Shana Orczyk Sissel, CAIA, widely recognized as "The Queen of Alternatives," is the Founder and CEO of Banríon Capital Management, where she is dedicated to empowering independent financial advisors with innovative solutions in alternative investments. With over 25 years of industry experience, Shana has established herself as a leading authority in the asset management and wealth management sectors.

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Her career began as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, where she gained foundational knowledge in wealth advisory services. Over the years, she has worn many hats, including roles as an institutional and retail allocator, and has held senior positions at prominent firms such as Orion Advisor Solutions, Fidelity Investments, and Mercer. At Orion, she served as Director of Investment Due Diligence and ASTRO Project Lead, sourcing and implementing private investment deals across various liquidity spectrums. As Chief Investment Officer at Spotlight Asset Group, she managed a $500 million portfolio, led the investment committee, and developed comprehensive alternative investment strategies for clients.

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In 2007, Shana was introduced to the world of alternative investments—a pivotal moment that shaped her professional focus. She has since dedicated her career to helping financial advisors develop internal alternative investment programs as a means to grow their businesses and better serve clients. Recognizing a significant gap in advisor-centric technology solutions, she sought to bridge this divide by creating a platform that offers the largest marketplace of alternative investment deal flow. In 2022, she launched Banríon Capital Management, partnering with industry innovators Dmitri Alexeev of AlphaBot and Jud Mackrill of Mammoth Technology to develop the first comprehensive, flexible, open-architecture alternative investment platform designed specifically for advisors by advisors.

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Shana's expertise extends beyond platform development; she actively assists clients with alternative investment education, portfolio construction, and due diligence best practices. Her contributions include helping launch Armada ETF Advisors and advising on their first ETF, the Home Appreciation U.S. REIT ETF (HAUS). 

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As a highly sought-after speaker and media contributor, Shana frequently appears on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business Network, and the Schwab Network, sharing her insights on alternative investments and wealth management. Her peers have honored her as “Queen of Alternatives,” a nickname that reflects her deep industry impact and thought leadership.

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She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum School of Business, and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. Recognized for her innovation and leadership, Shana has received numerous accolades, including being named a Top 20 WealthTech CEO by Technology Innovators Magazine in 2025, a "Rising Star" in wealth management by RIA Intel in 2023, and finalist for Women in Asset Management’s Woman of the Year in 2021.

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Throughout her career, Shana has successfully launched several notable products, including the HAUS ETF, Orion Direct Index SMA, and Mercer Emerging Market Fund, and has been a prominent voice advocating for diversity and innovation in wealth management. She is a member of the Hypatia Capital Advisory Board and also co-chairs the Women in ETFs Speakers Bureau. She continues to drive change in the industry through her leadership and expertise.