Paula da Silva is a senior Portuguese executive based in Sweden, with over 40 years of international experience in banking and finance, with particular expertise in payments, international finance, and transformational leadership.

She currently serves on the Board of Svensk Exportkredit, Sweden’s state-owned export credit agency, and Mitt Livs Val, a foundation promoting the integration of youth from minority backgrounds in Sweden. Since 2025, she is also a board member of the St Lives Su Foundation.

From 2022 to 2025, Paula served as CEO of the P27 Nordic Payments Platform, a landmark initiative aimed at modernizing and harmonizing the Nordic region’s payment infrastructure across borders. The program brought together six of the region’s leading banks and demanded complex regulatory navigation, stakeholder coordination, and cross-border team leadership.

Prior to that, she was Global Head of Transaction Banking at SEB, where she was responsible for product management, strategy, and revenue generation across accounts, payments, trade finance, and supply chain finance. Under her leadership, SEB was recognized as the leading bank in Sweden in these domains.

Her earlier career at SEB includes positions such as CEO of SEB Strategic Investments, Commercial Banking Director in New York, and Representative for Latin America (Peru, Brazil, and Mexico), along with senior roles in Gothenburg, Malmö, and Stockholm.

Paula is driven by the opportunity to lead high-performing, diverse teams and foster long-term value through collaboration, clarity, and flawless execution. She takes pride in mentoring emerging leaders and cultivating inclusive cultures. She has led teams made up of individuals from more than 10 nationalities.

She holds a degree in Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics and completed the Executive Program in Strategy and Organization at Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA.

Now 64, Paula is passionate about promoting Portugal’s global image, sharing innovative work methodologies with Portuguese professionals, and building networks aligned with the country’s ongoing transformation. She is especially interested in digital business models and emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.

Paula da Silva has been Portugal’s World Advisor since june 2025.