Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Silvestri.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to San Diego in 2004 to attend San Diego State University, where I earned my undergraduate degree in International Business. After graduation, I began my career at the World Trade Center San Diego, supporting global trade initiatives. After a year stint in hospitality, on the opening team for a 5-star hotel, I then spent seven years with the San Diego Working Waterfront, a trade association advocating for port businesses along San Diego Bay. In 2016, after completing my master’s in International Affairs at UC San Diego, I was recruited to join The Pasha Group—one of the member companies of both the World Trade Center and Working Waterfront. Over the past decade, I’ve grown in leadership at this family-owned global logistics and transportation organization, and I’m proud to be entering my 10th year with the company, continuing to drive commercial and external affairs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Nope! Circuitous paths are where the magic happens. My struggles weren’t detours; they were the terrain where resilience grew, and I’m grateful for them.
A month before living out my childhood dream of spending junior year abroad in Spain, I learned I was missing a prerequisite course. I spent days camping outside the dean’s office determined to receive eligibility; I finally pleaded my case and earned a one-time waiver—a lesson in self-advocacy and grit. I got to spend a year in Spain, which further fueled my curiosity in global affairs, leading to field study in China and Cuba.
I graduated during the 2008 economic crash with one of the weakest job markets in history. After deciding maybe grad school was the better route at the time, I promptly bombed the GMAT after hundreds of hours of prep, and was rejected from an MBA program. That “failure” led me to the San Diego Working Waterfront, where I almost didn’t get hired—until a second chance with the board interview panel changed everything.
I served in that role for nearly seven years, and it opened the door to a master’s degree at UCSD and eventually to The Pasha Group, where I’ve spent the past near decade growing in leadership. Looking back, every twist and setback was a dot that connected to something bigger. As Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I love about my external & commercial affairs role is the variety—no two days are the same. One day I’m meeting with ports and partners to discuss future developments through a public-private partnership lens, the next I’m at nonprofit board meetings shaping policy initiatives. I also connect with customers to share updates and solve logistics challenges, while leading our local charitable outreach supporting organizations making incredible impacts. Travel is a big part of the job, and it keeps me energized and engaged. What makes me stand out in my field is my ability to serve as the company’s voice and presence in the public eye while driving strategic commercial outcomes. I bridge complex logistics and transportation operations with external stakeholders, government agencies, and industry partners in a way that builds trust and creates opportunities. I thrive in the gray areas… the spaces where there’s no clear playbook, where complexity and ambiguity require creativity and collaboration. That’s where I find the most meaningful progress happens. I enjoy turning uncertainty into opportunity. My near two decades of industry relationships paired with my education and international experience gives me a unique perspective to navigate regulatory landscapes and foster connections that deliver long-term value. I’m not just representing the company—I’m shaping how it’s perceived and ensuring that our partnerships translate into growth.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that when change happens (and we know it always does!) the relationships you’ve built become your foundation. Strategies shift, markets evolve, priorities move, but trust and connection endure. Those relationships are what allow you to land on solid ground, adapt quickly, and even turn uncertainty into opportunity. The President/CEO of our company often shares a pearl of wisdom with me he learned from one of his early mentors, which is, “flexibility is the key popularity,” as having the ability to adapt quickly, pivot strategies, and meet challenges head-on isn’t just valuable, it’s what earns trust and keeps you relevant. The supply chain and logistics industry has particularly seen changes and hurdles over the past year. When you approach change with agility, you don’t just survive disruptions, you turn them into opportunities for growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pashagroup.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-silvestri-2a816621
Image Credits
headshot cropped from photo by Tsukasa Takahashi
