with the Houston First- an organization that funds city events such as the New Year’s festivities, Super Bowl, parades, & other crucial city activity for town moral. The city’s tourism is very important to her as she hosts dignitaries new to Houston. Recently she hosted the mayors of the biggest areas of Libya that had meetings in Houston after D.C. in saying we were more help in rebuilding infrastructure after Isis left Libya. Sonia made sure they saw a part of Houston besides the blank bleak walls of government offices to integrate them after the meetings on why Houston’s culture stands out by making sure they attended a Real Estate function knowing her realtor friends can make anyone feel at home. Speaking of home: Her boy & girl twins named Ava & Aiden she calls A&A 🙂 Their grandad is Senator John Leedom that stood for scruples just as his last name suggests. She’s made sure for them to understand what servant leading by example is; how your voice, action & simply good energy makes a world of difference! In fact, International Women’s Day on March 8th will have some new activities in town she’s been conducting so do reach out to her for those details. The putting together G7 for many years must not be overlooked as well since it’s the premier global event honoring 7 distinct categories that help put our city on the world map while also giving 7 scholarships to HCC. Sonia has served on the Mayor’s international trade & educational boards uniting colleges here and abroad like she now does with embassies. The nonprofit HITDC that is a part of her moving and evolving system with iF [International Focus] hosts trade missions for over 30 years every quarter. Her business partners host delegations outbound while she currently hosts inbound. She recalls writing her bittersweet brief to the city in her part of the Energy Nexus that she collaborated with GHCVB to let go of a project that would have behooved our city since OTC was overwhelmed & those whom had seniority were holding their spots without utilizing their booths… Though all is well now. It’s situations & problem solving to fill the gaps that she sees that get her going in life. It’s no wonder she has ties to affluent historical families like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi ~ even helping to start that museum here. Her heritage is linked to military leaders like Battle of Waterloo’s Duke of Wellington & ‘This Land is Your Land’ songwriter Arlo/Woody Guthrie. She’s joked how that explains her posh yet bohemian personality & how they balance each other out. As an influencer: she works with all consulates, Chambers of commerce, the UN, Port authorities, airports, Sister cities, local and national business networking groups….over 70 collaborative partners in all. Strategic partnerships have always been emphasized in the importance of and seeing how larger companies have begun incorporating that logic for corporate responsibility et al.
Sonia Guimbellot’s social media and social group’s footprint are extensive as a who’s who in Houston that you can see in #iF on the ‘Seen on Scene’ section. Every month (online & in print) a different country is highlighted, Consul Generals, and related companies to showcase their impact in our city, state, and country. 1st Looking to how we’re the same with other cultures rather than different is the element you’ll see when she speaks on tv, radio, & other platforms ; Why is it always vice versa she asks? People are coming from a difference point of view first & it only behooves one when that is the afterthought that will showcase how good it can be to have differences to highlight or balance out. Same with how we think of women, we hear people still say women don’t support each other or criticize…’ I don’t think that… I can’t recall being jealous or comparing myself since we are all so uniquely made. It all starts with your mind then comes out your mouth and eventually into action so as soon as we stop saying these things then our children & our subconscious will start doing the proactive latter perspectives. Let’s speak on what we’re all capable of in lieu. That’s half the battle.’ Sonia’s philosophy & actions/initiatives for the community can be summed up in her belief of #iF you only entertain facts in “Education is the new & lasting diplomacy.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Challenges can be grand opportunities & have certainly made for an interesting journey thus far! A book & movie worth of information may get into at a later time.
International Focus ~ SOAR – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
An evolving & unique concept we’ve been in the diplomatic arena in structuring conferences, panels, forums, and round tables of the protocol- type info with individuals that you typically wouldn’t see working with a certain government agency. Before we created iF, we saw the gap that was those not understanding what a consul necessarily did for not only their direct community though also for each other’s culture. We have a passion for elaborating with real news on topics such as the differences between Honorary & Career consuls…along with other tidbits like the fact that the State Department/Office of Foreign Missions give clearance for our Olympians as well.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Goal-oriented all of my life….. Focusing on short-term or long-term goals mainly. Let’s play with your comfort level. Are you ever challenging yourself in what your comfort zone is. We could always get into Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs – starting from fulfilling your Basic needs, then soaring higher though the common denominator in that is mostly self-actualization. I do prefer the stoicism type of success. By a stoic’s measure: Success consists of virtue; that is, making correct decisions in accordance with nature in all circumstances.
Quality of life cannot be raised unless we raise the texture of our thoughts & the depth of understandings. Your energy or faith inside, hope, and charity of what is given back to society after first some self-fulfillment at any point in one’s life. Law firms gage it by cases won. My mentor & mentees I’ve had in sports would rather it be by the spirit of the game. A veteran could define it in what they’ve done for civilians or invert it to what a civilian does for their neighbor by looking out for them. A grand could consider success as their grandbabes. Simply, #iF you’re happy, then you’re successful as happiness is a success. Golden nuggets to consider: #ASmileIncreasesYourFaceValue & #YoureTheAverageOfTheFivePeopleYoureClosestTo
Contact Info:
- Address: 11110 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, Tx. 77072
- Website: iFMagazine.Net
- Phone: 832-542-6396
- Email: SoarCollaborations@gmail.com
- Instagram: @SoniaGuimbellot ~ https://www.instagram.com/soniaguimbellot/
- Facebook: facebook.com/sonia.guimbellot
- Twitter: @SoniaGuimbellot ~ https://twitter.com/SoniaGuimbellot
- Yelp: https://www.facebook.com/pg/iFSoniaGuimbellot/posts/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniaguimbellot
Image Credit:
Scott Weitzenhoffer, HPP, Kevin Li, RoVo, Vicky Pink
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