With one year left before going to university, Sonia Marta, now 17 and a published author from the age of 10, is an incredibly disciplined teen. One of the youngest motivational influencers started her career inspiring over 5,000 children and students around the world to find and follow their purpose, and the influence she’s having is inevitably making a huge impact.
Marta has spent over 7 years touring kindergartens, schools, high schools, universities and more recently, parents showcasing her journey as a writer, daring her audiences to start executing their goals.
Her biggest pivot point? Observing how after speaking to teenagers across multiple countries she was limited to sharing her message with only hundreds at a time, she took a bold decision. That of launching a podcast that would answer all the questions awakened in her when reading the books of the authors she now features on her show. For Marta, this acted as a catalyst that allowed her to reach an audience of thousands of people globally.
Where It All Started
Sonia Marta’s podcasting journey began with curiosity. “I dared to message some of the role models I looked up to,” the young changemaker posits confidently. Like all entrepreneurs, she thinks, “It’s best to just start and plant a seed towards your future every day.” Marta looks back in awe, reflecting on the first discussion she shared on The SMARTA Podcast with global keynote speaker Andrew Bryant, smiling at how the show evolved from there.
The SMARTA Podcast’s Mission and Vision
Sonia recalls listening to plenty of podcasts in the past overwhelming her with technical terms and demoralising her with the myth of needing years of expertise to become successful.
Her endearing initiative was to flip the narrative from two successful people in a room to a young and determined individual discussing to millionaires, CEOs, NYT bestselling authors about the best way to start. Through this refreshing perspective, Marta simplifies the road to achieving a person’s dream life through tailoring her content seamlessly for the new generation.
How to Succeed As a Young Person
It’s easy to look at Sonia’s resume and think she’s simply gifted. But she’s quick to clarify: “I’m not an exception. I just chose to start and stay consistent.” She credits her podcast’s impact to the principle of execution over comparison, citing research that says we spend 10% of our brain activity comparing ourselves to others daily.
For Sonia, that’s time better spent building something that matters. “Whether it’s five listeners or five thousand, I care about showing young people what’s possible when they believe in themselves,” she says.
Why You Should Go the Extra Mile
Despite her accomplishments, being featured on Forbes Kids, Women Leading the Way, and news broadcasts, Sonia dedicates a fair amount of time proving the power consistency brings. For her, this was as evident as switching her podcast from audio to video this year, unleashing several opportunities for her to grow. This brought her increased social media engagement, and something Marta thought unattainable this early in her career: two collaborations with companies. The focus she devoted connected her with these communities that share the same values of nurturing and developing future leaders.
“School teaches subjects. But it rarely teaches you to believe in your own potential. That’s what I’m here to change,” she states.
She’s particularly passionate about showing that leadership doesn’t come with age—it comes with intention. It is clear that her mission relates to thousands of people her age, as a recent report showcased her impressive 250,000 impressions across the various platforms she’s broadcasting her content.
Sonia Marta’s Call to Action To The Younger Generation
The mission Sonia embarked on is simple, “I want to remind people that they’re capable of achieving the life of their dreams,” she says with a warm smile.
She urges young people to stay curious, be generous with their knowledge, and never let labels or limited experience define them. “Success isn’t linear,” Marta adds, following Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s saying. “But it’s always attainable if you stay kind, resilient, and curious.
