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Max’s international business acumen was honed during his tenure with a San Francisco Bay Area investment group, where he worked with joint-venture partners across the U.S. and the Russian Far East. There, he collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop a business plan and investment proposals for a $50 million syndicated loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). He traveled to the region multiple times, assisting U.S.-based partners in liaising with their Russian counterparts. His cultural fluency, understanding of the local business climate, and sharp negotiation skills played a key role in securing high-value agreements.

In the early 2000s, Max co-founded Global Shield Partners, Inc., a global threat and risk management firm. He later joined Robert Half (RHI), the world’s largest specialized business and talent solutions firm, where he partnered strategically with Protiviti, its risk and regulatory consulting arm, on client presentations. In his first year, Max won the largest of its kind at the time—a record-setting compliance engagement with a high-tech client in Silicon Valley, generating over $6 million in revenue.

In 2006, Max co-founded Execuforce, a professional services company specializing in IPO preparation, regulatory compliance, and leadership search. He scaled the business into a multi-million-dollar operation within its first year. Before launching Upside Management Advisors, Max had a consulting engagement with Intel’s Leadership Team to elevate executive search standards within the Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations (MSO) organization.

Max’s bilingual and multicultural expertise, operational experience in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), entrepreneurial mindset, and proven business consulting record make him a trusted advisor to political and business leaders. He holds an M.A. in International Politics and a B.A. in International Relations from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Max is also an avid martial artist and holds a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate.