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The Founders

Advisors who have been where
you are going

Our founders bring decades of combined experience from the very institutions and industries they now guide clients into.

Alpha Mentors Advisory was built by practitioners — not theorists. We have navigated the competitive academic and professional landscapes firsthand, and built careers at the institutions their clients aspire to reach. Every insight we share is drawn from lived experience, not textbooks.

Melanie Shapsis, Founder and Director of Advisory
Melanie Shapsis, Esq.
Founder & Director of Advisory
01
Founder

Melanie Shapsis, JD, MBA

Founder & Director of Advisory

Melanie is a corporate attorney, seasoned real estate investor, and experienced business operator with deep expertise in scaling and optimizing operationally intensive companies. She has executed and advised on over $25 billion in complex M&A and real estate transactions at top-tier institutions including Morgan Stanley, Apollo Global Management, and Simpson Thacher.

She was also a founding executive at a national real estate hospitality company, where she built and led the firm’s real estate and operations divisions, driving expansion from launch to hundreds properties across major U.S. markets, managing capital deployment, financial strategy, and day-to-day execution. Melanie has built and overseen high-performing cross-functional teams spanning investments, finance, operations, and technology. She is known for her ability to architect scalable business systems, lead transformative growth, and execute at both strategic and operational levels with precision and speed.

Melanie holds a B.S. from Cornell University, a J.D. from NYU School of Law, and an M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business.

Education:
BS, Cornell University, Applied Economics
JD, NYU, School of Law, Corporate Law
MBA, NYU, Stern School of Business, Finance and Operations
Former Roles:
Corporate Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Real Estate Private Equity, Apollo Global Management
Director of Investments, Domio
Real Estate Private Equity, Morgan Stanley
Specialty:
K-12, Graduate School Admissions, Young Professional Careers
Industry:
Business, Financial Services, Law, Higher Education (University, JD, MBA), Entrepreneurship
What We Stand For

United by a singular standard

The founders built their careers on the same principles they now bring to every client engagement.

Strategic Guidance
We help clients make life's most consequential academic and career decisions through thoughtful, evidence-based strategy. Rather than simply answering questions, we develop personalized roadmaps that position students and professionals for long-term success
Elite Mentorship
Our advisors bring decades of experience in higher education, leadership, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching. Every client receives individualized mentorship from professionals who have helped students earn admission to top universities, secure competitive internships, and launch meaningful careers.
Purposeful Success
Success is measured not simply by acceptance letters or job offers, but by helping clients build lives and careers aligned with their talents, ambitions, and values. We focus on developing leaders prepared to make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities.

Ready to work with us?

Engagements begin with a private consultation. Inquiries are handled personally by our founders.

Request a Consultation