Paula Sweis is the founder of SILVERWEISS International, a financing and strategic advisory company. Started in 2019 after consulting on main street, SILVERWEISS’s focus is alternative financing and advisory for the middle market. 

What does “entrepreneurship” mean to you?
Paula Sweis: An opportunity to discover your unique ability to make an impact and profit.

Tell us about your first experience with entrepreneurship.
PS: I started working for my family and helped manage business affairs at a young age. In the long run, it built my financial acumen and work ethic to be able to manage the responsibilities I have today.

What is your company’s origin story? What is the biggest reason you started your business? What did those early days look like and teach you?
PS: Small businesses and entrepreneurs drive majority of economies of the world. Financiers have requirements and businesses have objectives. Businesses need capital to operate, create jobs and expand. Through our advisory to main street in the beginning and our bank relationships. We were able to find an opportunity to bridge these requirements while overcoming barriers. To help structure and bring forward the best offers to businesses. Taking part in growing our economy for the long run.

What do you wish you knew when you started? Is there anything you would do differently?
PS: I would have started earlier.

What does “success” look like for you? We’d love to hear your biggest, boldest dream? What do you think will help you achieve it?
PS: Success is achieving milestones according to your own goals. For myself, to have SILVERWEISS become more successful and make an Impact on a global scale. With persistence, patience and hard work. It can be achieved.

What is your superpower as an entrepreneur? What is your proudest and darkest moment so far? Share a key high and a key low from your journey if you can.
PS: Courage and motivation. Strategic and forward thinking. The ability to build rapport with clients and identify key points to get from A to B. Closing successful transactions and leaving clients satisfied for our work. Overcoming management of multiple projects at once while building out systems to be in place at the beginning.

What are your personal driving principals, your top values?
PS: Education. Integrity, consistency, discipline, and ethics.

How have your personal principles and values shaped your company’s values and principles?
PS: It shapes our communication and execution; with the professionalism and transparency we provide. Keeping us value-driven.

What’s it like to work alone or with your partners?
PS: Nothing can be greater than identifying and working with an A-Team.

Do you have a mentor? Tell us about what makes them valuable to you and your business?
PS: Yes. My mother is the biggest. She is my counsel, and also an amazing businesswoman as well. She has been on my side to give me her wisdom and support.

What role does mentorship play in your world (as a mentor or mentee)?
PS: It’s made a big effect on my career as both. It’s a wonderful cycle of giving and receiving guidance.

Many entrepreneurs continue to perfect their daily routines to support their work and greater vision; would you mind sharing your morning routine or a regular ritual that grounds your work each day?
PS: Meditation.

What are you reading or have read?
PS: Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. Campbell was one of the few teachers to have taken eastern philosophy and translate it into the modern west successfully. His teachings are simple yet remarkable.

Where do you go for inspiration?
PS: Reading, the arts, being outdoors and in nature.

Do you have a favorite quote, mantra, or words of wisdom to get through the tough days?
PS: “Limit yourself to the present.” – Marcus Aurelius

What is a problem that keeps you up at night?
PS: Finding enough time.

How do you think about helping others through your work?
PS: I think about methods that will help them grow and sustain for the long run. While factoring their Industry sector, mission, and goals. Putting efforts forward to achieve best results from every angle.

What advice do you have for fellow (and aspiring) entrepreneurs building and leading teams?
PS: Focus on your own journey and the cards you already have. Look inside first and not out. Identity your end goal and be clear with what you want to achieve. This will keep you going, and everything else will follow after.

What kind of an entrepreneur do you want to be known as – as in, what do you want your legacy to be?
PS: That I’ve played a role and impact on the success to clients and businesses. Being an example, that they “too” can make It.

Do you have someone you’d like to nominate to be profiled in our Faces of Entrepreneurship series? Please let us know by emailing media@thecenter.nasdaq.org or submit your nomination using this form.