“In this business, relationships are everything. Deals get done because of trust that’s built long before a deal sheet ever gets drafted. I encourage everyone I mentor to start building relationships and their networks early.”
Cassie Rosenthal took an unconventional path into specialty finance. Joining her family’s business 15 years ago from the art world, she chose to learn from the ground up — training in every department rather than stepping directly into leadership. This rigorous foundation gave her an inside-out understanding of the firm as she advanced into her current role as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Today, she drives strategic marketing, communications and brand strategy, translating an 88-year-old legacy to resonate with a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Rosenthal’s appointment as the first female C-suite executive in the firm’s history marked a turning point. Under her leadership, Rosenthal Capital Group now employs more women executives than ever before and has prioritized backing women-owned clients. This commitment is best reflected in her expansion of the firm’s consumer division, CPG+. Its breakout success — a deal with a woman-owned DTC footwear brand that scaled 18-fold over four years from a modest inventory loan —served as the proof of concept that established CPG+ as an integral, fast-growing part of the business.
Rosenthal’s leadership approach stems from her experience starting a business 24 years ago: surround yourself with great people, give them room to lead and let good ideas outvote title or tenure. For Rosenthal, financing fast-growing businesses isn’t just a job — it’s something she thoroughly understands from the other side of the table.
Rosenthal encourages young executives to learn what every department does to discover unexpected opportunities. She also advises reaching out to admired peers for guidance, noting that the industry is full of generous professionals eager to support the next generation.
