Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Pioneering Resilience, Inclusive Leadership, and Transformative Social Impact

Core Intelligence Domain: Resilient Leadership
Location: San Francisco, USA & Lima, Peru | Languages: English, Spanish
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a trailblazing mountaineer, former Silicon Valley technology executive, and visionary social entrepreneur who merges high-stakes corporate strategy with unparalleled physical and emotional endurance. Recognised globally as the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits and the first Peruvian woman to conquer Mount Everest, she leverages her extraordinary personal and professional journey to teach organisations about resilience, authentic leadership, and the power of radical inclusion.

Before achieving global acclaim in the world of extreme alpinism, Silvia forged a highly successful career in the technology sector. She served in senior executive roles focusing on Trust, Safety, and Global Risk at industry-leading companies including PayPal, eBay, and Xoom. In these high-pressure environments, she developed proprietary frameworks for navigating complex global risks, managing cross-cultural teams, and building secure financial ecosystems. Her corporate background allows her to seamlessly bridge the gap between extreme outdoor expeditions and the demanding realities of modern corporate governance.

Beyond her corporate and athletic milestones, Silvia is a passionate advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking. As a survivor herself, she founded the non-profit organisation Courageous Girls. The foundation is dedicated to the healing and empowerment of survivors through structured mountaineering and nature-based therapeutic programmes. Her commitment to social impact demonstrates a profound model of purpose-driven leadership, showing how personal trauma can be channelled into global movements for change.

Silvia is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, In the Shadow of the Mountain, which chronicles her profound journey of healing, self-discovery, and leadership. The memoir’s impact has been so significant that it is currently being adapted into a major motion picture starring Selena Gomez. As a global intelligence speaker, Silvia captivates audiences with her authentic storytelling, offering actionable insights into navigating uncertainty, championing diversity, and achieving the seemingly impossible.

Strategic Speaking Topics and Frameworks

• Resilient Leadership in Uncertain Terrain: Extracting critical leadership lessons from the Seven Summits and applying them to high-stakes corporate environments and global market disruptions.
• Radical Inclusion and Belonging: Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a strategic advantage, drawing from her experiences as an LGBTQ+ pioneer in both Silicon Valley and elite mountaineering.
• Risk, Trust, and Decision-Making: Utilising frameworks developed during her tenure in global risk management at PayPal and eBay to help executives make calculated decisions under immense pressure.
• Transforming Trauma into Purpose: A powerful narrative on overcoming personal adversity, the importance of mental well-being, and building resilient, empathetic corporate cultures.
• The Summit of Social Impact: How purpose-driven enterprises and social entrepreneurship can drive both community healing and sustainable organisational growth.

Key Takeaways

• Unrivalled Resilience: Learn to build mental and strategic endurance to navigate corporate challenges and personal setbacks.
• Authentic Leadership: Understand the power of leading with vulnerability, authenticity, and a commitment to radical inclusion.
• Calculated Risk Management: Gain actionable insights on assessing and mitigating risks from a former Silicon Valley global risk executive.
• Purpose-Driven Culture: Discover how integrating social impact into corporate strategy enhances team cohesion, motivation, and long-term success.