MEET OUR MENTOR: ALISA RUSANOFF
Alisa Rusanoff started her career a decade ago in investment banking at Martel Capital, working on M&A and capital raising initiatives for a diverse list of mid-market clients. She then joined a public interval fund based in NY where she oversaw portfolio analysis and was an Investment and Valuation Committee member.
Later in her career, Alisa focused on the Trade Finance industry working with several clients on credit analysis, management, investor communication, capital introductions, and alternative financing structures. A few years later, she co-founded Newbridge Global, a trade finance boutique focusing on supply chain, accounts receivable financing and asset-based lending solutions for SMEâs, managing close to $100M AUM. Later she was the first employee at an early-stage fintech startup called Marco Financial, helping to build a fintech platform providing working capital for Latin American exporters by heading the credit department and led several underwriting product projects. The Company raised over $80M in debt and equity in their seed round in 2021. In late 2021 she partnered with Crescendo Asset Management to launch a trade finance fund specializing in supply chain finance, ABL, factoring and other structured debt solutions for its clients.
Alisa has published several articles on ESG, Economics and Fintech, and has spoken at various conferences. She has been a guest lecturer at NYU, the New School Venture Lab, Antler VC, GC4Women Certificate Program and Money 2.0 Conference. In 2021, she got a 40Under40 Award by Secured Finance Network, in 2020 she was named top 25 women by Opus Connect and received a Leadership Award in Finance by Money 2.0 Conference. Alisa is a chair of the New York Chapter Opus Connect Mastermind group, a member of Female Founder Collective and a contributor to the upcoming textbook âCases in Financial Management: Financial Analysis for Corporate Financial Managementâ.Â
Why do you think mentoring others is important?
The reason I enjoy helping and mentoring young entrepreneurs is the fact I never had a mentor. I moved to the US when I was 21 barely speaking English. I was eager to learn finance as I was practicing my language, and, in retrospect, I wish I did have a mentor to grasp certain knowledge, advice, and skills earlier. Books and experience were my mentors and I learned to never make the same mistake twice.Â
From your experience, what is the biggest obstacle young entrepreneurs face? Any advice for them?
Self-confidence based on rational and skillset. Most talented people tend to overthink, while some act. Sometimes you have to act and learn as you go. It could be discouraging to see friends of yours working their 9-5 jobs in corporations and having a balanced lifestyle and a steady income. Just remember, your goal is a long-term one, you’re doing what you’re passionate about and challenges are necessary to fail, learn and succeed.Â
Where can we find you? How can we support you?
On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-rusanoff-9637a659/