Patricia Vidal Araújo

Professional Biography

Based in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, Patricia Vidal Araújo is an accomplished operations leader with over a decade of experience in the maritime shipping industry, specializing in commercial steering, cargo management, import/export logistics, and customer service excellence.

Currently serving as Head of Operations – Latin America at Smartworks, Patricia oversees the management and strategic direction of development resources across South America. In this role, she ensures the seamless alignment between operational delivery and organizational growth objectives, coordinating cross-border teams and optimizing performance across regional markets. Patricia brings a structured, people-focused leadership approach to Smartworks—strengthening communication between development, business, and technical functions while driving continuous improvement in operational outcomes.

Before joining Smartworks, Patricia held a distinguished career at Ocean Network Express (ONE), where she served as Supervisor of Cargo Management & Cargo Readiness, overseeing strategic cargo operations across Brazil and collaborating closely with Sales, Marketing, and Finance to optimize vessel utilization and profitability. Her analytical insight and process-driven leadership enabled her to forecast demand, identify growth opportunities, and enhance service quality across multiple trade lanes.

Her tenure at ONE included progressive leadership roles, from Customer Service and Sales Support for Key Accounts to Team Leader and Department Supervisor, reflecting her consistent record of excellence and professional advancement. Patricia's global perspective was further shaped by her earlier work with MSC Crociere, where she gained valuable experience in multicultural environments that strengthened her communication and cross-cultural leadership skills.

Fluent in English and Italian, with intermediate Spanish, Patricia holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism from UNIMONTE – Universidade Monte Serrat. She has also earned extensive professional certifications in customs legislation, compliance, maritime law, logistics, and IT systems.