BLAKE NIELSEN, JD
Founder, Optimarrow LLC
Chicago, IL
BOARD-READY EXECUTIVE
Strategic legal, operations, and GRC leader with proven expertise in scaling high-growth technology companies from startup to public markets.
Blake Nielsen is a board-ready executive with proven expertise in corporate governance, regulatory navigation, and operational excellence. Having successfully guided a fintech company from early-stage startup through international expansion and NYSE public offering, Blake brings boards the rare combination of legal acumen, business leadership, and governance expertise essential for driving growth while managing risk. His track record demonstrates an ability to enable innovation within structured governance frameworks—particularly valuable for high-growth companies in complex regulatory environments.
GOVERNANCE EXPERTISE
As General Counsel, Executive Director, and Corporate Secretary at Enfusion Inc. (NYSE: ENFN), Blake built and managed the company's governance structure from the ground up, leading the organization from a private company with no formal governance to a successful public company with robust board and committee frameworks. During his tenure, Blake:
Created and implemented all board and committee structures, including establishing meeting cadences, information flows, and governance protocols
Served as Corporate Secretary, supporting 16+ formal board and committee meetings annually
Developed comprehensive board training materials and company calendars integrating regulatory deadlines
Created and led the Disclosure Committee, ensuring timely and accurate public disclosures
Served as a key knowledge party for PCAOB audits
Established and managed Deal, Compliance, and various other committees
BUSINESS GROWTH IMPACT
Blake's governance leadership supported exceptional business growth at Enfusion:
Revenue growth from <$25MM to $157.30MM (>500% increase)
Expanded client base from <50 to ~780 global clients (>1,400% increase)
Maintained industry-leading net retention rate of 113% through 2022
Joined as employee #29 and helped scale to 1,100+ employees
International expansion from 3 to 11 global offices across Americas, EMEA, and APAC
Strong financial health: $268M cash position and 0.12 debt ratio by Q4 2022
Maintained 76% gross margin in 2022 while scaling operations globally
TRANSACTION EXPERTISE
Blake led numerous strategic transactions, bringing both legal expertise and business judgment to complex deals:
Key member of deal team for a bulge bracket bank divestiture
Three private equity investments and $100MM debt facility
Legal leader of company's up-C reorganization optimizing tax structure
Core member of IPO leadership team managing company preparation for $367MM offering culminating in ~$1.7 billion market capitalization
Lead Director & Officer insurance roadshow meetings during IPO preparation
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE & CURRENT BOARD SERVICE
With deep experience in technology, fintech, and SaaS businesses, Blake brings sector-specific knowledge critical to effective board oversight:
Technology Governance: Established cybersecurity and data management programs in partnership with C-suite technical leaders
Regulatory Navigation: Built and managed global compliance frameworks across 14 different regulatory jurisdictions
Cross-Border Operations: Successfully established and scaled operations in Hong Kong (2016), Singapore (2017), Ireland (2019), Brazil (2019), India (2020), Australia (2022), and China (2022)
Crisis Leadership: Guided global operations through COVID-19 while maintaining governance continuity
Product Strategy: Played key role in go-to-market strategy with decision-making authority within revenue organization
Current Advisory Board Positions:
[AI/ML MORTGAGE ORIGINATION & AUTOMATION COMPANY]: Providing strategic guidance on go-to-market strategy, scale, risk management, governance, and compliance for this AI-driven technology company
[AI/ML SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT COMPANY]: Advising on technology adoption, risk management, and scaling operations
BOARD VALUE PROPOSITION
Blake offers boards a distinctive blend of governance expertise and operational leadership that addresses critical challenges facing today's high-growth companies:
Growth Enablement: Proven ability to implement governance structures that facilitate rather than impede innovation and expansion
Risk Navigation: Strategic approach to balancing opportunity pursuit with appropriate risk management
Regulatory Insight: Deep understanding of complex compliance environments across multiple international jurisdictions
Transaction Guidance: Extensive experience with capital-raising events, including private equity investments and public offerings
Scale Management: Firsthand knowledge of challenges and opportunities at each stage of company growth—from startup to public entity
Technology Governance: Specialized expertise in cybersecurity oversight, AI implementation, and data privacy frameworks
As companies face increasing pressure to maintain growth while addressing evolving governance standards, Blake's background provides boards with both the strategic vision and practical experience needed to successfully navigate these competing demands.