As they like to say in Russia, a person must do three things: build a house, plant a tree, and raise a son. Leonid Monosov has exceeded all these targets. Under his management, the construction company built dozens of buildings in Moscow, surrounded by high-quality infrastructure. In the words of a famous urban planner, he built a “garden city” of convenient and comfortable neighborhoods for happy new residents. Leonid’s family life also improved — he raised a son and a daughter. Both are successful in their careers and hold leadership positions in big companies.
Many say that Leonid Monosov deserves much credit for what modern Moscow looks like today. For example, he reconstructed the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the centerpieces of the capital’s architecture. He devoted several decades to the construction industry, commissioned many essential facilities, and is now financing property development projects.
But before becoming a high-flying executive, capable of tripling a company’s financial performance in less than a decade, Monosov went through a long career journey. Only some people know that he started his career as an ordinary foreman. Then he became a construction supervisor, then a site manager, and so on…
This man has over forty years of work in the construction industry behind him. Today, he is working on developing an investment business in which he sees a profitable future.
What is his secret, the story behind his success, and what professional and personal values guided him?
Education as the Most Valuable Asset
Leonid Monosov was born in the Belarusian city of Mazyr in 1958. He lost one of his parents at an early age; his mother tragically died when he was only five. His father moved to Moscow because he believed a small city would give his son little chance of making it into the world. The only higher education option in Mazyr was to get a teaching degree, so Leonid would likely have to move to a big city anyway.
In Moscow, the boy started to attend School No. 315, which had always enjoyed a good reputation. The schoolboy leaned towards the exact sciences, so when the time came, he stood a good chance of getting into a prestigious technical university.
His father advised him to consider construction as his future career. The graduate liked the idea, and in 1975, he successfully passed the entrance exams to the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, one of the leading transport universities in the Soviet Union. (Even today, this university ranks among the top educational institutions in its niche). This school offered a major in industrial and civil construction, which aligned with Leonid Monosov’s plans for the future.
Five years later, he successfully graduated. The young man was one of the top graduates, which meant he had every chance of getting into a good company. His first place of work was a large and prestigious organization called Glavmospromstroy.
Career Ladder: from Foreman to Deputy CEO
Glavmospromstroy was a large and influential Soviet enterprise with a couple of dozen affiliates under its command. The organization executed the most significant construction projects in Moscow; for example, it built the VDNKh Space Pavilion and the Stankolit plant and developed Zelenograd — a young satellite city of the capital branded as a technopolis. There was enough room to do more and fulfill many ambitions!
But first, the young graduate had to show his worth as an ordinary foreman. This was a challenging task, as he had many responsibilities and problems to solve. He had to manage workers, monitor their performance, resolve supply chain issues, and knock on every door to get special-purpose machinery. He was only twenty-two years old at the time.
However, Leonid Monosov passed this test. His first reward was the promotion to supervisor. But he still had a long way to go before he could start managing large-scale projects.
Leonid had to climb many career steps before he became deputy CEO. By then, the USSR was no more, and Russia had switched to the rails of capitalism. Monosov took the changes well. He remembered the Soviet era fondly, calling it a time of equality and fraternity. Still, at the same time, he had no problem getting used to the new market dynamics and demonstrating his leadership talents in a new environment.
Glavmospromstroy entered the new era with a new name: Mospromstroy. Its legal entity type also changed; it was no longer a state-controlled organization but a joint-stock company engaged in commercial construction.
New times implied new challenges. One of the most outstanding, memorable, and complex projects in Leonid Monosov’s biography was the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The fundraiser for this idea started in 1988, and the work began in 1994. As the top manager recalls, they relied on historical plans while using new technologies to create modern infrastructure.
The history of Mospromstroy was also full of remarkable construction solutions. Monosov worked in this company for almost 20 years and managed many large-scale projects. However, in the late 90s, the time came to say goodbye and move on.
Becoming a CEO: Onwards and Upwards!
In 1999, Leonid Monosov was offered to lead a big engineering company. The Russian economy was recovering after the default, and the air was charged with anticipation of a construction boom. Moskapstroy JSC, where Monosov was invited as CEO, needed a decisive and responsible leader with a good reputation, excellent professional skills, and extensive experience working with complex projects.
This company was also familiar with the market. Moskapstroy was created in 1957 and reorganized into a joint-stock company at the dawn of the capitalist era. The range of its activities was wide and versatile. It included:
- construction;
- utility installation;
- engineering supervision;
- social infrastructure development (healthcare and education facilities).
This enterprise hired Leonid Monosov as its CEO. Leonid eagerly set to work, tripling the company’s financials in less than ten years.
Under his management, Moskapstroy launched large-scale real estate development projects. It delivered turnkey residential complexes and apartments sold like hotcakes. The company also developed the city’s infrastructure, improving its appearance and making life in the metropolis more comfortable.
Moskapstroy had two dozen subsidiaries to execute the projects and spent over 300 billion rubles yearly. It acted as the technical representative for huge residential areas and handed over around 2.4 million square meters of property per year.
The company also took on large-scale and unconventional tasks. Some projects were very challenging, and other companies often refused to take them on and participate in contract bidding. Monosov, however, accepted the challenges and did what he had to do.
The top manager describes his time in this construction company as the point at which he first felt he had “made it.”
Switching to Investment
The economy is a complex mechanism where peak periods alternate with crises, and only some businesses can fight the changing weather. The years 2000-2007 were a period of rapid growth in the housing construction market in Russia. It was pronounced in Moscow. Real estate here was an extremely liquid asset, and the rise in housing prices was astonishing. Household incomes were increasing, and more and more people wanted to buy apartments, acquire property, and improve their living conditions.
The CEO of Moskapstroy made the most of this trend. The company was receiving increasing profits and increasing its financial performance while people enjoyed their housewarming parties in new high-quality apartments.
However, the global financial crisis brought about negative changes. As the population suffered a significant decline in income, the pace of construction fell sharply. During this period, many businesses went bankrupt. The CEO of Moskapstroy was able to keep the company afloat. He found a profitable alternative to construction by renting out real estate.
Gradually, the situation leveled out and gave way to post-crisis recovery. The turbulent 2000s have passed, never to return.
After careful reflection, Leonid Monosov decided that the best course of action under the new circumstances would be to start investing in real estate development. According to the top manager, the modern construction industry needs public and private investment.
In 2022, he became the vice president of Moskapstroy-TN JSC, a company that finances exciting construction projects. The company invests in both residential and commercial real estate. For example, its portfolio includes the Topolya residential complex. It is also considering investing in the Mayak project — a group of apartment buildings in a favorable location near the Bitsevsky forest. Monosov believes that housing construction is the most profitable investment opportunity.
The company’s portfolio includes in-demand commercial spaces like the Na Ordynke business center and the Pavshino shopping mall.
The top manager is optimistic about the future of investing. His number one recommendation to novice investors is always to assess the state of the economy and analyze global trends.
Private Life, Hobbies, and Family
Leonid Monosov is not the most public figure. He rarely gives interviews, and little is known about his personal life. The top manager believes that his family life should not interest outsiders. He raised two successful children who have already built their careers and is always happy to spend time with his grandchildren.
Leonid likes to play tennis or go fishing when he has free time. He regularly donates to charity but prefers not to talk about it. He believes “a good deed is its reward,” and one should help others without demanding gratitude or turning charitable deeds into publicity.
Andrey Monosov: What the Top Manager’s Son Does Today
Leonid Monosov’s first child was born in 1981. Andrey grew up in the Sokolniki area and went to the family’s favorite School, No. 315, like his father. When it was time to choose a profession, he found himself at a crossroads; on the one hand, he wanted to follow his father’s example; on the other hand, he was interested in finance. Andrey found a compromise by applying to the Moscow University of Civil Engineering and choosing economics and management in the construction industry as his major.
After university, Andrey Monosov began working in a related field. Like his father, he started from an entry-level position, gaining experience and expanding his expertise. Ten years later, he assumed a leadership role in a construction corporation.
Leonid’s eldest son is a family man. He is raising his son and daughter, trying to instill in them a love of learning, perseverance, and determination. Understanding the value of education is a Monosov family trait.
Andrey devotes a lot of his free time to sports. His favorite hobby is hunting.
Daughter, Alina Monosova: Businesswoman and Psychologist
In 1990, Leonid Monosov welcomed a daughter named Alina into the family. At a young age, she was enrolled in a preschool and then in the same school as her father and brother before her. Later, the girl was transferred to the Premier private school and eventually got into a school with an economic focus.
Alina received her high school diploma from the Moscow Economic School (MES) and began considering her future profession. Being an excellent student and having a good knowledge of English, she was able to enter the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. She chose to major in finance and management.
When still at university, Aline began working in the financial department of a TV channel. However, this career did not appeal to her in the end. It was more of a tribute to her teenage dreams. She was much more interested in real estate development. After completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at MGIMO, Alina went to study in the UK. When she returned to Russia, she followed the example of her older family members. She got an entry-level job in a construction company and began moving up the career ladder.
At first, Alina Monosova worked in marketing, then moved on to investing activities. She was responsible for organizational aspects and project administration. Alina rose to the position of vice president and then changed jobs when offered the investment director role.
After ten years of chasing career success, the businesswoman decided to take a break and study psychology. She was very interested in this discipline and eventually got a degree in it. However, despite working on a successful coaching project in the past (the OdnaVolna project), Monosova has no plans to pursue psychology professionally in the future. Alina explains that this is her labor of love, which helps her improve her self-awareness and grow.
After a career break, she returned to financial and administrative activities.
Plans and Prospects
Leonid Monosov believes it is too early to sum up his life experience and discuss retirement. He built many houses and raised a son and daughter, but life still has a lot in store for him. This man is at the peak of his business activity and has no less passion for work than his youth.
Monosov is confident that the country’s business climate will continue to improve and the investment industry will flourish in the future. In his private life, he now pays great attention to the education of his grandchildren, who will soon need to think about their own careers.
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