1. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
SUMMARY
I am a multi-cultural Human Resources executive with vast experience in leading organizations in
constant transformation.
As Global Diversity Executive at IBM, I lead the implementation of our inclusion beliefs of leveraging
differences globally, as well extending IBM’s societal influence around the globe.
Last year I led key initiatives for a highly selective group of IBM senior executives to lead the
transformation of IBM to become an Agile Culture, based on principles of clarity to enable an
environment of listening, iterating and learning. An environment that values people over process.
Along my career, I have lead teams across the world – in Latin America, China, Middle East, Europe,
India, Asia Pacific, and covered a vast array of areas within Human Resources, including executive
development, organizational consulting, staffing, recruitment, retention, internal investigations,
performance management, compensation, employee/labor relations, assimilation, and executive
development. I have had responsibilities over operations with up to 10k employees and a total of 436M
USD in budget (excluding benefits).
While on international assignment in Mexico, I was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in
Business in México by CNN/Expansión two years in a row. I received the Best of IBM recognition, an
award given only to 500 out of the 500,000 employees in IBM. I was also a member of the Mexican
Delegation in the 2014 Women’s Forum for Economy and Society, in France.
I have a proven record of executing and delivering results constantly, through bringing the best in each
individual. I am known for having a low threshold for mediocrity and my achievements demonstrate a
constant focus on improving the agility of the organization.
I have a BS in Psychology, a Masters in Human Resources, and I speak English, Spanish, French and
Portuguese.
1

2. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
BIOGRAPHY
Sofía was born and raised in México City. She attended the English Maddox Academy from
kindergarten through high-school. The college where she obtained her Psychology degree sits right in the heart
of Distrito Federal, the University of the Americas. While working for IBM in Mexico, she attended a class in Long
Island (Center of Education for HR), Sofía met her husband. She moved to the US and started working for IBM
US into the IBM Latin America Division.
In IBM US, Sofía has worked in multiple locations and roles. She worked on several multi-country
projects, traveled constantly in Latin America as lead of several projects, and obtained her Masters in Human
Resources from Mercy College. She was the Human Resources Director for IBM México, and most recently
came back from international assignment as Leader of Executive Development in Corporate Human Resources.
Today she is the Executive for Global Diversity, with responsibility over Asia Pacific, Europe, Greater China
Group, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Sofa has lead teams across the world and has covered a vast array of
areas within Human Resources, including executive development, organizational consulting, staffing, recruitment,
retention, internal investigations, performance management, compensation, employee/labor relations,
assimilation, and executive development.
In her years of experience, Sofia has developed a clear predilection for working close to the line, where
she believes the value of HR comes to fruition. She has a passion for inclusion and mentorship. Apart from
English, she speaks Spanish, French and Portuguese. She is an active mentor for HR professionals both in the
US and in Latin America.
Sofía looks forward to continue demonstrating her dedication to the company’s bottom line and to
achieving success through challenging projects and assignments. In a world that changes constantly, she is
always ready for opportunities to adapt, make a difference, and help the full organization excel, through bringing
the best in each one of them. Her low threshold for mediocrity and constant work to increase the agility of the
organization serve organizations looking to excel accomplish their goals.
In 2013 Sofía was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in México by CNN/Expansión,
She got awarded the same honor in 2014. She received the Best of IBM recognition, an award given only to 500
out of the 500,000 employees in IBM. She was also a member of the Hispanic Delegation in the 2014 Women’s
Forum for Economy and Society, in France.
2

3. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
Sofía is a writer and has published two books about raising twins being a working mother, one in Spanish
(Dos), and in English (Twins: Seeing Double).
3

4. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
RESUME - PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
IBM Executive, Global Diversity
Diversity responsibility over Asia Pacific, Europe, Greater China Group, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Lead
Diversity into the next era by implementing a new strategy based on leadership beliefs, involvement and
accountability of providing access, participation and representation of diverse talent as well as going beyond
inclusion into engagement, leveraging differences globally, and extending IBM’s societal influence into continuous
innovation.
IBM Senior Leadership Development Executive (and acting Director for full LD function)
Responsible for ensuring we have world-class leadership development. Build off our legacy of excellence while
helping to transform the organization through the introduction of leading edge, best-in-class, comprehensive
leadership development programs. The customers of these offerings are the highest level of IBM hierarchy
(SVPs, PT, G&TT). Led a key initiative for senior VPs lead the transformation of IBM to become an Agile Culture,
based on principles of clarity and better understanding the user experience to invoke deep empathy to identify
users’ problems. This is creating the environment that enables IBMers to unleash their potential and innovation.
An environment of listening, iterating and learning. An environment that values people over process.
Also acting for the full LD organization, which includes all other LD segments: new executives, experienced
executives and leaders in pipeline to executives.
IBM México Human Resources Leader
Leader responsible for all aspects of Human Resources, including organizational consulting, staffing, recruitment,
retention, internal investigations, performance management, compensation, employee/labor relations,
assimilation, and executive development. Sponsor for innovative strategies to accompany the double digit
revenue growth of IBM México. Responsible for 10k employee organization, a total of 436M USD in budget
(excluding benefits).
IBM HR Manager and Business Unit Leader
Supporting four STG organizations in IBM (Storage, Networking, System x and RSS) totaling 9k employees in 25
countries, with a total revenue of 10B. Lead and managed three acquisitions and one divestiture. Delivered
creative methods of retention for the sales and technical populations, with a sustained top contributor attrition
decrease over her tenure in the role.
IBM HR Manager and Location Leader
People manager for HR Partners in the US West Area, consisting of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and
Washington, which includes supporting all managers and executives in those areas, as well as those in GBS
4

5. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
organizations in other states of the West (California, Colorado, New Mexico). Responsible for successful
implementation and deployment of HR programs. She represented IBM in Arizona in several local councils.
IBM HR Partner Lead
Lead HR Partner for the Hardware Development/Enterprise Systems organization. Responsible for support to
program implementation, and evolved with time to be a trusted organizational advisor/consultant. Aided the
executive team with a complex leadership transition in 1Q07. Designed plans with the supported executives to
improve clarity in communication and to address leadership performance issues. Led the HR Hispanic initiative.
IBM Sales Talent
Talent partner, supporting WW S&D, and Americas S&D. Subject matter expert on International Assignments,
Top Talent, and Diversity. Implemented Executive Connections, a mentoring program to help build future diverse
leadership pipeline. Implemented programmatic approach to diversity business reviews. Designed and
implemented Skills for Growth, a new resource management tool in IBM US that produced 5.9M in annual
savings. Executed the Climate and Employee Survey for the sales and technical population.
IBM Workforce Management
HR Senior Professional with responsibility over WW Attrition and US LOA programs. Implemented the Managed
Attrition and Top Contributor Attrition WW metrics. Managed all US employee appeals related to involuntary
separations. Team lead for the implementation of the first furlough in IBM US. Lead for the WW process and tool
implementation of the workplace indicator in IBM Standards/HRIT (work at home, office, customer, etc.)
Personal leave of absence
Took fulltime Maternity LOA to deliver and take care of twins.
IBM Latin America HQ
Hired in IBM US. Worked in LA HQ with responsibility for Global Pulse Survey, HR Partner for Software Group,
HRIW geography implementation, HRAccess consolidated implementation for Andean and Spanish-speaking
South America countries, and new employee induction LA project. Supported employee relations LAHQ cases.
Banco Nacional de México
HR advisor to the US-México Investment and Labor Relations VP in Manhattan, NYC.
IBM México
Hired in IBM Mexico. Joined as a part-timer while finishing up college. Responsible for the Suggestions program,
work climate improvement initiatives, ranking, Opinion Survey and support to Employee Relations, lead for Speak
Up’s, among other local programs.
5

6. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
EDUCATION
University of the Americas BA in Clinical/Industrial Psychology México City
Mercy College Masters in Human Resources New York, USA
Languages:
English - excellent
Spanish – native
French – proficient
Portuguese - proficient
6

7. SOFIA BONNET HOLLIS
sofiabonnet@hotmail.com mx.linkedin.com/in/sofiabonnet
EDUCATION
University of the Americas BA in Clinical/Industrial Psychology México City
Mercy College Masters in Human Resources New York, USA
Languages:
English - excellent
Spanish – native
French – proficient
Portuguese - proficient
6