We were lucky to catch up with Sophia Lebano recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sophia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success, to me, is deeply rooted in faith and a reliance on God’s guidance. Society often defines success by material achievements or accolades, and I’ve learned that true success is about aligning my work and life with God’s purpose for me. It’s about being faithful to the gifts He’s given me and using them to serve others while trusting Him with the results.
One story that stands out in my journey is when I first decided to take a leap of faith and start my business. I was nervous about whether I could succeed, especially in a competitive industry, but I kept coming back to the words from Esther 4:14: “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” That verse reminded me that God had placed me exactly where I needed to be, for a specific purpose.
This perspective has been shaped by my experiences, especially my journey with progressive hearing loss. I was diagnosed at the age of 8, and what initially felt like an insurmountable obstacle became a defining part of my resilience and faith. I faced challenges at school, medical appointments, and even in my career, but each difficulty reminded me of God’s faithfulness. Instead of letting my hearing loss define me, I chose to trust in God’s plan and believe that He could use my story to inspire and serve others.
Faith also means embracing challenges as part of God’s plan to refine and grow us. When my dad was battling cancer, I was balancing school, family, and my budding business. It was one of the hardest seasons of my life, but through it, I learned that God’s grace truly is sufficient. He gave me the strength to keep going and the perspective to see the bigger picture—that success isn’t about the size of the paycheck or the number of clients, but about staying true to Him and His calling.
To me, success is about showing up with faith, working hard, and letting God handle the rest. It’s trusting that even in setbacks, He’s preparing you for something greater. When you let God lead, the results often exceed anything you could have imagined.
Sophia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Sophia Lebano, and I am an entrepreneur and founder passionate about helping Catholic business owners bring their creative visions to life. My journey into website design, branding, and business strategy was somewhat accidental but quickly grew into a passion. What began as a simple attempt to help others turned into a mission-driven career, born out of a deep desire to serve. I discovered how much I loved creating platforms that not only look beautiful but also authentically reflect the mission and values of faith-based entrepreneurs.
I specialize in custom website design, branding, and marketing strategies tailored to the unique needs of Catholic business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs. My services include full-service branding packages, website design on platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and WordPress, and business coaching. I also offer tools like SEO optimization, email marketing, and launch strategies to help clients reach and engage their audiences effectively.
For Catholic business owners, I understand the unique challenges of building a brand and online presence that balances professionalism with a faith-centered mission. My goal is to remove the overwhelm of establishing a strong digital presence, whether it’s creating a brand identity from scratch, redesigning an outdated website, or crafting a strategic launch plan. I help my clients feel confident and equipped to grow their businesses while staying true to their values. By focusing on clarity and purpose, I ensure their online platforms not only function seamlessly but also reflect their mission and resonate with their audience.
What truly sets me apart is my commitment to building relationships and integrating faith into my work. My own experiences with progressive hearing loss and my journey of resilience have taught me to see challenges as opportunities for growth, allowing me to approach every project with empathy and creativity. I strive to create designs and strategies that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also purposeful and crafted to achieve specific goals. My background in business, paired with a deep understanding of faith-driven entrepreneurship, helps me guide clients toward impactful solutions that align with their vision and values.
One of my proudest accomplishments is earning my MBA, which has deepened my expertise and allowed me to serve my clients with even greater insight and strategy. This milestone represents not only hard work and perseverance but also a commitment to excellence in my field. Additionally, I am proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients, helping them bring their ideas to life in ways that honor their faith and calling.
At the heart of everything I do is a desire to serve. Whether you’re a business owner, creative, or writer, my mission is to help you build a brand and online presence that not only looks good but also resonates deeply with your audience and glorifies God in the process. I believe that every entrepreneur has a unique story and calling, and I strive to help them shine in their own space.
If you’re looking for a partner to help you bring your ideas to life and create something beautiful, impactful, and faith-centered, I’d be honored to walk alongside you on that journey.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What has truly helped me build my reputation within my market is the power of genuine connection. From the very beginning, I’ve prioritized building meaningful relationships with my clients, collaborators, and community. I believe that when you approach business with empathy and a heart for service, people notice—and they trust you.
Connection has been the cornerstone of how I work. Whether it’s taking the time to truly understand a client’s vision, collaborating with them to create something unique, or simply being a source of encouragement and support, I’ve found that fostering real relationships leads to lasting partnerships. Many of my clients have come to me through referrals, which I believe speaks to the importance of creating a positive and personalized experience for everyone I work with.
In my market, especially as a faith-driven entrepreneur, it’s not just about the product or service—it’s about the story and the mission behind it. I aim to reflect that in my work and in how I interact with others. By showing up authentically, being attentive to their needs, and remaining consistent in both my work and my values, I’ve been able to build a reputation rooted in trust and connection.
At the end of the day, people want to work with someone who not only delivers results but also cares about their success—and I’m honored that my clients see that in me.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One story that truly illustrates my resilience is my journey with progressive hearing loss. I was diagnosed at the age of 8, and while it was a life-changing moment, it was also the beginning of a path that would teach me perseverance, adaptability, and faith. Navigating school, medical appointments, and social situations as a young child with hearing aids was challenging, especially when I often felt “different.” But instead of letting it define me negatively, I found ways to embrace it, even finding joy in small things like choosing colorful hearing aids that expressed my personality.
The turning point came in 2016 when I underwent my first cochlear implant surgery. It was a daunting experience—physically, emotionally, and mentally—but I knew it was a step forward. Adjusting to the implant was far from easy; it required months of therapy and patience to relearn how to hear in a new way. Around the same time, I switched high schools, which felt like starting over socially and academically. But instead of being overwhelmed by the change, I leaned into it as an opportunity to grow. I worked hard, built new relationships, and found a fresh sense of belonging.
Later, as I began building my business, I faced moments of doubt. Would clients see my hearing loss as a limitation? Could I compete in a fast-paced, communication-driven industry? I decided to turn my experience into a strength, embracing the perspective and resilience I had developed. Instead of hiding my story, I started sharing it, using it to connect with others and inspire them to overcome their own challenges.
Resilience, for me, is about trusting God through every obstacle and learning that setbacks are often setups for something greater. My journey with hearing loss has shaped how I approach not only my business but also my life. It’s taught me that perseverance, creativity, and faith are key to rising above any challenge. That resilience continues to guide me, reminding me that with God’s grace, there’s no limit to what we can overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sophialebano.com
- Instagram: @sophialebano
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sophialebano
