Life at Near: Sophia’s Way of Turning Convos into Connections

For many, business development is just a numbers game. 

But for our very own Sophia De Dios, it’s a people-first pursuit: one built on honest conversations, shared insights, and long-term value. As Near’s Senior Business Development Manager, she doesn’t just pitch; she listens, connects, and creates space for partnerships to grow.

With over three years at Near, Sophia has helped bring in exciting new (and cool!) accounts by taking a relationship-driven approach to prospecting. One might ask, what’s her secret? A mindset grounded in curiosity, empathy, and a refusal to settle for generic industry tactics. Whether it’s coffee, a pottery class, or wine tasting, she makes networking feel human for herself and the clients.

This is her Life at Near.

Redefining Business Development

Sophia thrives when she’s out from behind her desk, having real conversations. While she enjoys the hustle of task-based work, it’s those moments of connection that energize her and push her to think differently. Her role allows her to experiment with how Near shows up from pitch decks to in-person events and she’s embraced the agency’s culture of trying new things to get results.

That culture was especially important during the early runs of Near Marketing Crew: a networking initiative she helped develop. It was exciting, but also intimidating. Planning an event series that would bring top marketers together wasn’t just about logistics; it was about making sure it felt authentically Near and valuable for everyone in the room. It took several iterations to get it right, but the result was worth it.

Clients saw the value immediately. Many said the event gave them something they didn’t realize they needed: an easy, low-pressure way to connect with other marketers, exchange ideas, and build their own network. For Sophia, that was the real win, creating a space where collaboration and conversation sparked unexpected insights from like-minded people.

Beyond the Near Marketing Crew, Sophia also leads consultative conversations and pitches to potential partners: sessions that are less about pushing a proposal and more about unpacking and discussing real challenges they face. These convos often spark fresh ideas for scaling influencer campaigns, aligning KPIs with budgets, or building an end-to-end strategy that works across platforms.

It’s part of what makes Near’s business development approach different: a deep respect for the prospect’s needs and getting them nearer to their brand goals and vision. For Sophia, success isn't based on “just” closing deals, it’s also helping clients walk away with clarity, excitement, and a sense of being truly understood.

Building Trust Before Deals

One of Sophia’s strongest principles is helping people, even if it doesn’t lead to a deal. She walks into every conversation with the mindset of supporting someone in the long run and not just securing a client. If Near isn’t the right fit, she’s upfront about it.

For her, business development is about finding the right partners and building trust, one convo at a time, and not just about short-term wins.

She also finds satisfaction in watching clients succeed in campaign outcomes and how those wins support their individual growth. If a client earns recognition or a promotion because of a great campaign? That’s a win she celebrates just as much!

Sophia’s journey at Near has been one of continuous evolution. Her role has shifted multiple times, allowing her to better align with her strengths. She credits Near’s leadership for recognizing when she needed a push and when she needed support.

Professionally, she’s become more confident representing the agency and understanding how to communicate based on who she’s speaking with. Personally, she’s developed a deeper, more productive sense of empathy which is something that’s shaped both her client relationships and her management style.

Structure has its place, but so does flexibility.

She’s also let go of the need to control every detail. Learning to trust her teammates’ ideas and approaches has made her a more collaborative and adaptive leader. 

A Culture That Moves with “You”

What makes her time at Near meaningful isn’t just the wins, but also the freedom to grow. The team invests in people, not just what their job title can offer. And when someone proposes a smart idea, it gets heard. That openness has allowed Sophia to carve out a path that feels uniquely her own. She also appreciates the culture of upskilling, where everyone is encouraged to share what they know and learn from one another. In a team where everyone is an expert in something, growth is contagious.

Sophia’s advice is simple but powerful: Know your priorities. Whether it’s flexibility, compensation, or structure, understand what brings you real fulfillment.

Work will always have hard days, and what matters is having something that grounds and motivates you when those days come.

For Sophia, being at Near has brought her a step nearer to clarity. She’s learned more about her strengths, her leadership style, and the kind of career she wants to build. It’s a journey that continues, one that feels intentional and aligned.

Read anything that resonates with you? You can explore our open roles and discover your next step: nearcreative.co/careers