PROFESSIONAL BIO

Shaïna Silva  is an award-winning Entrepreneur, Ecosystem Architect, and Digital Innovation Strategist committed to fostering economic growth in emerging and untapped markets.  

Her journey has taken her across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where she has led high-impact programs at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and economic development. Collaborating with startups, corporations, and governments, she has helped build innovation ecosystems that drive economic mobility, digital transformation, and sustainable growth opportunities in these regions.

A passionate advocate for women leadership, Shaïna founded the #SHE_BUILDS Global Initiative, an international platform aimed at accelerating social, economic, and environmental progress in emerging markets by connecting women to global opportunities and value chains. Through #SHE_BUILDS, Shaïna has spearheaded the creation of a global leadership network that connects a diverse community of entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and creators, providing them with mentorship, resources, and access to capital to scale their impact. The initiative also curates ecosystem immersion trips, exposing members to new markets, investment opportunities, and cross-border collaboration.

Shaïna’s expertise extends beyond entrepreneurship into corporate innovation. She spent several years at Meta, working across Product Development, Strategy & Operations, Financial Integrity, and Creator Monetization, building systems to ensure that creators, small businesses, and advertisers could grow their influence safely and effectively across Meta’s family of apps. Before joining Meta, Shaïna served as the Director of Industry Accelerators at RocketSpace,  where she led innovation programs for Fortune 500 companies, helping them stay ahead of industry disruptions through strategic collaboration with emerging tech startups.

At the heart of Shaïna’s work is a passion for storytelling—whether she’s helping entrepreneurs craft compelling pitches, shaping the narratives of emerging tech ecosystems, or producing travel and business docu-series that highlight opportunities in overlooked markets. Her ability to translate complex ideas into engaging, accessible narratives has made her a sought-after voice in economic development, digital transformation, and global business trends.

Shaïna is a graduate of Babson College and alumna of Silicon Valley’s Draper University and Singularity University. She was selected as an Innovation Talent for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where she actively participates in innovation labs for the advancement of the 2030 Agenda. In recognition of her work, service, and accomplishments, she’s been awarded “100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40” in line with the UN’s international decade of people of Africa Descent. She is also a recipient of the Institute of Caribbean Studies’ "30 Under 30 Emerging Leaders Award," Babson College’s "Nan-Langowitz Women Who Make a Difference Award," and the "Shelby Cullom Davis Entrepreneurship Prize.