Silvia do Nascimento loves a good challenge. And being an account manager on the sales team in PayPal’s fast-paced São Paulo, Brazil office presents many of them, requiring problem-solving skills, efficiency and coolness under pressure. Silvia enjoys her work, and as an avid hiker, she has scaled some of the world’s largest mountains. For her, hiking is profoundly joyful, a meditative pursuit that perfectly balances the hustle and bustle of her busy city life.
Tell us about your life at PayPal.
I began working here in 2011 on the dispute team, and about a year later became an executive escalation specialist. I was responsible for responding to claims and rating merchants and brands, and worked on legal cases when buyers had problems. In 2014, I became an account manager, responsible for large merchant account operations.
What kind of trade practices are common to Brazil?
Installment payments are very popular. If you want to buy a TV, for instance, Brazilians don’t think in terms of their annual salary, they think of what they earn per month, so they measure the cost of the TV in, say, 10 installments, rather than total cost. Because we’re a global company, we have to keep in mind how the sales process works in different countries. The markets here in Brazil work a certain way, but to help our merchants, it’s important to keep those processes in mind.
What’s the São Paulo office like?
It’s a multicultural environment. When we step out the door of our office, we’ll see all kinds of markets, restaurants, bookstores, theaters, and street musicians. It’s very lively. We are really in the heart of São Paulo.
Silvia’s most recent trip, hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love hiking. I just came back from hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I walked for almost four weeks – 800 kilometers! Last year, I hiked Monte Roraima (also known as Tepuy Roraima and Cerro Roraima), which is about 2,800 meters tall. Do you remember that movie “Up?” Part of the it was based on that mountain! Monte Roraima is on a border between three countries, and you can see Venezuela and Guyana from the top.
I find hiking contemplative. After a few nights living in a tent, you think about your bed and how comfortable it is and how lucky you are. You start evaluating those simple things in life. It helps me appreciate them. It is an almost religious feeling. It’s a really good time for thinking about life.
I also like to do origami. It brings some of the same meditation that walking brings. A lot of people ask me if I want to sell my origami, but I can’t put a price on it. I just do it for friends and the people I love.
Silvia’s origami