Sonya has served as deputy secretary of business and consumer relations at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH), overseeing 11 state departments, since 2015. She works closely with departments that administer programs to license businesses including the alcoholic beverage industry and the cannabis industry. Previously, Sonya served as director of external affairs at the California Exposition and State Fair, as deputy appointments secretary in the office of Gov. Jerry Brown, and served four administrations in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor as capitol director, fiscal analyst and administrative assistant.