How Sofia Tkebuchava Built A Meaningful Career By Leading With Purpose And Investing In People

Friday, August 21, 2026

A meaningful career is shaped by continuous learning, strong leadership, and the ability to grow alongside the people around you. Over the past 13 years, Sofia Tkebuchava, CP&A Manager for the Caucasus at Mondelēz International, has carved a path defined by people-first leadership, career growth, work-life balance, and developing high-performing teams, and her story shows that you make MDLZ when you choose to lead with purpose every single day. In this blog, she shares the experiences, leadership principles, and everyday practices that continue to influence the way she leads and the teams she builds.

Tell us about yourself and your role at Mondelēz International.

I am Sofia, CP&A Manager at Mondelēz International. Our function serves as the strategic connector across the organization, consolidating and aligning the efforts of Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Demand Planning to ensure seamless cross-functional execution across the market. I am incredibly proud to be part of this company. Being at Mondelēz means contributing to a globally recognized portfolio of brands while benefiting from continuous growth opportunities, multicultural exposure, and a genuinely supportive and collaborative culture.

How would you describe your career path?

I joined Mondelēz 13 years ago, at the age of 37, as a Trade Marketing Supervisor, with my youngest daughter just a year old (my third child). I still remember those early days vividly: the sleepless nights with a baby, the weight of proving myself in a new role, and the quiet fear of whether I could truly have it all. Balancing the demands of a growing family with a brand-new professional chapter was one of the hardest things I've ever done. There were moments of doubt, moments of exhaustion, but never a moment when I considered giving up.

What carried me through was something deeper than ambition alone. It was the fire inside, a passion for winning, an unwavering belief in myself, and the desire to show my children that it's never too late to chase your dreams. Step by step, I progressed through the organization, earning promotions and embracing new responsibilities across Trade Marketing, Perfect Store, Category Planning & Activation, and Seasonals Activation, while expanding my scope across multiple categories and geographies.

What I value most is that Mondelēz recognized not just my results, but my effort, my dedication, my journey. That recognition didn't just fuel my career, it made me feel valued as a person. The further I advance, the more inspired I become, and the more I realize that growth has no expiration date. I remain ready for new roles, new challenges, and new chapters.

Can you give us a closer look at the CP&A team?

Discomfort is the price of progress. Keep raising the bar. My team is my greatest asset. They are highly engaged, passionate, and remarkably dynamic. The achievements I've earned are not mine alone; I share every success with my team. Without them, I simply would not be where I am today. I invest significantly in their professional development, and in return, I set high expectations for performance and outcomes. Together, we make MDLZ stronger.

My leadership philosophy is straightforward and operates like a virtuous cycle: greater investment from the manager leads to stronger performance from the team, which in turn inspires even greater investment from the manager. It's a formula built on mutual accountability and shared ambition.

As a manager, you're very passionate about work-life balance. What does it mean to you, and how do you model it for your team?

With a demanding professional agenda, a large family, and an active social life, work-life balance isn't just a luxury; it's a necessity. Maintaining it requires intentional planning and discipline.

I plan my personal life 3-4 weeks in advance: social engagements, family dinners, appointments, cultural outings, everything is scheduled with purpose. For me, the three pillars of sustainable work-life balance are: time management, punctuality, and responsibility.

When it comes to my team, I take a collaborative approach. I set project deadlines together with them. When I see the workload becoming overwhelming, I proactively reschedule meetings or presentations. And when overtime is unavoidable, I ensure they receive compensatory time off.

What does "leading by example" look like for you and your team when it comes to unplugging?

I believe in establishing clear boundaries. My fundamental principles are no task assignments on weekends, no unnecessary disruptions during personal time, and giving my team the space to fully disconnect, unless a matter is genuinely urgent. I allow my team to work remotely from another country for up to 2 weeks. This gives them the flexibility to recharge, stay motivated, and return with renewed energy, ultimately improving both their well-being and productivity. I encourage everyone to take a short vacation of up to five days once per quarter, and a two-week annual vacation is non-negotiable. I hold myself to the same standard, because sustainable leadership starts with sustainable habits.

How, in your personal life, do you separate home life from work life, especially while working from home?

I have a personal ritual that has become essential to my well-being. After a demanding day, I go for a walk of at least five kilometers. It's my way of clearing my mind, releasing tension, and reflecting on the day. By the time I return home, I feel physically restored and mentally present, ready to dedicate my full attention to my family. The more exhausted I am, the more transformative that walk becomes. This is a simple practice, but it creates a clear boundary between my professional and personal worlds.

What are some hobbies of yours, and how do they make you a better leader?

My greatest passion outside of work is travelling. Even a short five-day trip to a new destination recharges my creativity and broadens my perspective. Travel cultivates adaptability, curiosity, and openness, qualities that directly translate into more innovative and empathetic leadership. When I return, I bring fresh energy and new ideas to my team and our work.

What does a great weekend look like for you to ensure you come back on Monday feeling refreshed?

My ideal weekend is beautifully simple: a 7–10 kilometer walk in nature, followed by cooking and sharing dinner with my family, and an evening coffee with close friends. I intentionally reserve Sunday evenings for myself; it's my personal time to decompress, reflect, and mentally prepare for the week ahead.

How has the company's flexibility helped you show up for important moments in your family life?

The flexibility Mondelēz offers makes a meaningful difference every single day. When I've had an especially demanding schedule and need to recharge, I have the option to work from home the following day. It's a benefit that both my team and I deeply appreciate. It allows us to be not just physically present for life's important moments, but mentally and emotionally available as well.

Finally, what's something you're learning or exploring right now just for the joy of it?

I'm learning the art of being fully present. My philosophy is - Don't waste your time waiting for the 'perfect moment.' Life won't suddenly become easier. Instead, create that moment for yourself, make it part of your daily routine, and choose to live and enjoy the present, here and now.

Your greatest project is you — restart as often as it takes. Rebuild. Refocus. Rise.