Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a humanitarian, author, mountaineer, explorer, social innovator, and technologist. Silvia’s critically acclaimed memoir “In The Shadow of the Mountain” has been translated into 11 languages and was recently awarded the prestigious Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards as the Stanford Travel Book of the Year. The book also was honored as a Forbes Selection “must-read” audiobook and a McKinsey Selection on their must-read summer reading list.  Silvia became the first Peruvian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. In 2018, she completed climbing the Seven Summits (the tallest mountain in each continent), becoming the first openly gay woman to do so.

Silvia founded Courageous Girls, an organization to help survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking with opportunities to find their strength and cultivate their voice. Silvia is a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, women’s rights, and sexual abuse survivors.

As a technologist, Silvia has been recognized for her leadership and insights. In 2015, CNET recognized Silvia as one of the most influential Latinos in Tech and Fortune Magazine, and it named Silvia one of the Corporate Heroes of all Fortune 500 companies.

Silvia’s achievements have made her recognized as an Ambassador in Peru and a symbol of women’s empowerment worldwide. Silvia is also a member of the prestigious Explorers Club, a sought-after public speaker, and a passionate mentor.

Silvia is one of the women featured on “Gutsy,” Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s highly acclaimed eight-part series on Apple TV+.

Currently, “In The Shadow of The Mountain” is being made into a feature film, and the talented Selena Gomez will play Silvia.

Silvia has been named one of Elle Magazine’s “Nine Latinx Women Changing the World” and InStyle Magazine’s “Badass 50 Women We See Out There Making The World a Better Place.”