Sonia Syngal, born on September 27, 1970 in New Delhi, India, is a businesswoman and former Chief Executive Officer of GAP, a multinational company in the textile industry with American origins. From India to the United States, there was a turning point in her life when she moved with her family at a young age to Canada.
Syngal’s arrival at GAP was no coincidence. Before her work as CEO at the popular textile company, the Indian executive spent several years in the business sector, especially in operations and corporate management.
Academic studies in Canada
At the age of five, Sonia moved to Toronto with her family. There she completed primary and secondary school and then began her university journey. First, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and later pursued a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering.
Sun Microsystems was Syngal’s first step into the working and business world. After finishing her studies, this American company, known as “Sun,” was a technology firm focused on software, hardware, and more. There, the Indian engineer worked until she moved on to Ford, a giant in the automotive industry.
Almost ten years were enough for Sonia to sharpen her expertise and land at GAP, a highly recognized company in the textile industry. In 2004, at the age of 34, an age ripe for exploring new paths, she faced her greatest challenge in the United States.
GAP and its acquired companies
What happens with large companies in the textile industry? Many giants tend to acquire stakes in smaller brands with the goal of operating those franchises. Old Navy and Banana Republic are some examples of clothing brands Sonia managed.
As the years went by, Sonia was selected to work in the brand’s international division. What does this mean? Global production among countries, including management and operations. She later became Executive Vice President of the global supply chain, which brought increased responsibility over goods and services.
Twelve years after rotating through these roles, Syngal’s greatest challenge came when she became CEO of Old Navy, a U.S. retail company. From 2016 to 2020, Syngal generated an increase of over one million in Old Navy’s sales, growing from seven to eight billion, placing the retailer in the top ten clothing sites in the country’s e-commerce sector. Old Navy even grew so much that the number of stores reached 1,200.
Sonia became CEO of GAP in March 2020. At that very moment, the coronavirus pandemic struck, and the Indian-born executive had to take charge during a very difficult period overall. From then on, Sonia was included in Fortune’s list of the most influential women in the business world.
The appointment of the New Delhi native marked a paradigm shift in GAP Inc.’s history. Sonia was the first female CEO at the American textile company. At the time, Gap Inc., like many others in the industry, had to pivot, with a key focus on e-commerce and innovation.
However, unfortunately for Sonia, the Indian executive faced GAP’s worst period in history. Amid COVID-19 restrictions, the company’s sales significantly declined, and the engineer’s work became increasingly difficult.
Resignation from GAP
With a 75% drop in shares in 2021, and as the situation became untenable, GAP Inc. announced that “a strategic leadership change” was necessary. Still, no one can take away the experience of being the first female CEO of the American textile company.
Additionally, considering the efforts she made during her time at GAP and its associated brands, Sonia participated in the Steering Committee of the Fashion Pact, an organization that brings together fashion companies with a very specific focus: protecting the environment.
Why is this relevant? The textile industry has been criticized and scrutinized for the carbon dioxide emissions produced during manufacturing and production processes. The Committee in which Syngal participated targets three goals: restoring biodiversity, protecting oceans, and reducing global warming caused by CO2 emissions.
In conclusion, Sonia Syngal reached the top in the United States when she became CEO of GAP Inc. Was it the best period? No, but she had the opportunity to become the first woman to take the reins of the company.