COVER STORY |
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to become extremely independent. She found Florida to be more friendly, but at the same time felt more isolated and on her own than before. Life became about self-preservation, as her parents were always working. |
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It was then she realized she had hit a breaking point. Yuliya discovered her new home would be Orlando, Florida. Yuliya started over with nothing but a pink-striped duffle bag at 17 years old. Upon arriving in Orlando with only a school ID card to her name. |
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Yuliya quickly found employment to make ends meet. Finishing school was out of the question for her. She needed to make money and survive. Always looking to better herself, she secured a job in the hotel industry. By being a hard worker and working projects to completion, Yuliya was staffed permanently and learned along the way. |
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In return for her diligence, Yuliya earned several promotions— rapidly promoting to Executive Assistant for Director of Sales and Marketing with oversight of multiple hotel locations. During this time, she learned many aspects of business including professional social skills; negotiating contracts; as well as working with travel agencies and investors.
AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS
In the early 2000s Yuliya met her future husband Phil, as they began building their lives together in Orlando. They eventually married in Long Island, NY in August 2002— with a joint dream of ultimately moving back. Yuliya had a desire to work in the Financial District and set up a trip in September 2001 in order to line up a job for herself ahead of time. While in transit, Yuliya witnessed the 9 / 11 tragedy— changing her life forever.
After that tragic day, Yuliya secured a job as an Executive Assistant and they
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rented their home out in Orlando, moving to New York City. In 2003, Yuliya got pregnant with her daughter Isabella, but raising a family in New York was not an option. As a result, they returned to Orlando since where they were established and had many mutual connections. She was immediately hired as an Executive Assistant.“ God has been good to me. I have applied for these positions and got them every time.”
With a new baby in the household, Phil asked Yuliya what she wanted to do to earn money after a job change became necessary. They eventually purchased a franchise. By 2007, Yuliya felt she had gotten a really good grasp on the business. In 2008, she had achieved a 95 % staff retention, her location was the # 2 store in the entire country, but building the business had taken a heavy toll on her personal life. She fondly remembers her daughter
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Phil, Yuliya and Isabella Mariani
started making smoothies at 2 years old. Raising her daughter in the store, Isabella learned how to walk, crawl, and run there.
The business continued to surge until Yuliya noticed a profound drop in 2010. This rapid shift in finances taught her instinct should play a huge role in decision-making in real estate and finances. During these hardships, Yuliya saw first-hand the compassion of others:“ I felt where people could help me, they always have.”
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE Following that venture, Yuliya and her husband Phil turned their attention to the real estate market. After Phil earned his real estate license, Yuliya followed suit and joined G World Properties as a real estate sales associate in 2015. She then achieved her broker’ s license in 2017.“ There’ s so many
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COURTESY OF YULIYA MARIANI |
22 IBA Success Magazine n VOL 4, Issue 3 |