Speaking
Keynotes & Workshops
Talks that help leaders see the brand leaks AI cannot spot, and turn human behavior into a competitive advantage your competitors cannot copy.
Biography
Sonya Lee
Sonya Lee is a brand and experience strategist, public speaker, and business coach based in Denver, Colorado. By 26, she was an award-winning designer who earned the label "disruptive" when she helped Bob Iger, then CEO of Disney, unify the teams behind the on-time launch of Disney.com, lifting productivity, morale, and shared vision.
With more than 25 years across user experience, branding, product design, and technology, she now helps Fortune 100 companies and founders drive innovation, foster collaboration, and create experiences customers love. She has worked with Warner Bros, AT&T, TrueCar, Adobe, and Cisco, and launched several companies of her own.
At an early age, Sonya was sent to live in a monastery, an experience that left her searching for her true self. Rather than shrink back, she used it to push the boundaries of personal evolution and improve the human experience. She is the founder of UX Your Life and the UserX Method, frameworks designed to maximize human and business potential from the inside out.
She is currently writing a book about the power of communication, collaboration, and compassion in leadership, and how to create marketing and sales strategies that stick.
Common Topics
Talks That Move People To Act
Every topic can be tailored to your audience, industry, and moment. These are a starting point, not a fixed menu.
Storytelling: The Future of Marketing
The Marriage of Design & Technology: How Branding, UX, and Development Work Together
Why Design Thinking Works
How a Product Evangelist Can Take Your Brand to the Next Level
Navigating the Jungle of Scaling a Business
The Customer & User Experience Opportunity
Spirituality & Mindfulness in the Workplace
The AI Sameness Crisis: How to Build a Brand No Machine Can Copy
...and many more customizable topics.
Ways To Engage
Formats For Every Stage
From a 45-minute keynote to a full-day intensive, every format is built around your goals and the people in the room.
Keynote Presentation
Executive Leadership Coaching
Strategic Consulting
Half or Full Day Workshop or Training
1-2 Hour Seminars or Breakthrough Sessions
Roundtable Discussions or Panels
Private Mentorship
Meditation & Mindfulness Classes
What To Expect
More Than A Talk,
A Shift
Audiences leave with a new lens on their work and the moves to act on it the next morning.
Motivation + Application
Every talk is not just motivational but immediately actionable. It is one thing to inspire, and another to give people the concrete steps to manifest success.
Customization
Every event and audience is unique. Before we take the stage, we discuss your topic, goals, and motivations so the talk lands with the people in the room.
Empathy & Customer Experience
Business empathy is a core theme: taking care of your goals, your audience, and your team. We lead the charge by connecting with and understanding the people we serve.
Authentic Leadership Growth
Sonya has dedicated her life to inspiring people to do better in life and business, to embrace their authenticity, and to step into their greatness.
Public Speaking
Selected Appearances
2020
The Future of the Startup Communities
SoCal Startup Day · Irvine, CA
2020
Storytelling: The Future of Marketing
Concordia University, School of Business & Economics · Irvine, CA
2019
How Brand, UX, and Technology Work Together for Success
Dallas Marketing Bootcamp · Dallas, TX
2019
How to be an Exceptional UX/UI Designer
User Experience Meetup Group · Irvine, CA
2019
Business Empathy and Sales
Private Workshop · Huntington Beach, CA
2019
Panel: Navigating the Jungle of Scaling
Eureka Summer Nights · Irvine, CA
2019
Executive Leadership & Communication Mastermind
Private Workshop · Irvine, CA
2019
The Four Pillars of a $1M Business or Startup
Marketing & Business Mastermind · Nashville, TN
2018
Startup Judge & Panelist
LAX Tech Recruit · Los Angeles, CA
2018
The High-Value Brand: Establishing Trust & Transparency
Millionaire Mastermind · Dallas, TX
2018
Entrepreneurship: Technology + Marketing
Private Business Mastermind · Huntington Beach, CA
2018
An Approach to Entrepreneurship & Authenticity
Grassroots Academy Tohoku · Disneyland, CA
2017
Approaching Entrepreneurship with Great User Experience
General Assembly · Irvine, CA
2017
Tech Startup Journey
N3XTCON · Pasadena, CA
2016
Guest Speaker
KXLU 88.9 FM · Los Angeles, CA
2016
Design Engineering: How Innovators Create Solutions
Wonder Women Tech · Los Angeles, CA
2016
UX Your Life: An Approach to Entrepreneurship & Authenticity
BIL Conference · Los Angeles, CA
2016
Launching Tech & Startup Communities
Silicon Beach Fest · Manhattan Beach, CA
2016
Launching a Business
Cisco Learning Network · Los Angeles, CA
2015
Guest Speaker, Innovation Mixer: Technology & Startups
TechSparks · Pasadena, CA
2015
Breaking into Technology
Women in Cable Telecommunications · Santa Monica, CA
2015
Launching a Business
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship · Los Angeles, CA
2015
Mentor & Advisor, Startup Bootcamp
SoGal · Los Angeles, CA
2015
How to UX Your Life, Design Thinking for Entrepreneurship
Innovate Pasadena · Pasadena, CA
2015
User Experience and Design Thinking
University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA
2015
Branding & Entrepreneurship
Branding for Women · Santa Monica, CA
2015
Techsparks Tech Crawl
TechSparks · Pasadena, CA
2015
Startup Ecosystem: Entrepreneurship & Design
Innovate Pasadena · Pasadena, CA
2014
User Experience in App Prototyping
General Assembly · Los Angeles, CA
2014
Female Entrepreneurship & Branding
Sparkfest · Los Angeles, CA
2014
Big Data: Marketing + Big Data in Today's Marketplace
Branding for Women · Marina Del Rey, CA
2014
Mentor & Advisor
Startup Weekend Pasadena · Pasadena, CA
2014
Mentor & Advisor
Startup Weekend USC · Los Angeles, CA
Testimonials
What Audiences Say
"Sonya Lee was the guest speaker at our UX Design and Tech Meetup. She was awesome and inspiring with her amazing storytelling of real life personal experiences. She was encouraging with her words of wisdom and practical tips for success. Sonya has my full endorsement as a great teacher and leader among many other talents."
Rhett Kuseski
UX Specialist and IT Systems Administrator
"Sonya Lee delivered an emotional and practical keynote that I caught in Nashville. She told an inspiring story about how her multicultural perspective was solidified by being raised abroad and in a Buddhist monastery. She tied her mindful upbringing to how one should think about scaling a start-up: holistically, considering the entire landscape, and getting help where one needs it. I would recommend Sonya for any keynote, webinar, or small group facilitation."
Aaron Abodeely
Director, Corporate Strategy, Evolutio
"I had the privilege to participate in one of Sonya's workshops. She is very compassionate and intelligent, and an expert at communicating information and educating others. The practical knowledge that I gained helped me create a direction for my business and develop a plan to achieve my goals. Beside being an expert in her profession, Sonya is a caring person and goes the extra mile to help others."
Koosha Damyar
Multidisciplinary Designer, Branding & Website Design
"I was fortunate enough to attend one of Sonya's workshops. I learned tangible tools to help me market and grow my business. More importantly she taught me how to tap into my emotions while working, how to connect with others and the importance of overcoming my fears so that I can be successful in life and my business. She's a great teacher, very knowledgeable and kind."
Brittanie Adaire Rodriguez
CEO, Brittanie Adaire Hikes
"Sonya is a great workshop speaker. She created a safe space for authentic conversations to flow. She helped everyone feel seen and heard. She shared many personal stories that helped everyone understand her journey more, and it enabled the attendees to open up and share their own."
Tiyia B
UX Designer
Let's Talk
Lets Have A Chat
Let's have an honest conversation about where your brand is leaking and what it would take to make it feel alive again.