“Lead with purpose, intent, and by design,” Sofia Colantropo from Omnicom Media

Meet Sofia Colantropo, Chief Growth & Marketing Officer of Omnicom Media, where she oversees the growth practice across new business, strategic business initiatives, growth operations, PR and communications, brand marketing, experience, and data strategy and solutions. Throughout her career, Sofia has led more than $10B worth of award-winning pitches, bringing together storytelling, creativity, strategic thinking, and data-driven insights to deliver measurable growth. With more than two decades of experience across the media and marketing industry, she is known for building strong relationships, leading cross-functional teams, and helping keep Omnicom Media at the forefront of an ever-evolving media landscape.

Sofia sat down with Jocelyn Hudak, Senior Director, Content and Digital Marketing and Morgan James, Content Marketing Specialist at SiriusXM Media for Pass the Mic. Together, they discussed career pivots, confidence, mentorship, and why women shouldn’t wait until they feel perfectly ready to take the next step.

Check out Sofia’s full interview below, then listen to the key takeaways from the conversation.

Give yourself credit earlier.

Highlight: “I think that something that I would love to see is women give themselves credit earlier in their professional timeline… Things have changed in the last five to 10 years for sure, but I think we need to realize that some of the biggest growth moments in a career can happen because you stepped into something before you had all of those answers figured out. I would love to see more women trust that their capability and their potential actually matter just as much as their own perceived readiness to get there… Don't wait.” - Sofia Colantropo

Don’t let doubt become a decision maker.

Highlight: “Earlier in my career, I thought that doubt meant that I wasn't ready… I think doubt can be used as long as you don't let it stop you. It's almost like a homework checker of some sorts. It makes you pause for a minute. You can pressure test your thinking, and you ask, ‘Is this right? Am I seeing the big picture? Is there something I should be considering?’ So, I think while doubt exists, the key is just not letting that doubt become the decision maker for what you do moving forward…What I've learned is that confidence usually comes after you do the hard thing that you felt you couldn't do in the first place.” - Sofia Colantropo

It’s about purpose, intent, and design.

Highlight: "It's about purpose, it's about intent, and it's about design. Sometimes people will conflate purpose and intent… Being clear on the purpose, it's why we were building this thing in the first place. The intent was, what exactly were we trying to build and how did all those pieces fit together? And then the design piece was, how do we actually bring that to life in a way that felt connected for all of those disciplines, for all those people, and all in service of growth?… It's not just about driving growth as an outcome, but it's really about creating the space and the structure and the conditions that allow growth to happen in the first place.” - Sofia Colantropo

Know your strengths and use them with confidence.

Highlight: “If I had to be really specific about being a woman in the industry, I would say it means not trying to fit into one narrow definition of leadership necessarily, but instead knowing your strengths and really using them with confidence and having that conviction in yourself because everyone's leadership style is different.” - Sofia Colantropo

Push people to be the best versions of themselves.

Highlight: "You can be empathetic, but also really push people to be the best versions of themselves. That's something I really pride myself on understanding where people have strengths and really sharpening and honing those strengths so they can be the versions of themselves… And I do, I pride myself on that, being able to recognize that talent, be empathetic around it and really push them to be the best versions of themselves.” - Sofia Colantropo

Lead authentically.

Highlight: “Trust your instincts, build real relationships, take the opportunities before you feel that you're perfectly ready. And most importantly, don't underestimate the power of leading in the way that actually feels authentic to you… Being consistent enough that people know what they're getting from you and can trust who you are because of it, is something that should not be underestimated as people build their careers.”  - Sofia Colantropo

Sofia’s advice is a reminder that growth often begins before confidence fully arrives. Whether it’s using doubt as a tool, raising your hand before you feel ready, or leading in a way that feels authentic, her message is clear: trust your instincts, build real relationships, and don’t wait for permission to step into your potential. For more inspirational conversations, check out the Pass the Mic page.

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