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Sonya Looney

 

Member profile details

First name
Sonya
Last name
Looney
 

Personal information

Bio
Sonya Looney is renowned for her mental toughness, positive mindset, and record-breaking mountain biking achievements across 25+ countries. As a World Champion and 4x USA National Champion, her curiosity, passion for personal growth, and spirit of exploration fuel her mission to help people thrive at the intersection of performance and well-being.

Through her weekly podcast, The Sonya Looney Show, her 10+ years of writing in mainstream publications, and her work as a TEDx and keynote speaker, Sonya brings energy, insight, and storytelling to inspire others to reach their full potential.

Sonya is also a dedicated performance coach, working with goal-oriented individuals and teams in both sports and business. Certified as an NBC-HWC (National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach), she helps others align their ambitions with sustainable well-being. Alongside her coaching work, she holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP).

Her insights have been featured in publications like The Washington Post, Outside Magazine, Bicycling, and more. Her stories and mindset have also been highlighted in several books, including a New York Times bestseller. She regularly collaborates with elite athletes, businesses, and researchers, showcasing her ability to support high-performing individuals and teams.
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Professional Information

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Primary Focus
The intersection of performance and well-being.
Primary Focus Details
Perfectionism,coaching, consulting, speaking, workshops, and writing about the intersection of performance and well-being. With experience at the highest levels of sport paired with education, she has a unique skillset.
Professional Area
  • Business
  • Education
  • Sports / Fitness
Active Professional Interests
  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Family/Parents
  • Humanities
  • Mindfulness
  • Yoga
Professional Skills
  • Coaching
  • Consulting
  • Leadership development
  • Radio host
  • Speaking
  • Teaching resilience
  • Writing
Coach Training
  • 60+ Hours Coach Training
  • Professional Certification
Fluent in Languages
  • English
Certifications
NBC-HWC (National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach)

Plant-Based Nutritional Studies from eCornell

Certified Coach- Vanderbilt University
 

Education

Degrees Before MAPP
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering with a focus on Neuroscience; 2007.
 

Social Media

Twitter
@sonyalooney
Instagram
@sonyalooney
 

Speaking Experience

Interested in Speaking Referrals
Yes
Speaking Topics
Mental Game: Building Resilience and Performance)

Topics under this umbrella I tailor to my audience:
Defining Success
Goalsetting strategies
Savoring
Training Optimism and Self-Talk
Performance Psychology skills
Meaning and Purpose
Character Strengths
Mindfulness
Motivation and Passion
Managing Expectations
Understanding self worth and identity
Experience speaking to large audiences
Yes
Recommendations
I have spoken at TEDx, for the military, tech conferences, entrepreneurship and startup conferences, health and wellness conferences, and for lawyers, engineers, and financial planners.
 

Publications

Blog logo
Media: Radio, TV, or podcasts
Capstone title and abstract
Beyond Perfectionism: The Role of Social Contribution and Purpose in Accomplishment

Abstract:

This capstone is concerned with perfectionists’ evaluation of their accomplishments. It includes a brief introduction to positive psychology and a review of the literature that examines how perfectionism and different types of goals relate to social contribution, purpose in life, mattering, and examines the various emotions associated with accomplishment and social impact. The second half includes a qualitative study with individuals high in self-oriented perfectionism, testing the hypothesis that perfectionists experience a greater sense of accomplishment through contribution goals rather than achievement goals. Six themes emerged from this study that contributed to a theoretical framework. The findings reveal that redefining success to include both personal and socially meaningful goals and incorporating a specific form of savoring can enable perfectionists to experience a heightened sense of accomplishment and purpose. The proposed theoretical model suggests that there are two types of satisfying goals with savoring as a moderator, enhancing the positive effects of goal attainment on well-being. Different mediating factors influence personal or other-focused goals. This research offers practical interventions to help perfectionists shift from self-validation to purpose and meaningful contribution, ultimately enhancing mattering and psychological well-being.
 

Contact data

Province/State
BC
Country
Canada
MAPP Geography
  • Canada
 

MAPP Information

MAPP Graduation Year
2024
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