TrueLeap is thrilled to welcome our new Chief Financial Officer, Maria Frolova, whose career journey and values bring a unique blend of global expertise and a commitment to making a positive impact. Born in Moscow and grew up in Africa, Maria has a wealth of experience fueled by a lifelong love for different cultures and a passion for meaningful work. From living in the U.S. Midwest to working in San Francisco with various startups, their journey reflects an adventurous spirit and a drive for impactful change.
Maria’s career path is impressive and diverse, spanning public accounting, investment banking, and private equity, before ultimately deciding to become a hands-on builder of companies. This desire to make a direct impact led them to focus on leadership roles in finance, data, and corporate development across SaaS, e-commerce, marketplaces, and fintech sectors. One notable role was with Vida, where they built the financial structure from scratch and helped the company focus on social and environmental responsibility through initiatives like fair labor practices and sustainable sourcing.
Maria explains that their guiding principle of “doing well by doing good” has shaped both her career and life decisions, and it’s what drew her to TrueLeap. Upon learning about TrueLeap and meeting with founders Dr Sandip Bordoloi and Dr Sunny Zhang, she felt an immediate alignment with the company’s mission and values. “TrueLeap’s focus on unlocking education opportunities in underserved regions, particularly in Asia and Africa, resonates deeply with me. Having spent part of my childhood in Africa, I am especially passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of people there, helping them access education and economic opportunities that can transform future generations,” Maria said.
Speaking about what makes working at TrueLeap particularly exciting, Maria said, “This is the opportunity to help shape the company during its high-growth phase. With TrueLeap poised for exponential growth, the company is mindful of maintaining a sustainable, data-driven approach. I admire the founders’ disciplined strategy to focus resources where they’ll have the greatest impact, rather than rushing expansion. This approach allows TrueLeap to maximize its reach, helping billions access affordable, high-quality education.”
In her role, Maria will focus on building a robust finance foundation at TrueLeap, from financial reporting and budgeting to KPI frameworks and strategic decision-making support. She sees finance not just as a reporting function but as a key partner in driving the company’s mission. By providing accurate data, Maria aims to enable informed decisions, ensuring that every investment TrueLeap makes serves its mission and maximizes positive impact.
As the new CFO, Maria is eager and excited to contribute to a passionate, mission-driven team. In her words, TrueLeap is “on the verge of great things,” and she is thrilled to be part of this journey, helping make TrueLeap’s vision of accessible, transformative education a reality for millions worldwide.
