SÔNIA CRISÓSTOMO APPOINTED COUNTRY MANAGER OF THE WORLD HAPPINESS FOUNDATION IN PORTUGAL

Civil Diplomat Sônia Crisóstomo has been appointed Country Manager of the World Happiness Foundation in Portugal, taking on the mission of leading the Foundation’s expansion in the country and strengthening initiatives that promote happiness and well-being as pillars of human, social, and economic development.

With grace, purpose, and a global vision of humanised leadership, Sônia represents a new generation of Civil Diplomats who combine science, spirituality, and innovation to serve the common good.

From technology to the science of happiness: connecting people and purpose

Before embracing the cause of happiness, Sônia worked as a technology executive, leading large-scale data network integration projects across Brazil.

Her pioneering work brought digital connectivity to small and isolated communities — many in the remote Amazon region, where communication still relied on satellite links.

That experience reflects the essence of her journey: connecting people, ideas, and purpose. If once she connected the world through technology, today she does so through the science of well-being and happiness.

Portugal and the future of global happiness

Now, as Country Manager of the World Happiness Foundation in Portugal, Sônia leads programmes that bring together local governments, universities, and companies to build a new culture of prosperity based on collective well-being.

Her vision is to position Portugal as a global reference in humanised leadership and happy cities, while working to host one of the world’s leading events on happiness and sustainable futures — the World Happiness Fest 2026.

Author, mentor, and scholar of the science of happiness

An accomplished author, the Civil Diplomat of Jethro International has written several books, including “Felicidade Descomplicada” (Uncomplicated Happiness), launched in Lisbon.

She is also a mentor and researcher in the science of happiness, with qualifications in Positive Psychology, International Coaching, and Chief of Happiness Officer.

Her work blends scientific rigour, executive experience, and human sensitivity, inspiring others to live and lead with compassion and authenticity.

Art, culture, and the humanitarian spirit

True to her multifaceted nature, Sônia also finds expression in the arts.

As a member of the Divine Académie Française des Arts, Lettres et Culture, she participates in international cultural projects that celebrate beauty, diversity, and the creative power of the human soul.

This artistic dimension complements her vision of Civil Humanitarian Diplomacy, where aesthetics, emotion, and purpose unite in the pursuit of harmony and collective happiness.

Happiness as a new form of Diplomacy

“Happiness is the new form of diplomacy — it emerges when we connect hearts, minds, and cultures around a shared purpose: to live with meaning and compassion.” — Sônia Crisóstomo

 

With this appointment, Portugal gains more than a representative of the World Happiness Foundation — it gains a true ambassador of happiness, capable of merging science, technology, art, and humanity into a single purpose: building a more connected, conscious, and joyful world.