SFNet 2024 40/40
SFNET’S 40 UNDER 40 PROFILES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
A TRISHAALA NINAN Director of Marketing REV Capital
s director of marketing at REV Capital, Trishaala Ninan specializes in strategic B2B growth planning. Since leading the execution of a full-scale company rebrand, her commitment to increasing REV’s brand awareness across North America only continues to grow. Trishaala is no stranger to a new challenge. Her career trajectory started in graphic design with a $19B real estate investment company. Within a few years, she was leading corporate-level marketing. A mid-career transition to the retail industry led to her joining a B2B solutions provider, where she managed marketing portfolios for renowned consumer brands, including L’Oreal and Mattel. Trishaala has an unwavering ability to adapt to new industries and build teams from the ground up. She dedicates this to her passion for ongoing learning and development. Having entered the finance scene as a newcomer in 2021, she saw an opportunity to help other future industry leaders. This resulted in her joining as co-chair of the NEXGEN Committee for the International Factoring Association. Today, she plays a pivotal role in attracting, retaining, and engaging rising talent in the factoring industry.
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What are your secrets to staying organized? If I were to have a superpower, it would be my organizational skills. Over time, I’ve developed a routine that works for me. I start my day with ‘low hanging fruit’ tasks, like quick emails and project status updates. Then, I decide what needs a moderate amount of time and attention, versus deep work. Moderate tasks – like reviewing team assignments and providing feedback – get actioned throughout the day. Deep work-related projects get blocked in my calendar throughout the week, and I always work ahead and revisit them over their lifecycle. I produce my best work when I give myself time and space to revisit something with a fresh perspective. I’m happiest when I’m ‘tapped in’ at work, but also pursuing things I love in my personal life. Secret’s out: I finished a sevenweek standup comedy class with Second City. It’s probably no surprise that I approached my weekly ‘bit-writing’ the same way as my work projects. Chip away gradually, let it breathe, and fine tune! How do you navigate setbacks or failures, and what lessons have you learned from them?
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THE SECURED LENDER JUNE 2024
Perfection is overrated, but I didn’t always see it this way. Having always been a high achiever, failure never seemed like an option. Making mistakes felt inexcusable, and sometimes even embarrassing. My perspective has changed drastically over the years. It’s impossible to avoid making mistakes when you’re growing in your career. Every mistake I’ve made has taught me something about myself, someone else, or a situation I faced for the first time. It can be uncomfortable in the moment, but it’s how you learn. I’ve also realized it’s much better to ship something that is 80-90% complete and improve it over time rather than chase perfection. I look at myself the same way. I’m always evolving, and I’ve
learned to give myself grace and focus on making new (and better) mistakes as I continue to grow in my career.
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What strategies do you employ for networking and building meaningful professional relationships? I’ve never loved the term ‘networking.’ I often see it approached solely for professional gain rather than making real human connections. I’ve reframed networking for myself as an opportunity to meet and get to know someone new. I’m curious by nature, love meeting people, and enter conversations without expectations or outcomes attached to them. Relationship building is important – especially if you’re looking to grow in your career. You want to have the right people in your corner, and that takes time. Those who stay in your corner are the ones who genuinely know you for ‘you’ – not what you can do for them, and vice versa. Not everyone you meet is going to help you get your next job, but they might introduce you to a new path. Remember when I mentioned my standup class? One night at a REV event, I met someone from the comedy scene. I’d been tossing the idea around for a while, but that specific conversation gave me the courage to finally sign up. Stay curious and be open to new opportunities! You never know where they’ll lead you.
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