In this episode of Beyond Barriers, discover the driving forces behind entrepreneurial success as Hanna Kassis, a seasoned financial innovator and founder, shares his journey of resilience, self-belief, and focus. Hanna takes you through his evolution from a first-generation leader to a trailblazer in private credit markets, responsible for over $1.4 billion in deal volume, and launched transformative businesses like OAREX Capital Markets and Babylon Asset Management.
Learn how unwavering focus and a disciplined mindset have helped him overcome challenges, navigate risk, and turn vision into reality. Whether you’re aiming to grow your career or build a business, this episode provides invaluable lessons in scaling success with clarity and precision.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Focus: Why concentrating on a singular vision is essential for success.
- Resilience and Clarity: Overcoming setbacks and maintaining forward momentum.
- Ego Management: How self-awareness shapes better decision-making and leadership.
- Entrepreneurial Growth: Practical strategies for scaling businesses and achieving long-term impact.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:26] The Importance of Slowing Down
[00:58] Meet Hanna Kassis: A Journey in Finance
[02:11] Early Career and Entrepreneurial Beginnings
[04:24] Lessons Learned in Business
[06:27] Current Ventures and Business Philosophy
[09:00] Leadership and Personal Growth
[12:49] Navigating Cultural Identity and Ego
[23:05] Building Resilience and Overcoming Challenges
[26:15] The Importance of Forward Progress
[26:25] Mentorship and Its Impact
[28:20] Decision-Making and Risk-Taking
[30:45] Trusting Your Gut
[34:08] Goal Setting and Achievements
[37:30] Building and Leveraging Your Network
[40:59] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Zero to One by Peter ThielQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. - Walter Bagehot
Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams, who looks inside, awakes. - Carl JungQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: Go getter, Dealmaker, EntrepreneurQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Slowing DownQ: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Have a drink on me - AC/DCQ: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I want my legacy to just be that I was a good person to myself, to my family and I want people to look back and say, he was a pretty innovative financial guy. -
Quotes
My biggest regrets often stem from moments where my ego got the best of me. True growth comes when we become aware of ourselves and how we affect others.
Hanna Kassis
I usually try to break up my day with a workout or a walk, and I end up talking to people that I haven't caught up with in a long time. So if you have friends that you feel like you've lost touch with, start walking, give them a call.
Hanna Kassis
If you're listening to this and you're making a hard decision, turn off the phone, walk for an hour to two hours by yourself, get tired, struggle, you will uncover so much.
Hanna Kassis
If you think something bad is going to happen, then something bad will happen. If you think you will have a positive outcome, you will have a positive outcome.
Hanna Kassis
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About
Founder Hanna Kassis is a lifetime financial entrepreneur with deep inroads into private credit markets. In 2012, Kassis started OAREX Capital Markets, Inc., a digital media financing company. Kassis led a team that raised $50M in credit facilities from Arena Investors, LP and another $50m from East West Bank in late 2020. As CEO until mid 2022, the company processed over $1B in transactions with zero credit losses. Kassis, a licensed attorney and CPA, opted to not practice law nor accounting; but instead to use his skillset to get deals done for clients. In his lifetime, Kassis has raised over $1.4B for others. After exiting OAREX in 2022, Kassis began investing in alternative debt in June, 2022 and launched Babylon’s advisory service in August, 2023.
About Babylon Asset Management
Babylon is a private credit fund and capital advisory service. We help well-established businesses raise capital without the need for banks or investors. Our focus is on US-based businesses with highly motivated management in the Micro and Lower Middle Market. Many businesses don't know what private credit opportunities exist for them. Through our top-down analysis, we help management discover "best fit" capital based on their current capital situation. Our structured credit solutions can be in addition to, or in lieu of, existing financing, at every level of the capital stack. As an advisor we invest in every deal when the lender permits us to, in order to avoid moral hazard.