Sonia Alleyne


Clarence Otis Jr. CEO, Darden Restaurants



Sonia Alleyne is the editorial director for all careers and lifestyle coverage at BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine. She is responsible for writing and editing features, and determining the editorial direction of the Workplace and Lifestyle sections across all media platforms. She covers career development and diversity trends, as well as health, lifestyle, fashion, automotive, and travel and tourism news. In June 2008, she wrote the exclusive cover story on Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Inc., BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Industrial Service Company of the Year. In February 2010, she penned the exclusive cover story on the newly installed CEO of Xerox, Ursula Burns.

In addition, Alleyne serves as lifestyle correspondent for the Luxe Life segment of Black Enterprise Business Report, a syndicated television program that focuses on financial and personal empowerment. She also serves as editorial director of the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, an annual leadership conference for professional women of color. In that role, she develops content for the executive training and leadership sessions, and recommends and selects speakers for all sessions and keynote addresses.

Alleyne joined BLACK ENTERPRISE in 2001 as the consumer affairs/careers editor. Prior to that, she was the founding editor of Belle, a lifestyle magazine for plus-sized women. Earlier in her career, Alleyne spent 10 years at Black Elegance magazine, starting in 1991 as associate editor and becoming editor-in-chief in 1994. She launched her journalism career at CLASS magazine, where she served as senior managing editor.

Alleyne has made regular appearances as a career and lifestyle expert on Fox’s Good Day New York, NBC’s Weekend Today, iVillage Liveand CNN. She is also co-author of Good is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals (Portfolio; 2008), which was nominated for a 2008 NAACP literary award.

Alleyne is a graduate of Emerson College and holds a BA in communications studies.