Sonya Ruff Jarvis is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and founder of Jarvis Consultants, LLC, a strategy and marketing consulting firm she established in 2013.

After more than 20 years in Corporate America, Sonya launched Jarvis Consultants, where she has successfully led the firm for more than a decade, helping organizations navigate growth, change, and strategic transformation.

Her corporate career reflects leadership roles with some of the country's most respected publishing and event organizations. As Marketing Director for Times Mirror Magazines, she led marketing initiatives for nationally recognized titles including Popular Science, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and other consumer publications. She later joined Lebhar-Friedman as Retail Group Director of Conferences & Events, where she led the company's retail event portfolio and industry initiatives and was on the early launch team of the Pro Dealer Conference. Sonya then advanced to Reed Exhibitions, serving as Vice President of the National Hardware Show and Global Gaming Expo (G2E). In addition to leading those two flagship events, she developed a new role that oversaw attendee acquisition and customer engagement strategies for more than 20 trade shows reporting through the organization. During her tenure, she developed a global customer engagement model that was adopted by more than 20 organizations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, increasing exhibitor satisfaction, brand loyalty, and participation at international trade events.

Throughout her career, Sonya built her reputation across the Northeast, leading business initiatives and developing executive relationships throughout New York and Connecticut before recently relocating to North Carolina. Today, she continues to serve clients nationwide, bringing the same strategic perspective, entrepreneurial mindset, and hands-on approach that have defined her career.

Known for turning ideas into action, Sonya has more than 30 years of experience in business strategy, marketing, executive coaching, board advisement, business development, and strategic partnerships. She partners with small to mid-sized companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations to solve complex challenges, identify new opportunities for growth, and develop practical strategies that deliver measurable results.

Her reputation as a trusted advisor stems from her ability to build lasting high-level relationships, recognize emerging trends, and create innovative solutions. Under her leadership, Jarvis Consultants has helped organizations strengthen their market position through strategic planning, executive coaching, business development, and the recruitment of C-level thought leaders across multiple industries.

Beyond her consulting work, Sonya has served on corporate and nonprofit boards and is passionate about mentoring and coaching women leaders as they advance their careers and lead with confidence.

A four-time author and frequent speaker on leadership, entrepreneurship, and business growth, Sonya believes the strongest organizations are built on authentic relationships, innovative thinking, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Her career has been defined by helping leaders see opportunities where others see obstacles and building strategies that create long-term success.

Sonya earned her BA in Communication from Hiram College and her MBA in Marketing from New York Institute of Technology. She is married to Scott Jarvis, an attorney, and together they have a daughter in college.

In She Means Business, Sonya shares how her corporate career prepared her to take the entrepreneurial leap and build a successful consulting firm from the ground up. Through her chapter, The Roles Were Never the Jobs, she encourages women to recognize the value of every experience, trust their instincts, and confidently pursue opportunities that align with their purpose, strengths, and vision.