Anna Bissell

CFO

Open Path Investments, LLC

• Mail

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?

While in grade school and in high school, our context of the outside world is so unknown. We live in the bubble that we know: the high school social dynamics. The outside world is absolutely nothing like high school! I would tell myself with confidence that we have the power to write our own destiny and define our own happiness. Anything is possible – just figure out what you want and grab your own life by the balls! Nothing can stop you other than yourself.

Who do you count as your greatest mentor(s) that have helped you succeed in your personal and professional life?

My mom, Viktoria Ivanova. She has always believed in me, kept me accountable to myself and others, and was supportive through all of my personal and professional tribulations. She helped me grow as a person. She has sacraficed her own youth and life to give my sister and me the wonderful life that we have. Her wonderful stubbornness and challenge of authority has been my inspiration to stand up for myself in life and never follow anybody or anything, blindly.
My grams, Lyudmila Ivanova. The true warrier of the family. Without her, none of us would have been able to come to America and build our lives according to our dreams. A woman of steel. Somebody who has inspired me to be strong, no matter the circumstances. Somebody whose life couldn’t even accurately be illustrated in a LifeTime Original. A person who presevered 2 starvations in the Soviet Union and the communist regime in general.
Lyudmila Pavlovna, my first and only piano teacher from childhood in Ukraine. She made me love classical music and the piano. I hear her sweet voice every time I get lost in a piano composition.
Mr & Mrs Ancona. My music mentors, who took my sister and me in under their wings when we came to America and showed us kindness that they certainly did not have to but did, and it touched my heart forever. I think of them often and am a better person because of them.
Knierim, my High School History teacher. Though I did terribly in his class, he never gave up on me as a person. He has always believed in my potential, and we remain close friends to this day. Ludy Ivanova, my sister. Despite the lack of picnic in being sisters with me, she has never stopped loving me and never judged me me for anything, really, though there is a lot to judge. She has showed me unconditional love throughout our relationship. Our history binds us. She’ll always understand and she has inspired me to try to give at least an ounce back of what she has given me. Chris Bissell, my soulmate. Who believes in me, supports me, is patient with me, and continues to invest his love and energy into me, even in my darkest hours. Somebody who inspires me to be a better person on a daily basis. He is the most beautiful, kind soul whom I have the priviledge of spending my life with. I will never stop shouting to the world my mad love for this man.

Where do you see yourself and what will you be doing with your life after 40?

I have found a wonderful organization (OpenPath Investments) with whom I want to continue growing professionally and retire with. However, in having reached a certain professional stage in my life, I look forward to dedicating more quality time to my family and my soulmate, Chris. Time is our greatest resource and we have to take every opportunity to show what our loved ones mean to us, before that time runs out.

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