Portfolio – Technology Executive, Product Strategist & Innovation Leader in AI, Cloud, and Enterprise Solutions

Sonia is a recognized technology leader and innovation strategist based in Silicon Valley, with a proven track record of driving enterprise transformation and delivering award-winning solutions.

She began her pioneering career at IBM, where she led the development of AJS, one of the world’s first touchscreen, Cisco-connected network systems — an innovation that earned the Smithsonian Award for Technological Excellence in Washington, D.C.

Sonia has since held strategic leadership roles ranging from Director to Vice President at global technology firms including Telstra, Lucent Technologies (Bell Labs Innovation, later Alcatel-Lucent/Nokia Networks), F5 Networks, Intel Corporation, and IBM. She also serves as a management consultant and strategy advisor for emerging Silicon Valley startups, advising on go-to-market strategies and technology roadmaps.

Her unique blend of enterprise technology leadership, product development, and digital consulting enables her to bridge technical innovation with business outcomes. With deep expertise in AI, cloud computing, agile delivery, and enterprise applications, Sonia drives impactful product strategies focused on customer experience, scalable innovation, and competitive growth.

Key Achievements & Leadership Impact

Sonia Randhawa is a recognized thought leader in corporate innovation strategy, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and civic/social innovation. Her work centers on identifying exponential technology trends, creating future-ready strategies, and translating insights into impactful products, platforms, and prototypes that deliver real customer value and business growth.

With a global career spanning over two decades, Sonia has led teams at every level — from pre-IPO startups to Fortune 100 enterprises — holding senior roles that shaped business transformation and product innovation at scale. She is a results-driven technology executive with deep expertise in:

• Program and portfolio management

• Product development and new product introductions (NPI)

• Supply chain and supplier development

• Enterprise platforms — software, hardware, and services

Sonia has successfully built and scaled world-class engineering teams, delivering global R&D and operations excellence. Her cross-functional leadership spans both technical and business domains, with a reputation for fostering innovation ecosystems and establishing scalable delivery frameworks.

Her achievements also include leading strategic partnerships, mergers & acquisitions (M&A) integration, business model transformation, and technology incubation. Sonia consistently drives operational innovation and cultivates high-performing, diverse technical talent aligned to long-term strategic goals.

Educational Background

Sonia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Sciences and Engineering from Australia and an MBA from the United States, combining technical depth with business leadership. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP) certified by the Project Management Institute since 2005, demonstrating long-standing expertise in program and project execution.

She is also a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM), showcasing her strong foundation in Agile methodologies and modern software delivery practices.

Additionally, Sonia is an alumna of the prestigious Stanford Executive Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, further enriching her ability to lead high-impact innovation, product strategy, and enterprise transformation in today’s evolving technology landscape.

Early Life & Background

Born in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and raised in Sydney, Australia, Sonia grew up in a Himachali Jatt Hindu family. She is native fluent in Hindi and Pahari, languages she learned during summers visiting her grandparents in India, giving her a strong multicultural perspective that informs her global leadership style.

Sonia’s passion for technology began early — she started tinkering with computers at age 12 and secured her first professional role by age 20, kickstarting a lifelong career in innovation.

Educated at a Catholic private school in Sydney, Sonia balanced academics with athletics. A dedicated cricket player, she represented her school, local club, and North Region, and was selected for the Under-19 Cricket Australia National Championships as an opening fast bowler. These sports experiences helped her develop teamwork, discipline, and resilience, qualities that have defined her collaborative leadership.

During college, Sonia’s sibling submitted her photo for the Miss India Australia Beauty Pageant, which celebrates Indian heritage within the Australian-Indian community. Sonia was chosen as Miss India Australia, highlighting her confidence, cultural pride, and strong communication skills — attributes that continue to influence her professional journey.