2019 WISE (Women Who Ignite Student Engagement) Symposium Program

Sonja Rosario
Vice President of Human Resources, U.S. Retail Bank & Mortgage, Citigroup
Sonja Rosario has been a progressive HR Leader for over 13 years in various industries. As a VP in HR at
Citigroup, she has successfully led various businesses in our Global Markets & Securities Services, International
Personal Bank, and is now leading the HR Strategy in the U.S. Retail Bank & Mortgage. She also serves on the Black
Executive Leadership Committee and the Hispanic/Latino Heritage Network, championing diversity and
inclusivity, talent development, and enhancing the employee experience.
Being in HR and a Psychology major, I’ve developed a superpower of being able to read people, i.e. determine
character and predict potential. Having this power made me very successful in recruiting, assessing top talent,
finding hidden potential, handling employee investigations, and negotiating.
Prior to joining Citi, Sonja worked at Ultimate Medical Academy and Deloitte. She’s a proud graduate
of the University of Florida. In her spare time, she loves to travel, practice yoga, and
spend time with her adorable Chihuahua Bella.
Nicole Stokes ’03, MA, CLU, ChFC, CLTC
Managing Director and Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Nicole Stokes is a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual. Known for her energetic and supportive
approach, she helps individuals, families and business owners craft a financial plan that aligns with their
values and goals. Her business background is diverse, including leading the New Tampa office as a
managing director, the Westshore office as the district director, teaching at the collegiate level, and
being a leader of a unique nonprofit enterprise, Ekhos.
Nicole has earned numerous accolades at Northwestern Mutual and from outside organizations. Most recently,
she was a Tampa Bay Business Journal 2018 Business Woman of the Year honoree. She was a featured speaker
at the Northwestern Mutual Women Connect Symposium and the managing director annual conference, as well as
the Working Women’s State Conference and the Sharp Heels Summit. She recently was a contributor in Pregnancy
Magazine, Marie Claire and the Tampa Bay Business Journal. A mother of three daughters, she was also a
featured guest on the nationally syndicated radio show, Mom Talk.
Nicole has been involved with several community organizations over the years. For three years, she served
as chair of the Community Action Committee benefitting Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and she currently
chairs the Inclusion Council board. In addition, she sits on the membership committee for USF’s Women
in Leadership and Philanthropy. She earned both her B.A. and M.A. from the University of South Florida
and her CLU, ChFC and CLTC from American College.
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