Sonia Marta is a bestselling and award-winning author, podcaster and content creator, student at the International British School of Bucharest. Her most acclaimed story by teachers and the international community, is The Rapping Astronaut (2020), an award-winning children’s book, along with Bucharest City Tour, a Trip with Sonia (2020). In 2023, Marta co-authored Women Leading the Way (2023), a collection of stories of successful women launched at the London Book Fair (LBF23′).
Her mission, inspiring the youth to follow their dreams, brought about her recognition at the Women Changing the World Awards Gala (2023), where she won Silver in the category Young Women Changing the World.
She is the host of The SMARTA Podcast, a biweekly show on leadership with executives and bestselling authors exploring how to achieve success, dedicated to the younger audience.
- How did the SMARTA Podcast come to be, and where did you get inspiration?
I’ve always been interested in leadership and personal development, and I felt something was missing to young people like me. We’re often told what we should be doing or aspiring for, but seldom are we given the chance to hear directly from those who’ve made a difference. I thought, why not create a medium where we can learn directly from the best? I wanted to entertain conversations with leaders and professionals who could share their experiences and insights in a way that resonates with young people. The podcast grew life from there, and now I’m on a mission to reach 100,000 teens and young adults, inspiring them to find their interests and passions, and most importantly, their paths to success.
Broadening my knowledge was always my priority, and I was captivated by listening to podcasts on becoming the best version of yourself backed by leading industry experts. Amongst all the books in my library, there were always personal development books that I’d flip through or devote time to read. Somehow, the subject matter has been a part of me since I was small. The idea of a podcast came more from when I told myself, ‘I want to create a powerful tool teenagers can access worldwide to help them become more productive from all aspects of their lives, and set them on track for their future passions.’
Since I started my career as an author, I saw the impact inspiring the new generation had when visiting over 4,000 children and high school students. Their interest and curiosity for wanting to succeed in achieving their own goals moved me; more than five children reached out to me, eager to show me how their inspiration led them to publish their very own book. These moments prove how important young role models are for children. That is why I firmly believe this podcast can inspire so many more young leaders.
- How do you choose your guests, and what do you hope to achieve with each conversation?
I choose to be especially intentional about the guests I invite—people who inspire me, whom I follow on social media for their talks, or whose books I have read and wanted to explore further. I look for professionals with expertise and a genuine passion for sharing their knowledge in a relatable and impactful way.
I aim to make complex topics like leadership, marketing, coaching or healthy habits accessible to a younger audience. I want my listeners to feel motivated enough to start taking control of their lives and make them realise that achieving success at a young age doesn’t have to be intimidating.
Each episode is carefully crafted to translate complex ideas – be they about leadership, creativity, sport, sales, or business—into relatable and actionable insights tailored to the challenges faced by young individuals. I ask questions that I had growing up, and that speak directly to their experiences, such as finding direction, overcoming doubts, and turning ideas into action.
- What are some common themes or challenges you’ve noticed young people face, regardless of where they’re from?
One common theme I’ve noticed is their lack of intentionality and planning for their future. Many young people feel pressured to have everything figured out whether in high school, university, or just starting their careers. I’ve noticed a lot of unease about choosing the right path, making the right decisions, and living up to expectations—both from others and themselves. Another challenge is the desire for authenticity and connection. We live in a hyper-connected world, yet many young people feel isolated or misunderstood. They’re looking for honest role models who’ve faced struggles and setbacks and can show them that it’s okay to fail and keep going. That’s why my intention is to focus on honest and vulnerable conversations, where my guests share not just their successes but also their challenges and what they’ve learned along the way.
- You’ve interviewed a diverse range of experts. Can you share some of the most impactful lessons you’ve learned from your guests?
What interviewing successful people biweekly taught me is the value everyone has. From every guest I have learnt something new, for instance, the global expert on self-leadership, Andrew Bryant talked about the importance of self-leadership and how we can’t lead others if we can’t lead ourselves first. He emphasised the need for self-awareness and resilience, especially when facing challenges.
From Anthony Tasgal, the expert on making people care, I learned about the power of storytelling in marketing and how we can use our personal stories to connect with others on a deeper level.
Dalia Feldheim’s message on leading like a girl was truly inspiring; she challenged us to embrace empathy, passion, and resilience as strengths, not weaknesses.
Each conversation has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to lead, grow, and inspire future leaders. This season more stories are to be discovered by teens from my discussions I had as well with Kelly Lundberg, Blaine Rada, Thomas Kolster, Jason Allan Scott, Rob Volpe, Scott Freidman, Dr. Loretta Breuning, Ellen Galinsky, Elaine Lin Hering, Scott Greenberg, Jerry Acuff, Douglas Thompson, Kelly Lundberg and Kevin Gaskell.
- You’ve set a goal to inspire 100,000 young people. That’s quite ambitious! How do you plan to reach such a broad audience, and what impact do you hope to have?
From the owner of a multi-million dollar franchise, I believe it’s possible because as he said, “Take on challenges that are bigger and harder than you think you can handle.” I’m leveraging platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Audible, Podchaser, Castbox, iHeartRadio and other streaming platforms, and I am also present on social media to reach as many people as possible. I’m also working on collaborations with schools, universities, and youth organisations to get the word out. The impact I hope to have is to make young people feel assured and empowered that they have the power to shape their futures. Whether finding a mentor, starting a passion project, or simply changing their mindset, I want them to know they can create their own success stories.
- The passion in your work is evident. What advice would you give to other young people who want to start their own projects or make a difference in their communities?
My most significant piece of advice is just to start. Consistency is the most potent instrument for noticing growth and progress. Getting caught up in planning and thinking about everything that could go wrong is easy, but the most important thing is to take that first step. Many people overthink to all that could go wrong. Shifting that mentality to everything that can go wonderful, is so powerful. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire, to ask for help, or to try something new. And remember, you don’t have to have everything figured out immediately. Surround yourself with people who support you and your vision. Having a strong support system makes a huge difference when things get tough. Finally, be patient and stay committed to your mission. Making a difference takes time, but through staying focused on your ‘why,’ you’ll find the energy and motivation to keep going.
- What’s next for The SMARTA Podcast and you? Do you have any exciting plans or upcoming projects you can share with us?
I’m always looking for new ways to expand the podcast and reach more young people. I’m exploring the idea of hosting international live events with various partners or organising workshops where I can dive deeper into some of the topics I’ve covered on the podcast. In the near future, I have a literary project that I’m working on, and I am immensely enthusiastic about it. I am focusing on implementing the Japanese concept of Kaizen, always improving myself by 1% every day, into my lifestyle.
You can follow my journey on my website soniamarta.com and of course on social media.