Sonya Janahi is the Founder & CEO for Maya La Chocolaterie, Maya Delices and its parent company, ‘SJ Investments’; a hospitality and F&B consultancy mandated to inspire home-grown innovative concepts with vast potential to turn them into international franchise names. Sonya founded Maya La Chocolaterie over 16 years ago as... Read more
Sonya Janahi is the Founder & CEO for Maya La Chocolaterie, Maya Delices and its parent company, ‘SJ Investments’; a hospitality and F&B consultancy mandated to inspire home-grown innovative concepts with vast potential to turn them into international franchise names.
Sonya founded Maya La Chocolaterie over 16 years ago as the first artisan chocolate brand in Bahrain and has since evolved it into a successful brand synonymous with some of the best chocolatiers in the world. Her love for chocolate inspired her to pursue a qualification in Ecole Chocolate and she is a Certified Professional Chocolatier and a mentor and guide to the Chefs of Maya.
Boasting a distinguished career that spans over two decades working in the banking and telecom industries, and with specialized know-how in the areas of retail, investment, oil & gas and real estate, Sonya has applied her expertise to strategically diversify and evolve the family business, carving its growth path beyond Bahrain, to international territories, through best-in-class partnerships and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Sonya is widely commended for her entrepreneurial spirit; she has sought to make a difference as an enabler of change, advocating for the region’s SME sector and using her own story of achievements and failures to stimulate progress in the realm of entrepreneurship as well as to empower all.
In March 2018, Sonya won a board seat at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry and her role is focused on supporting the F&B and hospitality sector of Bahrain. She won a 2nd term of the Bahrain Chamber board seat in 2024. Between August 2018 and March 2024, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain issued an official decree appointing Sonya as a board member of the Social Insurance Organization (pension fund). She retained this position for 2 terms, a total of 6 years. In June 2024, Sonya won a titular board seat at the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the first Arab women to represent the Arab & Asian countries on the ILO Governing Body and first Arab women to have a VP position representing Asia group under the International Organization of Employers (IOE). In 2024 His Majesty appointed Sonya as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bahrain.
Staying humble and grounded, Sonya is dedicated to giving back to the community and works closely with charities close to her heart to improve the quality of life so the community can thrive. She is an ambassador of the Smile Initiative, supporting children with cancer.
Sonya holds a master’s degree in strategic marketing from Hull University, in the United Kingdom.
Sonya has two daughters. Over and above her passion for chocolate, she enjoys exploring new countries and cultures, mentoring and the art of cooking and making chocolate.
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You can book Sonya Janahi through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Sonya's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Sonya Janahi's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Sonya tailored to your event.
Sonya Janahi speaks on Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Sonya to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Sonya Janahi for events worldwide, subject to Sonya's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Sonya Janahi is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Sonya can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Sonya Janahi on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Sonya can offer.
Sonya Janahi delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Sonya Janahi's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation. To get a clear sense of Sonya's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Sonya Janahi can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation is relevant. Details of Sonya's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Sonya Janahi is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Sonya Janahi, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Sonya's current availability for your dates.