Menka Soni, originally from Lucknow and born in Agra, has made history by becoming the first Indian-American woman elected to the City Council of Redmond, Washington—home to Microsoft’s global headquarters and a major U.S. tech hub. Soni took her oath of office with the Bhagavad Gita in hand while dressed in a traditional Indian hand-embroidered pantsuit, a moment that resonated with pride across the Indian diaspora.
Defeating an eight-year incumbent, she was sworn in by Judge Russell in a ceremony attended by Mayor Angela Birney, council members and a large gathering of Indian-origin community leaders. With over 30 years of global corporate experience at companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, General Motors and T-Mobile, Soni has been widely recognized for her work in women’s empowerment, domestic violence support, youth development, mental health, community safety and homelessness. As founder and president of the nonprofitable organization, AmPowering she has received the Top-20 Influential Women Award from the U.S. Congress and the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.
