It was a wonderful privilege to photograph Nitrisha Zhang, MBA, Controller for Ryan Health. She shared some of her journey.
“Since high school, I wanted to be an accountant. I took a lot of math classes, and I did very well in them. Math and bookkeeping courses turned on the love for me. But so did dancing. For most of my childhood, I took ballet, modern, jazz, and tap classes. I thought I would become a dancer, but one day, my dad said, ‘No, dancers don’t make any money. Find a career that pays well.’ That sparked my interest and started me noticing my love for math and numbers. I realized I loved doing debits and credits. So, I took my love for dance and turned it into a love for numbers.
I pursued a B.B.A. in Accounting from Howard University in Washington, D.C, and an MBA from Long Island University. For the last 10 years, I have been a financial controller. My career steps were logically progressive and appropriate for my career. I started from the ground up. My first accounting job was as a staff accountant, and from there, I moved to a senior accountant position, working for different companies. Then, I became an accounting manager, and finally, I became a controller. Looking forward, I want to lead my next organization of choice. My five to 10 year goal is to be a CFO.
Throughout my career, with each new position, I gained different skills that built upon one another, enhancing and improving those skills. Loving what I do has helped me maintain a consistent zeal for numbers, people, and accounting. The finance arena, in general, improved my skills, and I continue to learn. I do not remain stagnant. I continue to enhance and develop. I am currently studying for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
It requires a good deal of time, but it is worth it. I am applying those skills and knowledge to my current position to become a better leader.
But I haven’t forgotten my love for dancing; it remains close to my heart. Fitness matters to me, so I became a certified Zumba instructor. I am having a great time teaching Zumba fitness classes three times a week. I love putting my personality into it. It helps to destress the people in the class and me too! It is incredibly rewarding.
One of my students told me that I saved her life. She explained that she was very overweight, but due to attending the class, she lost a significant amount of weight, reducing her health issues. It is wonderful to help change people’s lives for the good and dance, too!
Working with Alissa was so phenomenal. I love my headshots; they turned out so good I chose three. The experience was wonderful!”
About Alissa
Alissa Randall is a portrait photographer based in New Jersey and New York City, known for creating images that feel both elevated and deeply personal. While professional headshots remain a cornerstone of her work, her photography has grown to include personal branding, women’s empowerment, family connection sessions, and expressive portraits of dogs and the people who love them.
Her approach blends editorial artistry with empathy and guidance, helping people feel comfortable enough to be fully seen in front of the camera. Whether photographing an executive, an entrepreneur, a family, or a beloved dog, Alissa creates photographs that reflect more than appearance. They reflect presence, personality, connection, and story.
Alissa photographs in NJ, NYC, and on location beyond the tri-state area. Explore more of her work on the homepage and discover stories behind the images on the blog.