Women in Technology: Alpharank’s Lisbeth Garassino

In what is a recurring feature, Finopotamus spotlights innovative women who are positively impacting technology applications in the credit union industry, and beyond.

In the latest installment in our “Women in Technology” series, we visited with Alpharank’s Director of Marketing Lisbeth Garassino. With over 200 financial institution clients, including credit unions, the Redwood City, Calif.-based fintech bills itself as the only no-code, no PII (personal Identifiable Information), online branch intelligence platform for optimizing all online branch marketing campaigns and spending through a full funnel analytics delivery solution.

By W.B. King

In the same manner that tech departments were once siloed from the organization but today are integral to all departmental decisions, the way senior leadership interfaces with both back office and front office tech has also changed for the better. This evolution has certain parallels to Lisbeth Garassino’s professional pursuits.

After earning a bachelor’s of art in English from the College of the Holy Cross, she served as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Bucharest in Romania. The latter was nearly 20 years ago and a career touching the moving parts of technology wasn’t necessarily in the cards, she told Finopotamus.  

Lisbeth Garassino

“I spent five years in educational publishing for children. I transitioned into the tech industry in 2012 when I became a product marketing manager for an edtech company in Brooklyn. I was responsible for marketing DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), a software product for the edtech division of NewsCorps,” Garassino noted. “I found [that] I loved collaborating with the tech product owner to understand what new features would hit the product roadmap, and how technological advancements could improve children's literacy.”

As her vocation evolved, she would soon serve in other pivotal roles, including marketing director at ClassWallet, and head of marketing at both Zest AI and Payments Labs.

“My tech career eventually led me to Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas, where I experienced working at both large tech corporations and early-stage startups,” said Garassino who joined Alpharank as its director of marketing in 2025. “My passion lies in true innovation and creating impactful brands within an ecosystem. What drives me is this innovation and bringing exposure to companies that make a positive impact in our world.”

Calling for More Women in Leadership Positions

Garassino said that in the “artificial intelligence (AI)-first world,” business strategies and tactics have shifted immensely, but the tech space still has foundational touchstones. “The overall vibe remains similar: pressure to scale rapidly; hire slow, fire fast; pushing hard to grow monthly recurring revenue, annual recurring revenue and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization),” she continued. “Agile companies that can pivot quickly, adjust their product roadmap to provide value for what customers need to solve their problems excel.”

Another change observed is more women working in tech; however, she added that women in leadership roles still needs improvement—a reality she recently witnessed firsthand.

“I signed up for a conference, and the organizer asked me if I would like to attend the Global Women’s Network Session to kick off the conference, which I did,” she told Finopotamus. “However, two men, both CEOs and presidents, kicked off the welcome remarks for this group. I’m sure they are intelligent and smart leaders, but I think it would have been nice to have a woman CEO and president set the tone.”

Garassino continued. “Recently, I was also invited to a women-in-payments leadership networking event, and the host was also a man. These are just two examples, but I would really love to see more women in leadership positions.”

Despite these anecdotal references, Garassino, an optimist, also pointed to past mentors and champions, including Jamie Rosenberg, founder and CEO of ClassWallet. “He inspired me to meditate and reflect each week on a win and a moment of gratitude for the week.”

Another source of encouragement is her brother, Joe, who sadly succumbed to a rare cancer at age 29—he inspires her daily. “I pay it forward by serving on the boards of causes I care about, including an NGO in Bosnia, and the Joe Garassino Foundation, which helps people with cancer in Connecticut,” she noted. “I’m also involved in women-in-tech communities and support and encourage those starting out in the industry.”

Making a Sincere and Impactful Difference 

When the conversation turned back to all things tech in the credit union industry, Garassino explained the virtues of Alpharank. “It is the only solution that connects digital interactions to funded loans or deposits. For the first time, credit unions can see exactly how their marketing dollars translate into real financial support for their members,” she continued. “The solution also installs in seconds and can be tried for free, immediately revealing the tactics, channels, and strategies that will drive growth.

Overall, the intelligence gives community-based lenders a way to compete and win in a digital-first world.”

Another tech trend on her radar is innovations, including AI, in women’s health. “I have helped create a FemTech hub in Miami with the Media & Innovation Lab at the University of Miami—FemTech is definitely a new, up-and-coming industry,” she noted. “In fact, women were only required in clinical trials in the 1990s, so advancing women’s health is critical.”

Being attracted to organizations like FemTech hub is a direct influence of the credit union space, she shared. “Especially these days, we need to try to help each other in our community, and I think the credit union industry aspires to do so in a sincere and impactful way.”

Fintechs that understand the unique ethos and dynamics of credit unions will ultimately succeed, Garassino said, but added that a balanced partnership is key to any shared triumphs. “Credit unions need the tech-forward resources that fintechs provide to compete and thrive in today’s environment,” she continued. “Working with like-minded fintechs who put their customers first, as the credit unions put their members first and work together to innovate and grow, is essential.”