Sonya is the founding CEO of Develop Detroit. She returned to her hometown a few years ago and has since dedicated herself to stabilizing and growing investment in Detroit’s neighborhoods and its schools. She previously served as Senior Advisor to the Detroit Emergency Manager during the
city’s historic municipal bankruptcy. Previously Ms. Mays served as Vice President in Deutsche Bank’s Corporate & Investment Bank Division. Her investment banking practice focused on debt-capital raising, mergers and acquisitions for the world’s largest construction and industrial companies. Ms.
Mays also spent several years as a non-profit management professional. She began her professional career as a middle-school mathematics teacher in Detroit, and in her return to the city, is responsible for executing Develop Detroit’s mission to build value for communities and investors.