It’s a rare privilege to connect – and connect so deeply – with someone like Hasnae Taleb, a remarkable embodiment of success and inspiration. As I sit down with her, I find myself in awe of her journey, achievements, and vision for the future.
“At a young age, we all experience an uncertainty of not knowing exactly what to do,” she begins our conversation. “I had a deep desire to accomplish something remarkable, but just didn’t know exactly what, and achieving independence was crucial. However, the path to that goal wasn’t clear. So, I decided to throw myself into opportunities, knowing that was the only way to truly discover my calling and define my path.” This sentiment truly resonated with me. The drive for independence and success is a powerful motivator, even when the path is unclear.
Hasnae certainly has a lot to be proud of today. A NASDAQ history maker nicknamed the ‘SheWolf of NASDAQ’ for her achievements, Hasnae thrives on bringing innovative ideas to life, empowering corporations, and developing strategic investments. She’s a pivotal figure in the American Chamber of Commerce in the UAE, and is the world’s youngest asset manager under 30. Beyond traditional finance, she is a co-founder of a cutting-edge stock market scanner, EarningsWinner.io. This powerful tool excels at identifying earning champions, providing insightful technical analysis, and enabling automated research. Throughout her career, she has masterfully created, balanced, and rebalanced numerous Smartfolios for both short and longterm investment horizons. Notably, Hasnae has also developed and deployed white-label trading bots for multiple investment institutions and asset management firms, contributing to funds exceeding an impressive $4.8 billion in assets under management.
Our conversation meandered through her early childhood challenges. To Hasnae, luck plus hard work equals success. “Living in Morocco at 16, all I knew was that I had to study to get where I wanted to go. A teacher told me about a three-month-long NASA space camp in the US, which could result in a university scholarship. That became my goal.” It took enormous convincing for her parents to agree. At 17, she was “in the middle of nowhere in America, talking about the moon, rockets, and black holes.” After completing space camp, she was granted a university – once more against her parents’ fears. “Sometimes, our biggest enemies are those people closest to us who are trying to overprotect you, block you, and keep you in a safe space they think is right for you,” she says. “I had to convince my parents to let me go, to potentially fail, but to figure out my own life. That is a hard path; a lot of things change within you.”
During her undergraduate studies, she attended a macroeconomics class. She was fascinated by the concept of stock markets and trading stocks as a source of passive income for financial independence. Her commitment was incredible: she researched and studied the mechanics of trading for more than a year before buying her first share.
While some traders buy Lamborghinis, others lose it all through greed. Where does success stop and greed begin? She shares: “In trading and life, setting stop losses is crucial. It’s about knowing your exit point, like deciding to sell a stock at a specific price. For instance, if you buy a stock at $10.01 and set your stop loss at $10.05, you must exit when it reaches that point. People often lose money by getting greedy, holding onto a stock at $11, hoping it’ll hit $13. The key is to be content with your earnings and know when to walk away.
I ask how she applies this approach to her personal life. She emphasizes the need for balance between business discipline and family complexities. For her, a balance between these two aspects of life is essential.
Success and greed are fine lines to tread in business, particularly in her line of work. I posit that her success grew from her desire to push herself out of her comfort zone. “That’s where success comes from; you must throw yourself out there,” Hasnae affirms. “That is the risk you need to take because only you know how capable you are when you really put yourself in the ocean and learn how to sail.”
Her success is remarkable – and she’s humble: “In 2014, the NASDAQ Composites awarded me for achieving the highest points, and then I got another award for becoming the youngest millionaire at 23 on the trading floor.” From $1,000 in her account to $1,000,000 by age 23. Before moving to Dubai, she managed over $660 million in assets under management on Wall Street.
From my personal experience, I believe that most people are failure-deprived. Young people, especially, aren’t trained or educated in coping with failure; when they experience it, they crumble. Her response is brilliant: “I fail every day. Success comes only from failure. However, I don’t call them failures; I call them learning experiences. Failure is part of what we do, but most people don’t understand failure.” Like mine, her outlook redefines failure not as a setback but as a stepping stone to greater achievements. It’s a lesson in resilience and perseverance.
As we delve into who Hasnae is, it becomes evident that her journey is not just about personal and financial success but also about empowerment and change. “I am driven by people. I love people. I love to work with people,” Hasnae shares. “Success for me is when I make a positive impact on someone, and they, in turn, pass on what they’ve learned to others, creating a ripple effect with me as the initial catalyst.”
Hasnae co-founded Northladder, which enables electronic device trade-ins for cash, promoting sustainability and a circular economy. By turning unused devices into valuable resources for others, such as aiding a child’s education in Africa, Northladder focuses on the human impact of each transaction, not just the financial gain. Northladder is about creating meaningful connections and positive change through sustainable practices.
Discussing the future, Hasnae shares her vision for 2030: “Inspiring women and changing perceptions of money.” Her goal is to empower women to embrace their true selves and demonstrate that they can be self-sufficient and unique without relying on others. She emphasizes the need to shift how especially middle-class and poor people perceive money. She believes that money, often equated with success, should not be seen in this light. Instead, she argues that money can be accessible to anyone, provided they discover their unique formula for earning it. She believes that focus and discipline are critical to financial success. In her view, money results from expertise and success in one’s field, not a precursor to it.
Looking ahead to her 100th birthday: what will she be celebrating? “I believe our purpose in life extends beyond mere existence; it’s about creating change, helping others, and leaving a meaningful legacy. My goal is to leave this world knowing I’ve made a lasting impact and inspired people to continue a tradition of kindness and positive change.”
She offers a profound message-in-a-bottle: “Don’t doubt your abilities or set limits on yourself. With discipline, dedication, and education, anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
Hasnae’s story, a blend of self-belief and determination, is a guiding message for the future, marked by a commitment to make a difference. A remarkable person!
“In trading and life, setting stop losses is crucial. It’s about knowing your exit point.”
