Vladimir Lisin got his first job in 1975 working as a mechanic in a Soviet coalmine, and after studying at the Siberian Metallurgic Institute got a job working as a welder foreman at Tulachermet Metals Works. He rose through the ranks to become section manager, shop manager in 1979 and deputy chief engineer in 1986.

He graduated from the Siberian Metallurgic Institute in 1979 with a metallurgical engineering diploma specialising in “Foundry of irons and non-ferrous metals”. In 1984 completed Postgraduate study in UKRNIIMET by correspondence (Kharkov, Ukraine). In 1989 he received an MSc in Metal Engineering from the Central Research Institute of ferrous metallurgy named after I. P. Bardin (Moscow). In 1990 he received a Diploma of the Higher commercial school under the All-Union Academy of Foreign Trade of People’s Friendship Order, the training program “Administration and activity management of joint ventures in the territory of the USSR” (Moscow). In 1992 an MSc in Economics and Management from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA). In 1996 a Doctorate of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS), Faculty of engineering mechanics and in 1997 thesis for a Doctor’s degree in Metal Engineering. In 1999 was a Professor at RANEPA and in 2005 received a doctorate in economics.

In 1992, he joined a group of tenacious traders (the Trans-World Group) who won control of Russia’s steel and aluminium industry. When the partners split in 2000, he received 13% of the firm and later achieved a controlling share. His former boss was named the Minister for Russian Metallurgy, and Lisin became the sole owner of Novolipetsk Steel in 2000.

Since 1993, he has been a board member of several leading Russian metal producers, including NLMK, MMK and Sayansk and Novokuznetsk Aluminium Plants and has been a member of the board of directors of Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) since 1996 and its chairman since 1998. He previously worked as deputy chief engineer and as deputy general director of the Karaganda Steel Plant, one of Kazakhstan’s four largest steel plants.

Lisin was member of the board of directors of Zenit Bank. Lisin sits on the board of directors of the Novolipetskii Metallurgical Combine, one of largest steel companies in Russia, in 1998 and still holds that position. He is a director at CJSC Chernomorneftegaz. He was a Director of Norilsk Nickel Mining and Metallurgical Co. since 2002. He has been chairman of JSC Novolipetsk Iron & Steel Corporation (OJSC Novolipetsk Steel) since June 2007. He has been a director of OJSC United Shipbuilding Corporation since March 2009. He serves is a trustee of Inst. of Social Dev. Foundation.

In 2013, Lisin was appointed as a member of the ISSF Executive Committee.

In November 2018, Lisin was elected president of the International Shooting Sport Federation, and succeeded Olegario Vázquez Raña, who has served as president since 1980.