Hakim’s career began in international trade, working in the import and export business across European and African markets. Immersed in deal-making and cross-cultural negotiations from an early age, he developed a deep understanding of how to cultivate trust and drive business growth — an experience made even more meaningful by working alongside his father.
After earning his MBA at Mercy University, Hakim continued in higher education, teaching international business courses while simultaneously working in graduate recruitment and admissions.
Hakim was introduced to Raistone CEO Dave Skirzenski after a mutual connection reached out about an opportunity on the Sales team. From his first conversation with leadership, he was compelled by the company’s mission to equalize access to working capital and the critical role each team member plays in fulfilling it.
“Having gone through my past roles, I can safely say that selling is in my blood,” he shared. “I take utmost pride in nurturing the many business relationships I’ve developed.”
The collaborative culture and forward-thinking approach at Raistone sealed his decision to join. Over the past several years, he has played a key role in both Account Receivable Finance (ARF) originations and on the Alliances team, continuously expanding Raistone’s network of partners.
In his current role, Hakim works closely with Brittany Downs, Director of Alliances, to activate and support referral partners. By guiding them through Raistone’s product solutions and ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to refer new business, he strengthens the company’s partnerships and expands opportunities for growth.
“Our process involves educating partners on Raistone’s products and guidelines, analyzing their clients’ business cases, and determining how we can help,” he said. “Ultimately, we ensure they have the knowledge and tools to facilitate conversations with their clients and seamlessly refer them to Raistone.”
The Alliances team is instrumental in identifying and nurturing platform, channel and broker relationships. For Hakim, the most rewarding part of his role is engaging with industry leaders and developing prosperous partnerships.
“We have the opportunity to engage with senior leaders from various organizations and industries, efficiently working with them to understand their needs from the outset,” he stated.
One of his proudest projects has been the ongoing rollout of Raistone’s marketplace, an initiative that enhances the company’s offerings and extends financing solutions to a broader range of businesses.
Hakim is also appreciative of the camaraderie found within Raistone. He noted that working across departments has been seamless, thanks to a team that is both highly skilled and committed to excellence. Looking ahead, he is focused on broadening the company’s network of channel partners and increasing top-of-funnel leads.
Outside of work, Hakim enjoys staying active, whether it’s lifting weights, running, cycling or playing basketball. He recently relocated from New York to Maine with his family, where he enjoys raising his 19-month-old son. With a unique multicultural background, having been born in Finland and raised in Morocco, Hakim is fluent in five languages — Finnish, French, English, Arabic and Spanish. Fittingly, he continues to travel internationally when he can and loves exploring new places with his family.
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