Apartments as a class of housing have made a real revolution in the capital's real estate market. At first, even the most notorious optimists were sure that the format would not work - too many obstacles arose in its way.

— Alexey, Moscow project, this “House on Krasina”, all these apartments and the theme of renovation of old buildings - is it unique?

- No. But the story itself is absolutely Moscow. For Moscow and about Moscow. We have carefully studied all the possibilities that are available on the Moscow market. This niche, the redevelopment of old buildings, is promising and will be in great demand in the very near future. I can say for sure that for a company whose main office is in Switzerland, this direction is not new, sufficient experience has been accumulated, and the segment is new, quite new for Moscow.

Before starting in Russia, we studied the problem of building renovation using the example of European cities: Montreux, Geneva, Zurich, Munich, where there are many old houses built in 1800-1900. We learned how the process of transforming a dilapidated building into a completely new facility takes place. So, objects being removed from office or industrial use have amazing prospects, they have excellent design and architecture, and without disturbing the external appearance, you can make an excellent project.

In Europe everything is simple. Almost every town there has a distinct historical center, there are non-standard houses, they are not very large: for a full-fledged hotel - not enough, for a hostel - a lot, and it’s frankly a pity to give them up for a hostel. But this is good potential for a private, family business. There, the investor buys this house for himself, makes repairs and gives the renovated building to a management company, which uses it as an apart-hotel. The investor receives income, the management company receives its percentage. No administrative problems, pure business. Or, what is even more common, it is a small family business that can then be passed on to subsequent generations.

— What about Moscow? What's wrong here?

— Moscow has enormous potential for the development of its center. The development of the city center is dominated by administrative buildings. There are entire neighborhoods like Kitay-Gorod, where no one has ever lived. A random person, the same tourist, getting there, sees nothing except gray scary hulks, which also generate crazy traffic. And it turns out that the central areas are in deliberate isolation from the rest of the city. And this is the face of the city, its showcase. And the more hotels, amenities for tourists and especially for residents there, the more benefits for the city. And the fewer people will consider Moscow gloomy and inhospitable.

Now the city authorities have begun to make bicycle paths and pedestrian streets, but this is still a semi-finished product. Tourists need easy access to the Kremlin and the streets adjacent to it. On foot. On the way, buy souvenirs, pray and eat delicious food. And not just Italian food. For now, to do this you need to rent a room in an expensive hotel for very decent money or go to attractions from a residential area. And here, apart from the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theater, the Arbat and high-rise buildings with views, there is nothing else to monetize. Moscow is perceived as a set of standard storefronts. This is very offensive and one-sided. We have a beautiful and multifaceted city. Residents and tourists should feel comfortable here. In everything. So let's work in this direction.

— And what did you manage to change personally, what was the first step?

— « House on Krasina. He has an interesting story. It was planned to build three buildings in a palace style. What we see now is the middle building; the rest were not built. It was built in 1937, was rented out by the previous owners as an office center under three-month contracts, 500 people worked in this office every day, that is, the load on the surrounding infrastructure was crazy. The interior was in terrible condition, there was a garbage dump all around. At the same time, the building has excellent potential, a crazy design, the thickness of the brick walls is almost a meter. We restored the facade in accordance with the original project, updated the “filling”, did landscaping - we returned its soul, it began to live again. And beautified the area.

As for the load, the building has 136 apartments with a coefficient of 1.4 (that is, an average of one and a half people per apartment): that’s 190 people, 2.5 times less than it was. It turns out that we are unloading the area. And those who settle in this house will have a completely different attitude towards it. When we started building here, grandparents came to us, concerned to find out what we were up to. But when the scaffolding was removed, it immediately became clear to everyone what would happen, and not a single person expressed concern anymore.

— And inside, in the design of the apartments, did you play with the history of the house, its past, or did you choose a modern project?

— Initially, it was a general’s house, for the senior officers of the NKVD. In the 70s, another “box” was added. The layout was as follows: two four-room apartments per floor; this layout was taken as the basis. The historical component will be reflected in the cafe (old photos, artifacts) on the ground floor, for residents, it will not work for the street. When developing the layouts, the old layouts were taken as a basis. Of course, they brought in modern European experience.

Not like in our high-rise buildings, where you have to make your way to your cozy microworld with good repairs through gloomy dirty stairs and squalid corridors. One of my neighbors parked a moped next to my apartment in the southwest where I live, and gasoline is dripping from it; moreover, it can always fall and crush someone. I have small children, I worry about them. I'm trying to resolve this issue, but I'm running into a wall of misunderstanding. The situation is the same with stores: either budget stores or none at all. That’s why I bought an apartment in the “House on Krasina” and will live here.

— And this whole story with increasing the tax on real estate, including apartments, which will be so large that it will completely ruin the target audience?

- Everything is quite simple here. The Moscow government has large budget expenditures, a lot of infrastructure is being built, and the money needs to be taken from somewhere. While the large construction project was underway, the budget was being filled. Now construction is limited, although businesses are still ready to invest in construction. Hence the tax changes. The tax increase applies not only to apartments, but to all other real estate. Last week a buyer came and asked: “How much does it cost you to operate?” I say: “165 rubles per square meter per year.” - "It is expensive". - “But we are telling you an honest figure with the tax on land, plot, in return you get a closed territory and a bunch of other advantages.” - “I now have 50 rubles per square meter, why should I overpay?” He suggested that we first go to the building management or the HOA and find out what the figure will be for next year. A couple of days passed, he called, slightly dumbfounded, and said: “180 rubles per square meter...”

We need to understand and accept one simple thing. Moscow is a very expensive city, and every year life in it will become more expensive. There will be an expensive entrance, expensive parking spaces, expensive parking and high utilities.

— Let's return to renovation. Are there many such objects in the city? And how can they be characterized?

— It must be beautiful, economically feasible, creative and convenient from the point of view of the end consumer. There should be no gray boxes. In the short-term, the market is very competitive, and every factor that could add to the attractiveness of our property will be considered closely and carefully.

As investments, we consider individual buildings within the Third Transport Ring or historical ones that are more than 50 years old. The fact is that I like how they built until the end of the 60s, but after that I don’t.

Case in point. At the last EXPO REAL, a presentation of the city was shown at the Moscow stand. Views, high-rise buildings, “city”, and a third of the video is about new construction. We are standing with a partner, talking, he asks: “What is this? (The projects in New Moscow are complex developments.) Are you building a ghetto?” In Europe, such projects are viewed as austerity and social housing and are rather a repulsive factor for potential investors.

At the same time, by showing our projects, we see full understanding and good perception of what we do. And, more importantly, we see it among our buyers and tenants.

— Will you only deal with residential properties?

- Of course not. I see several promising areas for us: apartments ¾ we will work with them, we are very interested in the hotel sector, we are now planning to acquire two more objects, these will be hotels.

Our team’s competencies are sufficient to work in the hotel segment, retail, and business centers. The multifunctional complex and the shopping center are generally a similar story. In warehouses, however, we are not specialists, and in the “fence”. However, we focus on market indicators and clearly monitor the market situation. Real estate is not like hot pancakes; there is no need to rush here.

Having several options for exiting each project, and at any stage, we feel comfortable and are always open to new opportunities and proposals.

— What about the notorious administrative factor? How much depends on the decision of the authorities?

- Yes, it depends quite a lot. But here's an interesting point. I came to this segment from a completely different market - commercial real estate - and absolutely did not know the rules of the game in Moscow. And I noticed that, despite the prevailing stereotypes, the city leadership is absolutely accessible for communication.

I will share my observations: Khusnullin is absolutely accessible, he actively speaks at a lot of events, is not shy, communicates with everyone who is interested. He comes with assistants, and you can be sure that your question will be considered and it will go to the right person. A number of city officials, prefects, heads of government are available for communication and are ready to discuss projects without any problems and recommend the best solution. A big plus is the social activity of local residents. The local community is actively being formed. There is someone to talk to when forming projects.

— Are there investors who are interested in the idea of ​​getting involved in this flow? What is their profit?

“Just recently some people came: they want to buy 20 apartments, and then put them under management and receive income. The average monthly rent in the area is from 85 to 110 thousand rubles. It is enough to invest in the purchase of 2-3 apartments, and a good passive income is guaranteed. By the way, it can be fixed in currency: we are negotiating with the Americans, they want to receive dollar profits.

— A few words about the target audience. Who needs it?

- To me. Guys like me buy apartments. This is a second home. All my traffic, all my work activity is in the city center, and it is very convenient to be based nearby so as not to waste hours traveling home.

This is also an improvement in living conditions for the residents of the area: they wanted better, bigger, high ceilings and huge windows.

Another story is growing children. The daughter has grown up, the son has grown up - they need a separate area. The next direction is office housing, companies are buying apartments for employees. They are bought by businessmen from other cities whose business is connected with the capital, and, as a result, constant business trips and negotiations.

And, of course, the investment component is very active. Real estate, especially one like ours, is a good conservative investment. Given the relatively low cost of entry, this is of interest to a private investor with a small amount of funds. They definitely won’t lose, and we will help you make money. Ideal for renting out. We provide service and maintenance, the spaces are comfortable, the location is excellent.

Well, actually, if you want to be neighbors - welcome!

Text: Fedor Chistov

On June 8, the Sevastopol regional competition “Professional Accountant” ended - a competition for young and experienced accountants, organized by the company “Your Consultant”.
In our conversation with the chairman of the competition jury, Deputy Head of the Federal Tax Service for the City of Sevastopol, Alexei Nikolaevich Mogila, we talked about the results of the competition, the young generation of accountants and the interaction of the tax inspectorate with accounting workers.

Hello, Alexey Nikolaevich. Let’s start, perhaps, with the main reason for our meeting – the Sevastopol regional competition “Professional Accountant”. Tell us why you decided to take part in the jury.
We have been closely cooperating with the company “Your Consultant” for a long time. All our territorial tax authorities use the ConsultantPlus ATP in their work.
This is the product without which we can no longer imagine our professional activities.
The tax service, like no one else, is interested in having as many good accountants as possible, because a professional accountant, as a rule, is the key to correct and high-quality accounting and tax accounting. Such an accountant will not make mistakes when preparing tax reporting, will submit it in a timely manner and transfer taxes to the budget.

What are your impressions of the contestants?
Impressions of the contestants are good and warm. The questions were quite complex, because the commission included specialists from different fields - representatives of the Pension Fund, higher educational institutions, audit companies. Each specialist formulated questions in accordance with their area of ​​activity, so the contestants had to be experts in accounting, tax and pension legislation, and understand the requirements for auditing activities. Therefore, among the proposed questions there were also those that could confuse someone.
At the second stage, when the contestants defended their works, I was pleasantly surprised at how they navigated the law. It is gratifying that there are many worthy and intelligent specialists in the accounting community.

At the end of last year, the “Your Consultant” company held a “Professional Lawyer” competition. According to the judges who assessed the contestants at that time, the jury took into account not only knowledge of the law and the logic of reasoning, but also the performance itself, the ability of the participants to work with the audience, because for lawyers, for future and practicing lawyers, this is a very important quality. What additional criteria were used by the judges of the Professional Accountant competition?
Each jury member assessed the participants according to their personal beliefs. In the accounting profession, a fundamental factor is strict adherence to legal regulations and documentary evidence of all financial transactions. A special feature of this profession is that it is necessary to have knowledge from different fields of activity. An accountant at a construction organization must navigate the specifics of technological processes; in a transport company, a specialist will certainly encounter standards for the consumption of fuel resources, and there are many such examples.
A good accountant with knowledge from various fields of activity is a reliable foundation for the development and successful operation of any enterprise. These criteria were decisive for me when choosing the winner.

You have been working in the field of taxes since 1997, which means that all this time, as part of your job, you have been communicating with accountants. In your opinion, is an accountant of the late 90s very different from a modern accountant?
Undoubtedly. These are actually two completely different people. I remember when I did my first inspections. The statements were on paper, orders and journals were kept manually, and the tax inspector began the audit not with analytics, but by leafing through bank documents and “primary records.” Now everything is different: professional accounting programs require the accountant to own the software product and peripheral devices, and have a systematic approach to accounting. In addition, there are now international standards that impose completely different requirements for record keeping.
In the late 90s there were very few people with an accounting education. Then many commercial organizations appeared, and everyone who had at least some idea about the specialty became accountants. Almost every second person who graduated from the academy went to work as an accountant, although we only had one subject in accounting, which was taught during the year. It was only later that people began to finish their studies or retrain - a real boom in training for this profession began.
Modern accounting specialists have specialized education. Nowadays there is hardly an employer who would risk hiring a specialist without the appropriate education for the position of accountant or, especially, chief accountant.

As you have already said, a modern accountant can use software products and technologies that simplify accounting. On the other hand, legislation is constantly being improved and complicated. Do you think being an accountant today is more difficult or easier than before?
I believe that it is neither more difficult nor simpler. It’s just that different times dictate different demands to us. First of all, the responsibility of the organization should not depend on the mistake of an individual who did not write something down in the primary accounting. If the document does not contain any mandatory details, we cannot accept it. A modern software product allows you to perform an automatic check and immediately identify the error. This opportunity, of course, greatly simplifies the life of an accountant and eliminates subsequent self-checks, because checking yourself is always very difficult.

What personal and professional qualities should a person have to be successful as an accountant?
I believe that an accountant must be a perfectionist. He must have order in everything. If we build a kind of hierarchy of qualities, then I would put meticulousness and perseverance at the top. An accountant must understand every figure, every business transaction. The phrase “Accuracy is the courtesy of kings,” I believe, is perfect for an accountant - he must be accurate in any of his actions, timely and clearly record all the facts of economic life.
And, of course, an accountant must be inquisitive and constantly improve.

What advice and wishes do you give to the participants of the “Professional Accountant” competition?
For those who have already tried their hand at the competition, I advise you to participate next year. Even if someone did not win this time, but really hoped for it, there is no need to despair - you need to expand your professional horizons, read periodicals, use specialized software products and keep track of all the new products, because we try to submit only relevant issues to the competition.
As for new participants, I recommend that they not be afraid, but test their strength, because it is precisely such competitions that indicate gaps and give an understanding in which direction they need to develop. Knowledge tends to become outdated and forgotten, but a competition allows you to shake yourself up and look at everyday things with a new perspective.

GRAVE ALEXEY NIKOLAEVICH

Deputy Head of the Office of the Federal Tax Service for the city of Sevastopol.

Advisor to the State Civil Service of the Russian Federation, 1st class.

Education: Higher professional. In 1997 he graduated from the Irkutsk State Economic Academy with a degree in economics and management, in 2007 he graduated from the Siberian Institute of Law, Economics and Management with a degree in jurisprudence.

Work path: He has been working in the tax authorities since 1997. During his work, he rose from the state tax inspector of the State Tax Inspectorate No. 1 for the Right Bank District of Irkutsk to the head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 16 for the Irkutsk Region.

From 2003 to 2007 – Head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 1 for the Irkutsk Region; from March 2007 to July 2014 – Head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 16 for the Irkutsk Region.

On July 15, 2014, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Office of the Federal Tax Service for the city of Sevastopol.

In 2004, he was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Taxes and Duties, and in 2009, he was awarded the distinction “Excellent Worker of the Federal Tax Service.” In 2014 he was awarded the medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “For the return of Crimea”.

Personal income. A dissonant surname is the key to success

Anastasia Dagaeva

In a specialist who wants to get a good job, everything should be perfect: his resume, his appearance, and his last name. The latter often becomes a key success factor. Mogila and Zhulikov work effectively in the real estate industry, lawyer Khrenov is a successful lawyer. And only Krakh was not hired as a financier.

Alexey Mogila has been involved in real estate for more than five years. He is the director of the department of the real estate company Penny Lane Realty. “The last time my last name confused me was in third grade,” says Mogila. “And then it was funny: all the guys have nicknames, but they call me by my last name.” In adulthood, being a Mogila turned out to be even beneficial. “You only have to introduce yourself once and they will remember you forever,” he says. Alexander Khrenov, a partner at the bar association “Yukov, Khrenov and Partners,” has the same effect. “People can forget my appearance, my occupation, but not my last name,” he says.

Working side by side with Mogila is Maxim Zhulikov, a leading specialist in commercial real estate at Penny Lane Realty. “The last name was given by the parents, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” he says. True, his mother and father suggested that he become Bulgakov or Zabolotsky on his mother’s side, but he did not agree. “It’s so unusual to see the name of the consultant, Zhulikov, in a booklet on the rental and sale of office and residential premises,” Mogila and Zhulikov’s colleague Oksana Kutishenko, HR manager at Penny Lane Realty, shares her impressions. “You immediately want to get to know this person,” she adds. “For me to introduce myself is like telling a joke: hello, I’m Zhulikov,” says Zhulikov. This immediately breaks the ice in communication.

“The main thing is the professionalism of the employee,” says Kutishenko. Boris Rokhin, a consultant at the headhunting company Ward Howell International, agrees with her. A self-confident person will turn even a funny last name into a plus, he adds. Thus, a candidate named Trouble, talking with the future chief, jokingly remarked that when trouble comes, it is better to keep the gates open. “The employer appreciated the applicant’s sense of humor and took Beda to the sales department,” says Rokhin. Kutishenko is convinced that the surname Mogila speaks of reliability and confidentiality. “There’s a saying, ‘silent as a grave,’ and you can imagine how that plays into the hands of our clients,” she notes.

Pierre-Vladimir Joliot (French Goliot, heard and pronounced as “crook”) has been working for two years as a sales manager in the Russian office of the French company ALD (car leasing). “The last name doesn’t bother me,” he says. He communicates with clients primarily in English, in which his last name has no expressive meaning. Joliot also tells a story about his ancestor, who in the mid-30s. XX century received the Nobel Prize in atomic physics. “In Paris, colleges are named after the scientist Joliot, there is even a street,” he adds proudly.

Alexey Mogila is also proud of his last name. His grandfather and father worked all their lives at the State Space Research and Production Center named after. Khrunicheva. There the surname Mogila evokes only respect. But funny stories still happen. “About a month ago I was waiting for a client representative to negotiate,” recalls Mogila. - He gave the address of the office and gave a small explanation: opposite the temple there is a cast-iron gate, which you need to go through and say that you are going to the Tomb. The girl confused the alley, where, however, there was also a temple, and opposite there was a gate. She boldly entered them and began to ask to go to the Grave. To which the security service of some other company jokingly answered: “Girl, it’s too early for you.”

“The most common incident with my last name is the emphasis on the second syllable, after which - due to the diversity of the Russian language - many phrases appear,” says Khrenov. And friends often apologize for mentioning the word “horseradish” in front of Alexander. “I’m just laughing,” Khrenov assures. He himself is not averse to making fun of his own surname. “This really helps defuse the situation,” says Khrenov. - For example, you sit with clients for several hours in a row, everyone is tired, it’s hard, and there are still piles of documents to look through. I say: “What a damn lawyer you have.” After a few minutes of laughter, the strength is found for further work.”

But employer prejudices can often be an obstacle to the successful career of people with ambiguous surnames. “Our clients even refused to interview Garmazhapova and Shakhidova, despite the huge need for specialists of their qualifications,” says Tatyana Sosnovskaya, partner of the recruiting company Flex. She recalls how a candidate for the position of financial manager, Alexander Krakh, came for an interview at a large French company. It was clear that he met the requirements. All that remained was to get the general director's approval. “He killed an employee without five minutes with the words: “We don’t need a collapse in finance!” - Sosnovskaya recalls. “There is such a hunger in the market now that an employer who refuses a qualified candidate because he has a strange last name is nonsense,” says Elena Puzanova, a consultant at the recruiting company Ankor.

92 city of Sevastopol

Deputy Head of the Office of the Federal Tax Service for the City of Sevastopol

Advisor to the State Civil Service of the Russian Federation, 1st class

Education: Higher professional. In 1997 he graduated from the Irkutsk State Economic Academy with a degree in economics and management, in 2007 he graduated from the Siberian Institute of Law, Economics and Management with a degree in jurisprudence. Academic degree: none.

Work path: He has been working in the tax authorities since 1997. During his work, he rose from the state tax inspector of the State Tax Inspectorate No. 1 for the Right Bank District of Irkutsk to the head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 16 for the Irkutsk Region. From 2003 to 2007 - Head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 1 for the Irkutsk Region; from March 2007 to July 2014 – Head of the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 16 for the Irkutsk Region.

On July 15, 2014, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Office of the Federal Tax Service for the city of Sevastopol.

In 2004, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Taxes and Duties, and in 2009, he was awarded the distinction “Excellent Worker of the Federal Tax Service.” In 2014 he was awarded the medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “For the return of Crimea”.

Directly coordinates and controls the activities of:

Analytical Department;

Control department;

Economic department;

Department of Analysis and Planning of Tax Audits;

Department of Taxation of Legal Entities;

Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the Gagarinsky district of Sevastopol

The schedule of personal reception of citizens by the head and deputy heads of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the city of Sevastopol can be found in the specialized section of the website

The classic of Russian literature Anton Pavlovich Chekhov has a passage that there is no Russian word that would not be suitable in a surname. For example, student Vladimir Tabak studied at one university, and after a lecture on the dangers of smoking entitled “Say No to Tobacco!” There was not a person in his class who would not come up to him with a serious face and say: “Tobacco, no.” !" Realtor Alexey Mogila, who appeared in the material, talked to the site and explained why a funny, memorable last name is a great success for those who work with clients (Mogila himself worked in the Moscow real estate agency Penny Lane Realty in the early 2000s, and now heads the Russian representative office of Rossmils Investments).

Photo: Rossmils Investments. Alexey Mogila

- What do you know about the history of your family name? Have you been interested in its origin?

Yes, I studied this issue, but not seriously. The surname is quite old, it comes from somewhere in the “triangle” Poland - Ukraine - Belarus. The first mention dates back to around 1300. As my grandparents told me, we have a fairly famous ancestor - Peter Mogila, he was a metropolitan in the Poltava and Kiev principalities in the 16th century. The last five or six generations of our family are military personnel (with the exception of me, a dumbass). My ancestors served in the grenadier regiments and in the medical unit, and my great-grandfather, grandfather and father were military men.

- Were there any unusual funny stories associated with the surname?

There are enough stories like this, and not just me. For example, my grandfather was the head of the department at Baikonur, and people had fun. There was a speakerphone, and over it they often said something like: “Sidorov, the Grave is waiting for you.” The locals laughed, the business travelers shuddered at such jokes. I had a funny incident. We rented an office on Yakovoapostolsky Lane. And there all the nearby alleys are more or less similar to each other. And one girl was supposed to bring me documents - either for signature, or for some other reason. We rented the office a long time ago, they knew us there. I told her she needed a wrought iron gate in front of the church. “Say that you are going to the Tomb, and the guards will escort you,” I explained. She seemed to understand everything, but in the end she still confused the gate and began trying to get into it from the alley, shouting: “Let me in, the Grave is waiting for me, I’m late.” Some thought that she was having something like hysterics and began to persuade her that it was too early for her to go to the grave.

- Do people make any mistakes when they hear or write down your last name?

Usually not. But there are difficulties with foreigners. Oddly enough, they do not perceive the word “Tomb” as something single. And if they are Germans or English, then it’s easier for them to call me not Alexey Mogila, but Alex McGill - it’s almost Scottish.

- Do clients and colleagues joke a lot?

They practically don’t joke - probably the fantasy doesn’t work anymore, they’ve exhausted everything they knew. And how can you joke here? For example, I didn’t even have a nickname at school, because no one could come up with anything cooler than my last name. But since my dimensions are quite decent, for some time I was a Kid.

Alexey Mogila

My son had no problems in this regard at school either. And at work I was always very comfortable: the Ivanovs and Sidorovs are like dirt, and when you introduce yourself as Mogila, everyone remembers. Even if a person just heard something once in passing, the name still sticks in his memory. When I was engaged in consulting, relationships with clients were built simply: they remembered you, and there were no problems. For example, Max Zhulikov worked in our agency. We worked in different departments: I worked in retail real estate, he worked in office real estate. Max is the sweetest person, both in communication and in work. We once discussed the issue of surnames with him and came to the conclusion that for people who are involved in client business, unusual surnames are a big plus. Imagine a consultant or broker named Stepan Ivanov. The first reaction will probably be: “Who are you? Why did you call? What do you want from me?” And with surnames like Zhulikov or Mogila, associations arise instantly, you won’t forget them. Pop stars also use this technique. Here is Ani Lorak. In fact, she is Caroline. So what, Caroline and Caroline. And Ani Lorak is already something unusual.

- Do you think an unusual surname affects your business or career? Good or bad?

In my case, no. If I were some kind of Sukhodrischenko, I would probably be worried about this. A couple of times clients joked about the last name, but I also joked back. A grave is as safe as a bank. There are even sayings - dumb as a grave, no information will go anywhere. That is, in any case, this is a matter of personal attitude - how you yourself react to it, how you live with it. This is from birth, and not some acquired skill. You can turn it into a joke, or you can make it a reason for offense. I personally have never had any problems.

- Are you married? Did your spouse take your last name?

My first wife took my last name, and my eldest son also has it. The second wife left hers, but not because she didn’t like mine. She had already changed her last name: it was her father’s, but she took her grandfather’s. For her, the surname is even somewhat more than the name, a more sacred thing, perhaps. I even call her by her last name more often, because she responds to it. If you call her by name, you may not get through. If you call him by his last name, he immediately reacts. Her last name Koval is quite famous, with a lot of history. Our children have it too. My daughter already asked why this was so, but I explained to her that when she grows up, she herself will be able to choose the surname that she likes best. I understand, for example, that the boys at school with the surname Mogila will “train”, and this will not be easy for the girl.