Life is an Adventure. Let’s Explore the Journey Together!
In education and expanded learning, we often take the path less traveled – the unpaved trail that leads to exploration and adventure! The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is excited to spotlight the journeys of the BOOST Leadership and BOOST Ambassador teams in the Fall 2025 Collaborative Blog Series – Share Your Career Journey: Explore the Path We’ve Traveled. Thank you to these important BOOST partners for adventuring into the unknown for the betterment of our youth and communities.
Let’s see where the trail leads with Dr. Sonia Toledo (She/Her). Thank you, Dr. Toledo, for inviting us to join your journey! We appreciate you!
Explore the Path We’ve Traveled with BOOST Ambassador, Dr. Sonia Toledo (She/Her)
Dr. Toledo is the President & CEO for the Dignity of Children, Inc. in New York, NY, and is a proud BOOST Ambassador.
What is your career path journey? How did you get involved in the out-of-school time, expanded learning, and/or educational fields?
I started working with children in summer camps as a teenager, and it was then that I found joy in seeing young people discover themselves. From there, I moved up from group leader to coordinator, but I soon realized that experience alone wasn’t enough to grow. The YMCA, where I worked, valued education as much as experience. So, in my late 20s, I decided to go back to school.
Within three years, I earned my bachelor’s and master’s in human services from Lincoln University, where my thesis focused on the risks of out-of-school time for children in underserved communities. That was the turning point, when I truly saw myself as a professional in this field. From there, I dove deep into the national moment of youth development.
My work later took me across the world with the Council on Accreditation, visiting military youth programs from Germany to Guam, where I saw what quality and complete funding look like in practice. That experience showed me what was possible for every community.
By 2008, I had launched my own company, Dignity of Children, Inc., focused on training youth development professionals. I noticed frontline staff rarely received the same quality of training as directors, and I wanted to change that. So, I built programs that trained everyone on the same foundation of child development and promising practices.
Later, my doctoral dissertation explored the link between emotional intelligence and workplace stress. The results were clear: those with higher emotional intelligence experienced less stress. That’s the proof that emotional well-being isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s the foundation of effective leadership in youth development.
Today, as Dr. Sonia Toledo, I have the opportunity to speak on a national platform, sharing a critical message in this field: we all must lead with Emotional Intelligence.
What part of your career path has surprised you most?
What’s surprised me most is how youth development has become so institutionalized in some places, very “cookie-cutter.” That structure can rob programs of their heart and adaptability. Our field should be about community, creativity, and connection.
So, I continue to advocate for an approach that sees both children and adults “from the inside out.” Emotional growth and empathy aren’t luxuries; they are the soil that nourishes real learning.
Who has supported you on your journey as a mentor, colleague, or friend?
I’ve had some incredible mentors.
First, Eileen O’Connor, my first supervisor at the YMCA, showed me what compassionate, family-centered leadership looks like.
Then, there’s my dear friend, the late Jeannie Kerwin. She was my biggest cheerleader. Every time I doubted myself, whether going back to school or building my business, she’d say, “Keep going.” She believed in me, supported my kids, and helped me see the vision I was living into. She’s no longer with us, but her spirit continues to guide my work every day.
What keeps you in the field?
I stay because this isn’t a job, it’s a calling.
Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. I’ve lived through poverty, violence, and learning struggles. I know what it feels like to be invisible. That’s why I’ve devoted my life to helping young people develop the tools I once needed: self-awareness, self-worth, empathy, and the courage to build the life I deserve.
As you continue on the journey, what areas of leadership are you developing in yourself?
Right now, I’m focused on embodied leadership, walking my talk. That means caring for myself physically, emotionally, and cognitively so I can model what I teach.
As Maya Angelou said, “Be wary of the naked man offering you his shirt.” You can’t give what you don’t have. My mission is to help adults in our field build the emotional and executive-function skills to lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
What skills are the most crucial to succeeding in this field?
Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relationship management.
You can have all the technical skills in the world, but if you can’t regulate yourself, connect authentically, and collaborate with others, you’ll burn out fast.
These are not just “soft” skills; they’re core human skills. The kind that makes you effective anywhere, in any role, in any season of life.
What would you recommend others pack in their “career backpack”? Why are those items important?
Pack your why. Know your purpose.
Incorporate goal-setting, reflection practices, and a healthy dose of metacognition to gain insight into your thought process and foster personal growth. These tools clear the path for your vision and help you lead others with integrity.
And don’t forget the essentials: self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability. They’ll serve you in any career, any relationship, any life stage.
We’ve moved past the industrial “factory worker” mindset; this is the age of self-development. Your growth is your greatest asset.
Tell us about your BOOST adventure? When did you get started?
I joined the BOOST community in 2018, and my first workshop experience was electric! Throughout the years, I became an ambassador, a podcaster (Real Talk by Dr. Sonia Toledo), and yes, a proud Breakfast Club blogger.
BOOST is one of those rare spaces that combines fun, truth, and deep learning. Every year, I look forward to connecting with others who are just as passionate about this work. I’ve presented, moderated film festivals, and volunteered at every opportunity. The energy, the honesty, the community: it’s pure magic.
What is the best mistake you have made in your career? What did you learn from it?
I once took on a project that generated a good income, but it didn’t nourish my soul. It drained me. I kept doing it out of fear and scarcity, thinking I couldn’t afford to let it go.
That “mistake” became one of my most outstanding teachers. It taught me that fear creates more fear and that abundance comes from alignment, not exhaustion. I now only say yes to work that’s in harmony with my heart.
Today, for breakfast, I had…
Scrambled Eggs with Avocado, a little Vinaigrette, and some Bustelo Coffee, my fuel for another day of purpose and possibility.
Dr. Toledo, from all of us here at TEAMBOOST, thank you for inviting us to explore the path you’ve traveled and journey alongside you. We are excited to see where the adventure will lead as you INSPIRE YOUTH, INSPIRE LEARNING, and INSPIRE CHANGE.
Meredith White
Dr. Toledo, I love this sentence that you included in your BOOST Breakfast Club blog post:
“We’ve moved past the industrial “factory worker” mindset; this is the age of self-development. Your growth is your greatest asset.”
What a powerful reminder to invest in ourselves, our development, and to take the time to expand on our experiential learning capacity. This brings to mind the importance of community. Being together in spaces where we can connect on ideas, challenge our assumptions, and build collective knowledge is critical to the future of the field. This is why BOOST is so important – looking forward to spending time with you in the coming months! Meredith
Deanna Underwood
I love that you’ve been in the field since you were a teen – and still going strong! Thanks for always being a phenomenal Ambassador, we appreciate you ❤