Most business success stories start with the wins. The revenue, the growth, the perfectly curated journey to the top. But Sonja Pototzki-Raymond (aka the Search Queen) flips the script entirely as we talk about what it means to be resilient in business. 

Sonja is the brilliant mind behind The Search Republic, a digital agency that's helped generate over $700 million in client sales.  She is a CEO, Google search expert, author, keynote speaker, and fertility advocate. But there's so much more to her story than her impressive resume.

During our conversation, Sonja shared a raw, honest look at what resilience really means. Instead of promoting the usual 'push through at all costs' mentality, she shared a more nuanced perspective that really resonated with me. It's about building sustainable strength through the most challenging times of life, honoring both the darkness and the light.

Sonja and I actually met through our IVF journeys. It's these kinds of personal challenges that have shaped both our approaches to resilience in life and business. Sonja’s four year journey to bring her first baby girl into the world also birthed her first book, The Search for Resilience, the go-to guidebook to stand strong and awaken the warrior to fight life's toughest battles.

What I love about Sonja's approach is how she challenges the perfectly polished version of entrepreneurship we often see on social media. She's not afraid to acknowledge that building a business isn't a straight path to success. Some days flow smoothly, while others test every ounce of your determination and skill.

We spent time exploring what true resilience looks like in practice and why Sonja believes business is  the ultimate personal development journey.

One of the most refreshing parts of our discussion was about the misconceptions surrounding entrepreneurial success. Social media often shows us the highlight reel – the wins, the celebrations, the perfectly curated moments. But as Sonja emphasises, real business growth happens in those unseen moments of challenge and adaptation. It's about embracing both the victories and the setbacks as equally valuable parts of the journey.

If you're looking to develop your own resilience in business, Sonja's book "The Search for Resilience" has officially hit the shelves and offers a wonderfully honest guide to navigating the entrepreneurial journey. I know you’re going to love her genuine, heartfelt approach to building strength through authenticity.

Connect with Sonja:

Book: The Search for Resilience: Awaken the Warrior in Business and Life

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonjathesearchqueen/

Connect with Ellie: 

Apply for the Swiftmind Scaled Mastermind (the ONLY chance to be coached by me in 2025): https://ellieswift.com/mastermind 

Website:         https://www.ellieswift.com/

Instagram:     @elliehswift

Facebook Group:     www.facebook.com/groups/shineonsocialellieswift/