When Sophie Gibson stepped on stage to receive the President’s Award from Atlanta Jamaican Association Inc., it wasn’t just another trophy for her shelf. It was personal.

“I’ve won quite a few different awards in my lifetime,” she shared, “but this one felt different. It’s phenomenal being recognised by your own.”

Sophie, usually unshaken by public speaking felt a flicker of nerves that night.

“I didn’t expect that emotion,” she admits. “It’s an honour, a privilege, when you’re standing in front of your own people, it hits differently.”

This award wasn’t only a recognition of Sophie’s leadership as the founder of VIVO, but a celebration of decades of resilience, vision, and innovation that began long before her name became synonymous with marketing and technology excellence.

Early sparks: From magazines to marketing mindset

Long before the world of digital branding was part of everyday conversation, Sophie found herself drawn to the world of media and communications. Her first formal taste came at New Woman Magazine, a publication she admired for its bold, feminist perspective on womanhood, something she says resonated deeply.

But her entrepreneurial journey began even earlier. At just 20 years old, newly arrived in New York with no family nearby, Sophie launched ‘Swym Gym’, a swim programme she marketed by hand, literally. She walked neighbourhoods with flyers, built relationships with parents, and grew the business to serve over 200 children with a staff of eight.

That first venture taught her a valuable lesson: advertising isn’t just about creativity, it’s about survival. “I needed to make money for myself,” she recalls. “That was the motivator.”

Building Vivo 360: Spotting a gap before the market did

The seed for VIVO was planted during Sophie’s time at Claris, a technology company working in e-commerce and e-procurement. At the time, major advertising agencies were struggling to understand how websites fit into a brand’s identity. Sophie, who had already taught herself to code in two weeks to cover for a colleague’s unexpected maternity leave, saw the potential immediately.

“I recognised that the web was going to be just like a magazine or brochure, another way to show your brand,” she says. “But the big agencies didn’t really understand it yet.”

When she was laid off just weeks after returning from maternity leave, Sophie decided it was time. In May 2001, as the family breadwinner with three children, she launched VIVO. “I thought I had a niche. I understood what was needed at the time, it was a hard sell, but I went for it.”

Years later, she learned she had been the first woman, and the first person of colour, to establish such a company in her field. “I didn’t know at the time,” she says. “I was just doing the work I needed to do to survive.”

Pivotal moments: Crisis, resilience and reinvention

Sophie’s career has been marked by defining moments, some exhilarating, others deeply challenging.
She remembers vividly the morning of September 11, 2001, just months after launching her business. “At first, I thought the plane crash was an accident. But when the second plane hit, I knew America was under attack,” she recalls. Work halted. Clients went silent. “As an employee, you’d still get paid. But as an entrepreneur starting with zero dollars… it was terrifying.”

Almost two decades later, the COVID-19 pandemic brought another blow. “2019 was our best year ever, we did an NFL commercial, we were rocking and rolling,” she says. “Then in 2020, I lost Delta Airlines as a client, and everything ricocheted.”

But Sophie did what she’s always done, pivoted.

Vivo 360 shifted to virtual conferences and online solutions, leaning on her lifelong habit of staying ahead of the technology curve.

The power of roots: Jamaican values in a global career

For Sophie, her Jamaican upbringing has been a guiding compass throughout her journey.

“From a young age, my parents taught me about hard work and giving back. I started working at 11 in the Forestry Department, and I volunteered for PTAs, homeowners’ associations, and children’s centres,” she recalls. “It instilled a sense of responsibility and discipline that I carry to this day.”

These values shaped how she approached both business and life.

“In Jamaica, community matters. That sense of connection never leaves you,” she adds. “It translates directly into leadership you listen; you include, you engage. That’s how I’ve built the team at VIVO.”

Leading with vision and inclusion

Vivo 360’s success, according to Sophie, is rooted in both innovation and a people-first philosophy. “I’ve always believed leadership is about inclusion. Everyone’s voice matters, regardless of role or background,” she says. This philosophy extends to her diverse team, which spans talent from Jamaica, Cuba, and across the U.S., ensuring that a range of perspectives informs every campaign.

Under Sophie’s leadership, VIVO has executed notable campaigns for various organisations, including the NAACP Image Awards and the NFL. Her work has earned multiple awards, such as the AMY Award and Trailblazer Award. VIVO is among the elite 0.3% of advertising firms in the U.S. owned by Black women.

The company’s award-winning work reflects that balance of technical expertise and cultural insight.
“It’s not just about producing content. It’s about understanding context, audience, and impact,” Sophie emphasises.

Guidance for the next generation

Sophie’s advice to young professionals is grounded in the lessons she has learned firsthand. “Trust the timing of your journey. Detours aren’t setbacks, they’re opportunities to learn,” she says. “Identify your purpose and use every tool available, your career, hobbies, side projects to pursue it.

Follow your intuition. Don’t feel confined by traditional paths. Be bold.”

She is now channelling these insights into her forthcoming book, ‘Sopossible‘, scheduled for release this October. The book promises to share her experiences, strategies, and philosophies for building a career that thrives on creativity, inclusion, and resilience.

For Sophie Gibson, the journey is far from over. She remains committed to mentoring, innovating, and uplifting others through her work.

From her early days in Kingston to leading a trailblazing agency in the U.S.

Sophie’s journey exemplifies how roots, resilience, and vision can shape not only a career but also a legacy that inspires and empowers the next generation.