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- [00:00]
A
Bulgaria is like an incommunistic country. You are not good enough. This is the message. You're not good enough. You better tone it down. That is the message that you grow up with.
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B
And look at you now. Look where it's led you to.
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A
Yeah, well, yeah, one thing leads to another. You never know. This is the way to tell my story. Maybe it's meant to be. So I'm just going to roll with it.
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B
And it was a. Katya Borisova is a strategic growth driven real estate professional investor and certified appraiser based in Arizona. Drawing from her journey from corporate leadership into real estate entreprene entrepreneurship, she helps investors, homeowners and industry professionals make confident decisions through valuation expertise, market insight and a passion for building long term wealth.
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A
Tell these two people all the time it feels like you don't want a path and something keep putting like a stone to step on to cross that river. Like that means you're on the right path. You don't say no, you just go, you step on it and you keep moving. I don't know where it's leading. I have no, no big business, no big brand, no nothing that doesn't matter to me. I'm like if I can inspire one person hearing me talk and say, you know what? I think if she can do it, I can treat you.
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B
It spans the globe like a super
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A
highest cold Internet Elvis.
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B
Brandon I for three.
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A
Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the
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B
Living youg Legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has. Oh, that is sensational.
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A
Jordan open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.
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B
Welcome to another episode of the Living your Legacy podcast. For inside Success. I am Ray Gutierrez. Joining me today is another amazing woman in power, Ray Katya Borisova. I've got some show notes. She is the founder of a Bulgarian school and grew a real estate portfolio to create opportunities for others while staying true to her values. Katya, wow, what an intro. How does it feel?
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A
Feels grande. But I'm, I'm just a woman in power.
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B
That's all folks. So. So no honestly, my love, welcome to show you literally finish filming your episode. All smiles. I. I hope these are real smiles and not just roomy smiles.
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A
Does it look like a little bit of both?
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B
This is reality.
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A
So welcome.
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B
Welcome to your reality. Welcome.
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A
Thank you.
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B
What are we going to learn about you in your episode?
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A
Oh my goodness. Well, I guess you're going to learn that I'm a Bulgarian. It's obvious by my heavy accent came from. To this country without speaking the language. So it kind of stuck with. Was really trying initially to speak proper with not having the accent realize that this is not me, I will be me, and you rather take it or leave it type of a thing. But what I found out also through the years is that I obviously interact with a lot of people with. From different cultures and accents. And I hear them and I'm like, oh, my gosh, this sounds so good. So then I started realizing what people were telling me. Oh, you have a beautiful accent.
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B
Yes, you do.
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A
I had someone on the once tells me that if I hear on the radio, I would always know it's you. You don't have to show your face. I'm like, okay. Being, you know, unique is not a bad thing sometimes.
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B
How is that working out for you, being so unique?
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A
No, it's. I mean, the accent, honestly opens doors. Like, sometimes, like, I would go to a conference and just. I would say a couple of words, and people naturally will start asking, hey, where are you from? It's such an easy, you know. You know, open of conversation.
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B
It's beautiful.
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A
It's just very easy.
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B
Yeah, it's awesome. So what. What is. What is it that you do with this amazing accent? Witchcraft, poetry, songwriting.
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A
None of that, unfortunately. I'm a truly. I'm a creative soul. I love creativity, but I used to write some poetry, but I was young. That's not happening anymore. I sing in my own language. Beautiful accent. There is no accent because it's my language. But, yeah, no, it's. I. I have a school, and so I am very in love with my culture and where I come from. I grew up, you know, with history was a big portion, big subject in school. And I just always was proud of where I come from and the heritage. And when I came to United States and had my own kids, one thing I did is I brought grandma over.
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B
Wow.
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A
So my mom came. She's been here with me, helping me for many years. But, you know, that helped with the kids to keep the language to speak. But then at some point, I was like, I won't be able to preserve, you know, the language at the level I want because I work like crazy, and who is going to teach them the grammar? And, you know, we're all busy. So anyhow, so I started the school because I wanted my kids to be able to speak right.
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B
People hire tutors. Just start a school.
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A
Exactly, exactly.
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B
So how does one start a School. Who do you call Mr. School Guy? Like, how does this work?
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A
Actually for me was the co was from the other. Really?
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B
Wait, what? Oh, this is the first. We're breaking the fourth wall.
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A
Thank you for your time and energy. Thank.
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B
That was a famous Lauren. That was a famous Lauren. After 500 episodes, we finally see what Lauren looks like.
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A
Lauren's amazing. Amazing. Thank you. But. Yes. How does one begin a school?
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B
How does one begin a school? You just basically cue Lord on the topic. Yes.
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A
Thank you. Well, I have a close friend. Her name is Gala. I love that girl so much. I met her like almost one of the first people I met in United States. She moved with her family. I lived in Madison, Wisconsin at the time.
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B
Wow.
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A
And she moved like just three months after I moved in. And she moved in with the baby. Not even a year old baby. So anyhow, we became close friends over time. I moved to one state. They moved actually a few months after that, before that to another state. But we kept in touch. And one day we were talking, it was around Christmas and we are talking and hey, happy holidays, all of that. And I was telling her she started the school, Bulgarian school in northern North Kalura, Carolina. Oh my gosh.
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B
North Carolina, Carolina.
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A
Carolinas.
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B
There you go, the Carolinas.
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A
And anyhow, so I, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm so jealous. I want my kiddos to go. And someone opened back in, you know, at the day in the time in Northern California. And I was thinking to sign the kids, but it was kind of toward the end of the year.
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B
Sure.
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A
So I was like, okay, next school year. And it comes September all link. I'm like, I'm going to sign them. And he closed the school.
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B
What?
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A
So we're talking around Christmas. I'm like, oh my gosh. She was telling me about the school, like, how so good for you. Like, I'm so jealous. You know, he closed the school. She's like, why don't you open one? I'm like, I can't. Why? Because I have a career, you know, I'm just, you know, starting. I'm in MBA school. I think at that time. No, actually I was outside of the MBA school. I'm sorry. But, but anyway, there was a lot going on, young kids and stuff. I'm like, there is no way. She's like, of course there is a way. If you want to, I'll help you. I'm like, oh, what do I need to do? So she said, well, you need to do this, this and that. Connected with few people Spoke about it. And that is Christmas. And by January 10th, I think I started, you know, opening my LLC and in April, 20th of April, that, you know.
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B
Sure, sure.
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A
After the new year, the school was life.
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B
Wow.
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A
So that's how I roll.
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B
That's how I roll. That's an amazing story. You did it under 90 days or a little bit over 90 days. So how did you. How does the enrollment begin? Is it a small school? How did you build the curriculum? Give me the montage.
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A
Okay, so it's a small school. So we are a small community. Bulgarian country is not, like, very big, but we do have quite a few people living in the Bay Area. We have very smart engineers. So anyhow, so there are people there.
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B
I used to live in San Francisco.
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A
Yeah, good, good, good.
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B
I miss it every day.
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A
We. I, again, I knew nothing, but I found out that actually the Bulgarian Ministry of Education is stimulating folks like me to open schools because they do want to preserve the culture. We are small country. We are a very old country. Why not, right? Or what was better than that, you know, people to know their heritage. And there was one program that they had that I signed up. They were providing little bit of subsidy to that program, and luckily for me, so, I mean, I. I truly believe, like, like, the universe is driving us. Like, there is a path, and if you follow, you know, and don't, you know, question too much, you're gonna get to where you need to be.
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B
Yeah.
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A
So the school started like that out of a. Literally, like, hey, why don't you open? It's like, okay. So, like, I don't know what I'm as. I opened it in April 20, like, the Bulgarian Embassy, the consulate, normal embassy, but the consulate in Los Angeles, they get in touch with me and a friend of mine get in touch and says, hey, the Bulgarian president is coming for a visit to Silicon Valley. Wow. He was really that friend that connected with me. He was very entrenched with the Bulgarian community, but he was. Now he returned back to Bulgaria. He's like, I don't know anyone who is of a. You know, I trust to be able to do this right. And so, anyhow, so I. Me and another friend, we've put it together. I was the conferencia. We. We had 350 people. The biggest meeting of a Bulgarian president with the Bulgarian community outside of the country at the time.
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B
That's amazing.
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A
It was really, really cool. And the kids had. I mean, I just opened. So we quickly got, like, okay, a couple of, you know, rhymes and dances and stuff. I Started two years before that. They Bulgarian folk dance group in.
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B
Of course you did.
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A
With some friends, obviously. But like we had that going. So we had them dancing. Oh my gosh. I remember. You know, the funny thing is, like, obviously this is a president of another country. So the, the special services were surrounding, you know, coming, checking the room, calling us, needed to give emails, phone numbers of people that will be attending. I'm like, what is going on? And so they came there and they're like, they, they were looking like really kind of scary just looking at them. I mean, they're like obviously in their role and doing what they need to do. And suddenly there is a video that suddenly we are getting up and like we are dancing. Bulgarian folk dance is we hold hands and we go in circle, like counterclockwise. And everybody goes. And I went and got the president by his hand. Now the circle is 300 people rolling. I mean, you could see like the, the security guys were just frozen. It's like they don't know what to do. They went kind of in the. Like, you can't. Like there is something. I'm like, well, we're not gonna join anything. Yeah, of course not. But. But anyway, it was fun because I also had the chance. My father in law at the time, like he used to work for the government. He's like, if you have the chance to ask for something, now is the time. Oh, absolutely, you need something. Like we need books. He's like, ask for it. How am I gonna ask for it? This is the person. And they. He comes with his, you know, airplane and stuff, so he can bring stuff. So they brought us maps and books. And so that's how the school gets.
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B
At the same party. The plane just showed up. The plane just showed up.
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A
But anyway, it was really freaking cool experience.
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B
And look at you now. Look where it's led you to.
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A
Yeah, well, yeah, one thing leads to another, you never know.
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B
And how do you feel sitting in this chair telling your story?
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A
You know, I feel like it's meant to be. That's exactly how I feel. As I mentioned, like, this for me is not for the marketing. I really can care less. Like, you know what happens, you know, from that. But what I know, I've learned to trust my intuition. And so many times through my life in United States, I've been like, I know everybody has a story. And I feel like I really want to tell my story. And I'm like, one day probably will be a chance to tell my story somewhere. So. So when. When I saw the Email, you know, coming women in power. What is this for? Then I'm reading. I'm like, oh, no, this is not for me. Like, this is for infamous people, important people that done big things. Like, I mean, I have businesses moving.
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B
No, I just opened the school, moved across the world. I have a great personality, very engaging.
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A
I just never felt like this is me. You know, it's like, but. But I just. I don't know, something prompted me, and then from there it became like, you know, what? If this is the way to tell my story, maybe it's meant to be, so I'm just gonna roll with it. And it was a tough time for me because I was doing so many things, making so many decisions, but I was like, you know, what if it shows up on your path? I believe that. I believe that because I lived it and I saw it happen. When something shows up and it feels like it's a stepping stone, I tell this to people all the time. It feels like you're on. On a path and something keep putting, like, a stone to step on to cross that river. Like, that means you're on the right path. You don't say no. You just go. You step on it and you keep moving. I don't know where it's leading. I don't know. I. I have no. No big business, no big brand, no nothing. That doesn't matter to me. I'm like, if I can inspire one person hearing me talk and say, you know what? I think if she can do it, I can do it too, you know, that's enough.
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B
That's it. That's exactly why you're sitting in that damn chair. I'm glad you landed on that, because that's what I was hoping. You realize why you're here? You're part of a greater movement. Women, men, anyone that's listening or watching this that can relate to you with your accent and your language and where you're from, you've inspired them to say yes. To say yes and follow the intuition, and it's led you here. What are some things that we're going to learn about you in your episode? Well, give us a couple of previews, a couple of teasers.
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A
Well, I already mentioned, I think that I came to this country not speaking the language, and I. I got to my first ever interview asking my husband at the time to come with me, because I told him, there is no way to go to an interview by yourself while I find out, like, you have to. Nobody's gonna allow you. So, I mean, just the Some of the challenges, like overcoming that kind of a. I guess fear and not feeling like you're good enough. Like going through a little bit of depression coming here, like living, you know, fun life in Europe, suddenly ending up in Madison, Wisconsin, you know, I mean,
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B
I know that alone is like.
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A
Yeah, that was a lot. I mean, it's beautiful place, don't get me wrong. But it's like I felt like so out of place. I didn't know how to dress for that environment. I mean, I. It's just the smallest things.
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B
I lived in Switzerland for a year. I was like, I live in Montreal. I was like, lemon. I'm like,
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A
speaking the language.
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B
Oh, it's very lonely.
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A
I didn't say that. But like, in the. I remember the. The first time we go to a restaurant and. And my husband says, read the menu.
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B
Did he read the menu for you?
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A
Well, I was thinking maybe I asked him to maybe help me with some of the stuff. I knew some. I knew how to read and I knew grammar, but speaking was almost impossible. And. And so he's like, you're gonna order for yourself? No, I'm not gonna order by myself. I was so ashamed that I cannot talk. I can't even tell. It's a shame. Like, I. I just know so many people feel. Feel the same when they come from, I think from different countries, especially because we don't grow up like here. People here have self esteem, they are built up. And like in Bulgaria, it's like an incomistic country. You're not good enough. This is the message. You're not good enough. You better tone it down. That is the message that you grow up with. And I'm like, oh, my gosh, what do I do here? Like, how. And so anyhow, the girl comes and I'm like, can I have water without ice? And she says, no ice. I say, yes, without eyes. No eyes. And I look at him and I'm already terrified because I'm like, oh, my gosh, I'm saying something wrong. It's. And. And he said, you don't say here, my husband. You don't say without eyes. You say, we say here, no eyes. And I learned, like, British English. We were studying British, the Queen's tongue,
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B
the proper way of speaking.
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A
Oh, my goodness. It's like, yeah, yeah, it's the same thing. There were funny stories around, like, learning the language. So many of them. But it's. It's.
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B
Yeah, but here you are now.
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A
But here I am.
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B
I wanted to take a moment and kind of, kind of make fun of you a little bit. Because I'm like, you come to this country and go, do you realize that most people in this country only speak one language? How many languages do you speak?
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A
A couple.
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B
A couple. Right.
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A
Yeah. So it's like, I mean, we, we learn Russian. Like, Russian is a must. Like, it's Spanish here. Like, you, you. We all speak Russian. I mean, I don't speak it as well, but I can read and like, I can, I can.
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B
When I lived in Switzerland, English was basic, right? Oh, do you even know basic? You can't work at Nestle unless you work.
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A
Like, you go to Serbia. It's kind of similar. Like, if you're Spanish speaking, you speak probably couple. Like, you can get by a couple of countries. Like, Macedonian is dialect. Like, I mean, at the end of the day, that whole, like, area, you
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B
know, but honey, this is the United States of America. When you say Macedonia, they're like, is that an elephant? Like, people. I love United States. Born and raised here. But there's no culture here. It's just hot dogs and football, so. And a lot of self esteem. Yeah, but there's no culture here.
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A
Yeah, the self esteem thing falls.
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B
Football, soccer, big difference. One's very theatrical and one's football.
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A
You're funny. You're funny. I didn't say that. Okay.
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B
I didn't do.
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A
I didn't say it. I didn't say it.
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B
I was born here, honey. Where can people find you? Where is your website? Give me your social media. How can people find you?
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A
So I'm an appraiser in Arizona, so actually.
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B
Oh, is that what you do?
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A
Yeah, I'm an appraiser, so that's what I do is one of my businesses. Okay. I love real estate, so I have a website. You go find me by my name. Put Katya Burrisu Appraisal Services. It's gonna show up.
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B
Just say that a little slower, honey.
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A
It's a. Www.azappraisalcompany.com azappraisalcompany.com My name is Katya. Boris was spelled with a Y. So if you search for an appraiser, I will show up. I'm also on the board of, of the Coalition of Arizona Appraisers.
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B
Wow. So would you like to say something in your. In your language to folks who are
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A
listening the Sitchky episodes? I basically said that if there are Bulgarians watching us, I just am so proud to be here and I am hoping that to see many more of you in this situation.
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B
I completely agree. Thank you. So much for your time and energy. I hope you had a fantastic time. Your laugh and your smile is contagious. Go out there and make the world brighter every day. With that, that concludes another episode of the Living your Legacy podcast, the Women in Power edition. For Inside Success. I am Ray Gutierrez.