Balcarce → Lisbon → Illinois → Newport Beach

Everyone has a leaving point. What's yours?

I'm Fran Alessio — former D1 rugby player, podcast founder, and finance professional from Argentina.

Not everyone leaves their country.
Everyone leaves something.

Fran Alessio
All-American
National Champion
Lincoln Laureate
500+ TLP Followers
5 Internships
Fran's story

My Story

From Balcarce
to the world.

I was 18. $3,000. A one-way ticket.

I grew up in Balcarce, a small town in Argentina. My dad is a volunteer firefighter, my mom a high-school teacher, and my younger brother. Saturdays meant rugby, mate, and friends. Life was simple.

At 13, I went on an exchange program to California. That moment changed everything. I saw what was possible.

From then on, I focused on one thing: leaving.

No guarantees. Just conviction and belief.

Leaving isn't just about opportunity.
It's about becoming someone new.

Sports & Performance

I learned more through sports than anywhere else.

National Champion, Principia Rugby

All-American, National Collegiate Rugby

U18 National Champion, Mar del Plata

Team Captain, Multiple Teams and Seasons

Lately I've been trading tackles for miles

3 Half Marathons

HYROX

The field was always where I figured things out about myself, about people, about what it actually takes.

Rugby
Half Marathon

The Leaving Point

The Leaving Point

Real stories of leaving,
growing, and becoming.

The Leaving Point is a storytelling platform about people who left their home or comfort zone and built something bigger. Real conversations about identity, risk, and growth.

Latest Episode

Featured Guests

Professional

Finance, people,
and figuring
things out.

2026
Harvey & Company

Buy Side Analyst, Aerospace & Defense

Newport Beach, CA

2025
Visteon Corporation

Investor Relations + FP&A, North America & European Markets

Detroit, MI + Lisbon, PT

2024
Blossom Street Ventures

Deal Screening Analyst, Tech & SaaS

Remote

2024
The Willows Foundation

FP&A Summer Analyst, Reported to CFO

Laguna Hills, CA

2023
Candlelight Systems

Accounting & Operations, Shadowed Owner & CEO

San Clemente, CA

I'm interested in building things, connecting people, and creating at the intersection of finance, technology, and storytelling.

Fran Alessio

Values

What I believe.

What this journey has taught me.

01

Where you start doesn't define where you go.

02

Growth comes from choosing discomfort.

03

Discipline compounds, even when no one is watching.

04

People matter more than outcomes.

05

Everyone has a leaving point.

Fran

"I left at 18 not knowing when I'd come back.
That's when everything started."

Fran Alessio

Values

What I believe.

What this journey has taught me.

01

Where you start doesn't define where you go.

02

Growth comes from choosing discomfort.

03

Discipline compounds, even when no one is watching.

04

People matter more than outcomes.

05

Everyone has a leaving point.

Fran

"I left at 18 not knowing when I'd come back.
That's when everything started."

Fran Alessio