Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj hardly needs an
introduction: she has been a prominent member of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada
community for a long time. This active and compassionate woman was born into a
Ukrainian family in Toronto. Her parents, Roman and Irena were respected
members of the community. Ruslana’s grandparents founded a well-known Future Bakery,
which is currently owned by Ruslana’s brother, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, who is also
a Member of Parliament in Etobicoke Centre. Ruslana always speaks fondly about
how much the community, her parents and the Ukrainian school and church she
went to meant for her moral and spiritual upbringing. Ruslana considers being
grateful a very important personality trait and has always instilled this
feeling in her children and grandson.
Ms. Wrzesnewskyj graduated from the University
of Toronto (Bachelor of Science, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, specializing
in Occupational Therapy and Psychiatry) and for ten years worked in psychiatric
hospitals in rehabilitation medicine and occupational therapy. However, after
an accident with a patient, which threatened her own life and the life of her
future child, she chose the profession of a real estate agent. Ruslana
based this choice also on her long-time fascination
with the intricacies of real estate deals as well as with interior design and
antiquities. So, 20 years ago she started her real estate business.
Her eldest of four daughters, Petra, runs the
business together with Ruslana. Real estate is not Petra’s first profession
either. She is a political scientist by education and when her mother lost her
trusted business partner, Natalia Tanchak, who passed away ten years ago, she
offered her help and became a real estate agent. Now, the mother and daughter
business partners combine Ruslana’s wisdom and experience with her daughter
Petra’s enthusiasm and drive. During Ruslana’s frequent travels to Ukraine, she
often leaves the business for Petra to run. Ruslana’s other daughter
Anka, who is studying design, helps them also. Apart from her Toronto-based
real estate business, Ruslana also owns the Hatky Ruslany hotel and the
Donechky restaurant in Ukraine, close to Vorokhta.
“I work hard but I am my own boss. Our goal
is to sell as many homes in six months as the others do in 8-10 months because
we need time for our volunteer work in the Help Us Help the Children project”,
says Ruslana, and continues, “I believe that money is not everything, one needs
to do something for one’s soul. It is important to find a balance between the
material and spiritual things. In my case, this project is very important to me
and important to help the less fortunate in Ukraine.”
Ruslana founded the Help Us Help The Children
project (HUHTC) more than 20 years ago. Currently, her daughters and the team
of volunteers both in Canada and Ukraine help her run the project. But Ruslana
still spends a lot of time in Ukraine. The project currently helps orphaned
children and provides rehabilitation for the widows and parents of Ukrainian
soldiers killed in the Donbas, as well as for the demobilized soldiers.
Ruslana says that her business success is
the result of her cooperation with a team of decent and professional people: lawyers,
contractors and staging specialists. Anka and Petra, together with the women
who do the staging, can change the house beyond recognition. This service comes
free of charge, unlike most competitors. Ms. Wrzesnewskyj says: “It’s our rule
not to tell the client that their home lacks something. We offer them 2-3 days
to make their home more presentable and marketable.” Ruslana uses the services
of Victor Lishchyna, who she considers among the best Toronto lawyers, and
refers the clients to Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, which always has great
offers, especially for first time buyers. Ms. Wrzesnewskyj also appreciates the
services of a professional contractor Danylo Lutsiv who is very dependable and
always ready to give a good advice.
Some people mistakenly think that the Team Wrzesnewskyj
only sells expensive houses. The truth is, Ruslana and Petra often help first-time
buyers who then become their permanent clients. Many of Ruslana’s friends were
her clients at the onset of her business and the firm has also helped many of
Petra’s friends. Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj believes that, with her team’s
professionalism, industriousness
and perseverance, their success also rests upon their care for clients.
Team Wrzesnewskyj carefully listens to the
clients and tries to offer them what they really need. Buying and selling real
estate is a lengthy process and establishing a good rapport with clients and
becoming a part of their family allows them to find the kind of home the family
needs. This is how Ruslana and Petra Wrzesnewskyj win new clients and retain
existing ones. The Wrzesnewskyj’s do not just provide quality services; they
fulfill their clients dreams about their new homes.
Ruslana notes, “People tend to change homes
from time to time and it is very important for realtors to “hold the clients by
hand” and win their trust, so that they turn to the same realtor time and time
again. Word of mouth is the best marketing tool in our business but we also
advertise on the Internet and periodicals, including Ukrainian ones.”
Ruslana is confident that owning a business
is for brave and determined people. It is not always possible to achieve
success from the very beginning but it is worth to try and be persistent, to
take chances and believe in your ideas.
RAZOM Media
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