From a young age, Paul Ssali, 32, was drawn to challenges with no obvious solutions. It wasn’t job titles or salaries that guided his career decisions, but a central question: what problems in the world am I called to fix? That mindset has taken him across industries, borders and boardrooms. Trained as a mechanical and aeronautical engineer at the University of Pretoria, Paul’s career has spanned nine industries on different continents. He has worked with Fortune 500 mining giants, financial institutions and South Africa’s oldest bank, drawing from each experience to build a unique cross-sector toolkit. As a solutions lead in banking, he steers strategic innovation — bridging the gap between business and technical teams, translating problems into roadmaps, and ensuring execution delivers measurable impact. Outside the corporate world, he works with Engineers Without Borders South Africa, where for over a decade he is introduced young engineers to design thinking and community-centred innovation. “The best solutions,” he says, “come from truly understanding the people you’re designing for”.
BEng Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria
Had the privilege of working on some of the biggest mining operations in the world, with Fortune 500 companies, and at the oldest bank in South Africa. These experiences offered a perspective few are exposed to. Colleagues are often told that the things witnessed are beyond most people’s experience — though it is sometimes questioned whether they would even want to see them. What makes the career path unique is the broad perspective gained from working across nine different industries and in several countries and continents.
I made a decision early in my career to own my journey and avoid putting other people on pedestals. I have no doubt that there are many people out there with great qualities to admire, but as a Christian, I look to one person each day — God — and rely on the grace He has given me to get through each day. I take life one day at a time and look at myself in the mirror each morning, demanding a better version of who I was yesterday. Every day is a chance to grow closer to who I know God has called me to be. This approach keeps me grounded and focused on my own path rather than comparing myself to others or trying to be someone I am not.