The Ireland Podcast7 Huhti 2025

154. Sonya Lennon: Designing Positive Impact

Episode 154: Sonya Lennon began her career in fashion as a stylist, then broadcaster, and designer. Now, as a passionate equality advocate, she has turned her sights on designing better workplaces and a better society. Fender Jackson chats with Sonya in her Dublin home on 1 April 2025.

Conversation includes: introductions; occupations; permission; childhood in Malahide; family background; being driven; being an ENTJ personality type (Myers Briggs); benevolence bias; Sonya’s interest in communication from an early age; Loreto College burning with the tragic deaths of six elderly nuns on June 2, 1986; Sonya pioneering online shopping; brogues and legwarmers; fashion virality; the thrill of empowering people; doing a Masters in Business Equity, Diversity and Inclusion under the recognition of prior learning programme (RPL); selling and trust; becoming a stylist; to move or not to move to London; working for the RTÉ makeover show ‘Off The Rails’ in 2008; the global recession; media training for moving as a stylist into the role of TV Presenter; celebrity and pressure; reticular activation system; goals vs. direction of travel; Leading Ireland’s Future Together (LIFT); Work Equal; Lennon Courtney; Kilkenny Design; DEI in USA today; “affirmative action” and quotas; homophily and monoculture; ‘A Cry From The Far Middle’ by P. J. O’Rourke; Sonya’s time split; meditation; sea swimming; Peter Cat Recording Co.; Prince; CMAT; Madeleine Peyroux; plans for the future and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://sonyalennon.com/

Additional Links

https://liftireland.ie/

https://workequal.ie/

https://www.lennoncourtney.com/

Ep. 154 Spotify Playlist

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