Sylwia Wolos

Expert in corporate investigations and due diligence, focusing on 3PRM, ABC, and UBO. An experienced leader in setting clear business strategies and objectives, and leading cross-functional teams to exceed their goals. Leadership positions in a large multinational organisation and a tech start-up, in Operations, Proposition, Sales, Customer Success, and Strategy roles.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

I help companies understand what the risk the ecosystem they operate in entails and make sound business decisions based on data, not gut feelings.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Established and scaled up EMEA Research Operations for an international business from scratch to top top-performing team in just a year, while in my twenties.
2. Co-built and scaled up a start-up business after a career in a multinational corporation, adjusting successfully from one polar end of the business to another.
3. Grew as a leader in compliance, due diligence, and investigations, while growing as a mum of three kids, and have not lost my mind on the way.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

The biggest risk in my career was accepting a promotion to set up a regional office abroad after just a few months as a research analyst. Despite limited experience, I embraced the challenge, learned rapidly, and it became the springboard for my career and my commitment to mentoring others.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

In my 20s I have crossed through Sahara desert in an off-road rally.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

No one quality makes a great leader, but courage stands out in my view. Courage to do the right thing when no one is watching, courage to challenge others, courage to listen to others, even if they are not in the same leadership room, and courage to drive change, even when the circumstances are tough.