The war in Ukraine forced many families to move abroad and build a new life there. However, entrepreneurs continue to support Ukraine, work, develop and help. Find out how Ukrainian families live abroad

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Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 forced many Ukrainian families to move abroad and start life from scratch. However, despite the forced relocation, outstanding specialists and professionals continue to work: launch new businesses abroad, develop projects, accumulate strength and funds to help Ukraine in the most difficult moment of its modern history.

In addition to work, families preserve Ukrainian traditions, nurture culture and popularize it in the new state, thereby drawing attention to Ukraine and the war.

Today we will tell you about the family of Anna Kravchenko and Anton Taranenko - Ukrainian entrepreneurs who managed to launch two successful projects abroad and maintain a balance between work and family. The material was prepared based on an interview with Yulia Nikitina, editor-in-chief of Welcome to Antalya magazine, who visited Anna and Anton to learn about their secret of success and harmonious family relationships.

Our heroes

Anna Kravchenko is a make-up artist and eyebrow artist of an international level, an entrepreneur. Together with her sister Olena Kurchyna, she built a beauty empire and founded the International Association of Browists, Makeup Artists and Lamimakers - an international community that unites the best beauty specialists from around the world, which promotes their development.

Anton Taranenko is an entrepreneur, developer, investor, expert in the field of tourism and reliable investments, as well as a specialist in tourist and foreign real estate. He is the founder and CEO of the international online platform for expats and travelers Visit World and the service platform Visit Ukraine. He also runs his own YouTube channel for real estate investors and anyone interested in new places to travel around the world.

Anna Kravchenko and Anton Taranenko know firsthand about moving to a new country and starting life from scratch. 3 years ago, they came to Antalya and at the time of the general crisis opened their businesses: Anna - a factory for the production of cosmetics ÉLAN KIMYA and Beauty space ÉLAN, and Anton started the construction of residential objects and opened the development company Anta group. Both companies became market leaders.

How to combine work and family and achieve decent results in all areas?

Anton: Let's start with the family. My zodiac sign is Aries, I was born in the year of the Bull, Anya is the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and was born in the year of the Dragon - there is absolutely no compatibility between us, if you believe the horoscopes. In all seriousness, of course, the most important thing is that the couple have common interests, goals and desire to be together in life. Anya and I have a daily ritual - an hour-long evening walk with the dog, during which we tell each other all the work moments, experiences of the day, give advice and share thoughts. It turns out a kind of exchange of experience. I would also like to add that at the time of our relationship with Anya, we were both successful entrepreneurs, having our social capital first in Donetsk, then in Kyiv, where our paths had already crossed.

Anya: I want to share our family traditions. On the eve of the New Year, we always set goals for the near future in all areas: family, leisure, work, health, personal development. Everyone plans their own and we discuss further what coincides. For example, this year we both wrote that we were ready for the third child: I got pregnant already on January 6. This is how it works. After six months, we take stock and analyze what we have achieved and what we have not achieved, why. We also set personal goals: how many countries do we want to visit this year, what do we want to try or do together: for example, we decided to play golf together.

How did things develop when you moved to Antalya?

Anton: After moving to Antalya, we understood that we had to act right now, while there was general panic. Many expect that all this will end soon, but we from Donetsk have already experienced such a situation. It is necessary to move here and now. At the time of the move, I broke my leg and moved around on crutches. You could wait until everything heals, but I don't like to wait. I remember walking on crutches around the buildings and inspecting the facilities. Someone is looking for excuses, and someone is looking for opportunities. In April we moved, in August I already opened a company and entered into a partnership with a Turkish developer.

Anya: I kept up with Anton. In May, we opened the first company selling cosmetics, and at the end of December we launched our own production - we opened the ÉLAN KIMYA factory. We planned this plant in Kyiv, but life had a different plan - we ended up in Antalya. We immediately did everything with high quality and according to standards, with all the documentation.

Do you participate in the business processes of each other's companies?

Anton: It is important to me that husband and wife do not have a joint business. Otherwise, they turn from spouses into partners, and all work matters are discussed on weekends and lol in bed. I do not meddle in my wife's affairs, I only support her in all her decisions.

Anya: It is very important to believe in each other's ideas. I will be there and support any idea he has. We also insure each other – if one of our businesses fails, the other can pull through.

And how are you with family finances? Are you in favor of a separate or common budget?

Anya: Anton fully supports his family and all large purchases are his initiative (cars, apartment, etc.). But we had different moments at the beginning of our relationship, when we bought our first apartment together.

Anton: I am for traditional values, when a man pays all expenses, from household to entertainment. But at the same time, even for the most successful rich man, it is very important that his woman be self-sufficient and independent. There is even a saying: "A man's money is the family budget, a woman's money is women's money." It's great when a woman develops, she's always interesting and has something to talk about.

And if Anya will earn many times more than you?

Anton: I will only be glad! I believe in Ana's business, I believe that it can bring even more. If that happens, then I will have another investor in construction on some island (laughs). If Anya wants, of course.

Anya: Often a man thinks that a woman is with him for money. But when a woman has her own money and she is self-sufficient, a man does not think: "She is with me for the sake of money."

How do you spend your free time?

Anton: You know, I love my home very much. I always come here with pleasure. Anya and I are getting closer and closer every year, she is my best friend. We actively play sports together, we go to rest, very often we do it together.

Anya: We have formed a well-coordinated schedule of work and rest: we both like to wake up early. Our children also follow the schedule. There are no indulgences. Every morning begins with family exercise for 30 minutes, then Anton and I study Turkish with an online tutor. During the common breakfast, we have time to chat with each other and then we each go about our business: the children go to school and kindergarten, Anton and I go to our offices. In the evening, we also meet for a family dinner, share how everyone's day went. On Saturday, Anton usually plays golf, and I do my own business. Sunday is a purely family day, we spend it with the children at the beach, shopping center, sometimes we go to a hotel for the whole weekend.

Straight family idyll! Was it always like that?

Anton: Of course, as with any couple, there were moments of "grinding" at the beginning of the relationship. We are both very emotional and hot-tempered people. But over time, we "taught each other" and learned to smooth out conflicts. By nature, I am very outgoing, I quickly forget quarrels. For male readers, I want to give advice: if your woman is offended, you don't need to prove yourself right, you don't need to look for the reasons for the conflict - just say that you were wrong (laughs), and everything will be fine. There is one more rule - if you quarreled in the evening, you must make up before going to sleep!

Anya: In a relationship, the most important thing is to feel internally that you are loved and there are no doubts. Even when we quarrel, I know that Anton loves me very much.

Tell me, because of what you can quarrel? How are you doing with jealousy? Do you limit each other's freedom?

Anya: At first, there were such moments of dissatisfaction when I was away from home for 20 days, I held master classes in different cities and countries... Again, we always talk - my work makes me happy, I get pleasure from it. Do you love me? Do you want me to be happy?

Anton: We don't have any global quarrels. Yes, it was difficult when Anna was not at home for weeks, plus there were still many men around her, all kinds of make-up artists (laughs). Seriously, if there is jealousy, then something is wrong in the relationship.

How are your household chores distributed?

Anya: Anton and I discussed at the very beginning of our relationship who and what we want to do in the family, and what we will delegate. I immediately said that we will have a nanny, she will live with us. I don't do a lot of household chores, I don't like it, and Anton is a perfectionist in everyday life. Over time, we rubbed off on each other, and I know that he doesn't like it, and I try not to do it.

Anton: I like order. Anya and I do not agree a little on this, she is creative. Therefore, we found a way out and delegated all household issues to special people. We have a nanny, a woman who helps with cleaning, and a driver who can help with household issues. There was a funny story when Anya gave birth a little early, the nanny hadn't arrived yet. It was the longest week in our life (laughs). They did not know what to do with the child.

Are you strict parents? What are your ways of raising children?

Anton: Yes, we are strict parents. There are rules that we follow and the children follow. For example, for 4 years we have been doing exercises every day, exercises for 3 sets. They know that if they don't do it, it means that there will be no candy in the best case, and in the worst case there will be 4 approaches instead of 3. They also receive money for the exercises - 50 lira for each training session. I myself am organized and I organize my children, because I am sure that regime and habit win over talent. If a child is talented, but there is no regime and discipline, then he will not develop his talent. I am convinced that success is systematic! Idea and talent are 5% of success, the remaining 95% are work and system.

Anya: I don't like the term "education of children". Anton and I are an example for our children. One more point: now it is a very common problem that children do not know how to occupy themselves, they constantly have to be entertained by someone, they are bored. Our task as parents is to teach ourselves to be busy. We give them to sports, where strict trainers: swimming, boxing, karate - all days are scheduled! That's when they don't get bored. And the main thing is not to allow yourself to be manipulated. I treat children as my friends, I communicate on the same level, they share all their experiences with us, and we share ours with them.

Let's summarize: what is the main factor of success?

Anton: I am convinced that success lies in systematicity and discipline! Crisis is our growth point. At such moments, we are looking for new opportunities to stand out in the market.

Anya: The most important thing is to know what you want. I am ready to work 24/7 for the sake of my goals and understanding how I want to live. If you set a goal, everything is possible, no matter who you work with. Become the best in your niche, in the business you enjoy!

How do you support Ukraine?

Anton: Of course, the main dream of every Ukrainian now is victory and the end of the war. From our side, we actively help, participate in charity events, collect money for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, support the army and injured Ukrainians.

Our business also works in this direction, for example, since 2018, the Visit Ukraine portal has been engaged in the promotion and popularization of Ukrainian tourism in the domestic and foreign markets, but the war made its adjustments. We have been working on the information front for more than a year and a half.

Since February 24, 2022, our resource has provided consultations to more than 300 thousand people, information on the portal has been used by more than 14.7 million users, of which almost 5 million are foreigners. And, of course, they did not forget to help the army, transferred more than 1.3 million UAH for the needs of the military (purchased the necessary ammunition, drones, thermal imaging devices, and antiseptics), civilians (to support the displaced, equip bomb shelters, and shelter others), and also did not forget about to our smaller friends - animals affected by the war. In particular, we help shelters involved in their rescue and maintenance.

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