For Soniya Soniya, pursuing an EMBA at IMD was a major milestone in her leadership journey. What made her experience unique was that she embarked on the program while also navigating pregnancy and early motherhood. Rather than seeing these two commitments as conflicting, she saw them as complementary – each teaching her invaluable lessons in prioritization, resilience, and adaptability.
Originally from India, Soniya, an aircraft engineer, worked at North-Wright Airways and Pilatus Aircraft in Canada and Switzerland before stepping into a leadership role at Pratt & Whitney. As a regional manager, she oversees engine maintenance operations across Europe, balancing the complexities of her industry with the demands of leadership.
Committing to an EMBA meant adding yet another dimension to an already demanding life. But for Soniya, the opportunity to deepen her business acumen and leadership skills was too enticing to pass up. “The motivation didn’t come from one big thing, but from many small things,” she said.
“I had to mentally prepare myself during and after pregnancy every single day to pursue the mastery stage of EMBA,” she reflected. “Motherhood did not change my ambitions – it strengthened them. If I committed to this course and had to leave my newborn at home for travel to Lausanne and Discovery expeditions, it had to be worth it. That’s the promise I made to myself.”
She also wanted to set an example for the women in her life – her friends, cousins, and sisters back home – to show that it was possible to achieve personal ambitions while managing motherhood and career. “If you have the right mindset and the right support system, women can excel in both.”
Mastering prioritization and discipline
Soniya attributes her ability to balance an EMBA, a full-time job, and a newborn to structured prioritization and a strong support network.
“There were days when I lacked the motivation or energy to juggle everything,” she admits. “But carving out structured time blocks helped me stay on track. I also practiced ruthless prioritization – I had to be extremely clear on what mattered most and what could wait. I delegated at work and at home to maximize efficiency, even listening to study materials during my commute.” These small but intentional strategies helped her maintain focus and progress through the program.
A support network that made the difference
Beyond the support of her husband, family, and friends, Soniya credits IMD’s individualized Leadership coaching as a key factor in her success. “Giving us that space where we could be open was a huge moment of self-awareness. We all talk about positivity, but we often do not talk about what our blind spots are. So that’s where IMD helped in this journey,” she said.
Another aspect was the support she received from her Case team Allison, Antonio, Frank, and Jesper. “The kind of support that I received from them, especially during a low event was immensely powerful,” she shared. “Another learning from this is that sometimes opening up to people can lead to power and knowing that there are people who are willing to help you out with a situation.”
Leadership redefined: Learning to embrace agility
Her experience also helped her to think differently about leadership, having been more accustomed to structured problem-solving – a hallmark of her engineering background.
“I used to believe leadership was about always having the answers upfront,” she explained. “The program challenged that assumption. Today is a fast-moving world and leadership today is no longer about having all the answers, but about being agile, being adaptable, and being willing to pivot your strategy in response to the changing circumstances and disruptions. I have learned to embrace the uncertainty and trust in my ability to lead through that change.”
One of the most defining exercises for Soniya was IMD’s Leadership module Lifeline Exercise, where participants reflect on their most pivotal life moments. “That was a standout moment for me to reflect on how blessed I have been throughout my life, and not only that but how important it is to pause and reflect on anything that you have achieved in your life so far because we never reflect and we take many things for granted.”
Rethinking work-life integration
It also led her to reconsider the traditional notion of work-life balance, advocating instead for work-life integration. “There are days when work demands more of me, and there are going to be days where family demands more of me. I have learned that prioritizing a healthy work-life integration is a healthier approach,” she said.
“I now see them as interconnected elements that contribute to my overall well-being, creating synergies between the two to create a better version of myself.”
She is also a strong advocate for better organizational policies for working parents. “I have definitely seen a shift, but we do need more changes,” she said, listing shared parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and greater leadership opportunities for working mothers as a priority as key to how companies can support women in leadership.
What’s next?
Since completing her EMBA, has been focused on applying her learnings in practical ways. At Pratt & Whitney, she has already made strategic shifts in how business reviews are conducted quarterly, prioritizing customer insights.
For those considering an EMBA while navigating major life transitions, her advice is clear: “Do it. But be intentional about it. Engage deeply – and what I mean by it, don’t just attend classes, learn from your peers, challenge conventional thinking, and apply what you learn in real-time and most importantly, have an open mind: the more you give, the more you receive out of it.”
Her message to women is one of encouragement. “You have to create that opportunity for yourself to propel further because there is never going to be a perfect time. Just create that perfect time,” she shared.
