From a young age, Paul Ssali, 34, 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 journey to take ownership of the path and avoid placing others on pedestals. While there are many with admirable qualities, faith as a Christian centres daily focus on one — God — and relies on the grace given to navigate each day. Life is approached one day at a time, with a daily reflection in the mirror demanding growth from the version seen the day before.