Sonja Zlatanov (née Oklobdžija) was born on April 25, 1988, in Niš, where she completed her primary and secondary education. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade, majoring in Spanish Language and Hispanic Literature in 2011. In the 2012/2013 academic year, she enrolled in master’s studies at Singidunum University in Belgrade, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, in the program Business Systems in Tourism & Hospitality (taught in English). She completed all requirements of the study program with an average grade of 10.00, earning a diploma in higher education and the academic title of Master Economist.

She began her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Singidunum University in Belgrade, in the Management in Tourism program, in the 2014/2015 academic year. She completed the exam requirements with an average grade of 10.00. She defended her doctoral dissertation titled "Digital Marketing Activities of Tourism Organizations in Serbia" on July 8, 2022, with a grade of 10 (ten), earning the scientific title of Doctor of Science – Management and Business.

From 2011 to 2015, she worked in various positions, primarily as a professor of Spanish and English. Since February 2015, she has been employed at the Higher Business School of Vocational Studies in Blace (now Toplica Academy of Vocational Studies, Department of Business Studies Blace), where she advanced from the position of teaching assistant to senior lecturer. In 2023, she was appointed as an assistant professor.

Sonja is the author of numerous scientific papers on marketing in tourism and hospitality, with a particular focus on digital marketing and artificial intelligence in tourism and hospitality. She is fluent in English and Spanish and also has knowledge of Italian.