There are very few people equal to Leonid Monosov in terms of their contribution to the construction industry in the country. He is a unique figure and a household name in the professional world. It is thanks to him that modern Moscow flourishes in beauty and architectural grace, and millions of people have their own homes. His biography is full of trials and challenges. He had to travel a difficult life path and he owes his success solely to his own hard work, perseverance, and determination.
Childhood and Career Choice
Leonid Monosov was born on March 2, 1958 in a Belarusian province. It was a difficult time for the country, which was left in shambles and still recovering after the Great Patriotic War. The situation became even worse for Leonid when he lost his mother at an early age. She died when the boy was only 5 years old and he was left in his father’s care.
The head of the suddenly bereaved family considered it best to leave for Moscow to seek a better life, so Leonid started school in the Sokolniki district of the capital. The boy’s father had to work a lot to provide for his son on his own. He did not have the opportunity to dote on him or devote much time to his upbringing. But he did the most important thing for the boy’s character — he set an example of willpower and responsibility for him, instilled in him a love for hard work, and sparked his interest in the construction industry.
Despite the lack of constant control, the boy was a brilliant student; he impressed his teachers with his sharp mind, resourcefulness, and great memory. He loved the exact sciences and was a natural leader from a young age. Leonid was still in elementary school when he decided that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a builder. His good educational background bore fruit and in 1975, the young man easily entered one of the most competitive engineering universities in the USSR.
Studying at a Prestigious University and Getting an Unexpected Job Placement
Leonid Monosov stood out among others as a tenacious and determined student; he greedily absorbed knowledge, knew exactly what he wanted from life, and confidently moved towards his goal. The young man chose his major wisely; he had great interest in the disciplines he studied and made the most of his internships.
Leonid graduated with honors and was happy to be assigned to a job at the biggest industrial construction company in Moscow. It was a great start to his career, because getting a job in such a reputable organization was an achievement in itself. The young graduate had great opportunities ahead of him; for example, his first salary was around 150 rubles, which at that time was considered more than a decent monthly income. But most importantly, he took another step towards his dream.
First Career Steps
In Soviet times, anyone could make it big, even without good connections and patronage; what mattered most was the worker’s professionalism and skills. The future executive had great potential and he managed to fully unlock it. Leonid Monosov’s strong will and principles, coupled with the knowledge acquired at the university, allowed him to surpass his colleagues in professional expertise and begin his confident journey to the top.
This was despite the fact that his competition at Glavmospromstroy (which changed its name to Moskapstroy in 1990) included outstanding and no less ambitious professionals from all over the country, who specialized in construction, architecture, and design. Strong competition did not stop the young man from asserting himself — on the contrary, it became his incentive to grow as a professional, which did not go unnoticed by the managers.
Well-Deserved Success and Recognition
Well-deserved success did not come to Leonid Monosov right away. By his own estimation, it took him 20 years of painstaking and persistent work. He worked at his first place of employment from 1980 to 1999 and tried on different roles, such as:
1. Foreman;
2. Site supervisor;
3. Construction manager;
4. Chief project engineer;
5. Head of the special construction department;
6. Deputy CEO.
1999 marked the peak of Leonid Monosov’s career. It was then that he took the helm at Moskapstroy JSC and began to move forward as an experienced manager and outstanding urban planning expert who knew all ins and outs of the profession.
Footnote:
Moskapstroy was founded in 1992. The company specialized in providing engineering services. In 1996 it was transformed into a joint-stock company. Under Monosov’s management, the company became the leader of the Moscow construction market; other companies, being unable to take on large-scale and complex projects, simply could not compete with it.
Leonid Monosov was awarded the highest honors for his contribution to the industry, such as:
1. Title of the Honored Builder of the Russian Federation;
2. Medal For Distinguished Labor;
3. Order of Friendship.
However, the entrepreneur himself believes that his main career achievements were the projects that he completed and the updated looks of the capital.
Large-Scale Construction Projects
Despite all his accomplishments, Leonid Monosov remains a very modest person; when talking about his past projects, he portrays his contribution only as part of teamwork. However, it was the businessman himself who played a significant role in such a momentous project as the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
This was, without exaggeration, the construction of the century, and the public and authorities scrupulously monitored its progress. Ruining the original face of the architectural heritage, failing to implement the design ideas, or simply violating deadlines would have been unacceptable and potentially ruinous for the contractor. However, the job was done brilliantly. The work was completed in record time for such a large-scale and complex project.
The main challenge was, on the one hand, to preserve the authenticity of the design, reviving the cathedral-building traditions of old times, and on the other hand, to modernize the building, installing state-of-the-art equipment and making it more comfortable to visitors. Leonid Monosov’s team executed the tasks to perfection.
Footnote:
The walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior were built from concrete and faced with bricks. It was not an easy task to replicate the original curves of the building using modern tools. It took great effort to handle the unique materials that were used in the construction. At the same time, the building was equipped with a comfortable elevator and underground parking.
Apart from this project, the future urban planning luminary participated in such projects as:
– restoration of the Moscow Puppet Theater;
– restoration of the Tourist House;
– reconstruction of the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard;
– construction of the President Hotel;
– construction of the Exhibition Complex on Krasnaya Presnya.
Each project was unique and has become a tourist attraction in today’s Moscow, changing it beyond recognition compared to the Soviet era.
Role in the Capital’s Residential and Infrastructure Development
While working at Moskapstroy JSC, Leonid Monosov played an important role in the development of the capital’s infrastructure. His contribution made it possible to develop new neighborhoods, build millions of square meters of comfortable modern housing for Muscovites, and transform the city as a whole.
What set Moskapstroy JSC apart was that the company took on even the most challenging tasks and provided quality services at all stages of construction, right down to remedial work. Its main focus was on introducing advanced technologies and adhering to the highest standards, which had been Leonid Monosov’s rule since the Soviet era. Each project provided unique architectural and engineering solutions.
It is Moskapstroy that deserves credit for the construction and restoration of such outstanding structures as:
– Ice Palace;
– Manege;
– Vnukovo-2 terminal;
– Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill;
– Third Ring Road.
At the same time, the company was also working on reshaping the capital’s streets and developing urban infrastructure.
New Biography Chapter
Two years ago, Leonid Monosov started as an executive at Moskapstroy-TN, a company that continues to develop residential property in the capital at an accelerating pace. Its most significant projects include:
– Topolya residential complex;
– Na Ordynke business center;
– Pavshino shopping center.
Leonid Monosov mainly focuses on the housing sector — the stagnation of 2008 clearly showed that this business would always remain relevant. During the economic downturns, when investment was low and the construction market declined, the demand for residential real estate remained high and its construction never slowed down.
However, Leonid owes his business success not only to the high number of projects, but, first of all, to the quality of services. He began his career from the very bottom and learned a lot from the Soviet period; to this day, he insists on maintaining the highest standards in his work, which is a rare professional quality nowadays.
Another reason for his company’s success is its multi-business strategy. Its activities include:
– sales of completed units;
– real estate rental services;
– engineering supervision;
– end-to-end construction solutions.
Another factor that allows Leonid Monosov’s company to outrun competition is that it has been active in the market for several years and has an excellent reputation that attracts investors. Influential people are more likely to invest money in a reliable business than in a newly created dummy company.
Leonid Monosov says that this makes it difficult for newcomers to enter the construction market today but offers better opportunities for old-timers. In the future, the entrepreneur plans to develop remote areas of the country, so that people can live comfortably not only in metropolises, but in any other region as well.
Investment Activities
There is a name for a person who has many talents: Renaissance man. This name perfectly fits Leonid Monosov, who not only managed to fulfil his potential in the construction industry, but also proved himself a good investor. He believes that success in this field depends on two aspects:
1. Global trends;
2. Economic development in general.
Just like at the beginning of his career, he still considers residential construction to be the best investment option and continues to work in this field.
Family and Children
The only thing more important than work to Leonid is his family, which he does not put on a display and protects from the public eye. He cares deeply for his family members and tries to spend all his free time with them. There is little known about the businessman’s spouse. He and his wife have been married for more than 40 years and raised two wonderful children; they are a happy couple and have never been involved in any scandals.
His son, Andrey Monosov, is a no less ambitious and hardworking man than his famous father. He has been building his career on his own, without relying on his father’s authority. His areas of interest include high tech and he has already achieved good results in this field. The young man is married, has three children, and lives a proactive life.
Leonid’s daughter, Alina Monosova, is also a family woman and has excellent educational background, which includes studying at MGIMO and in London. She is interested in psychology and continues to improve her knowledge in this area. There were periods in her life when she was involved in marketing and advertising, worked on television, and tried her hand at life coaching, but over time, she switched her focus and continued to look for her path in life.
In Lieu of an Afterword
Leonids’s biography deserves admiration and allows us to believe that strong willpower, self-belief, and determination are sometimes more important for a successful career than patronage, money, and connections. Thanks to Monosov, the Russian construction industry kept on growing even during the most difficult times and the capital’s architectural spaces were refined and transformed into harmonious sites.
Apart from work, there is a place for good deeds and selfless actions in Leonid’s life. He devotes a lot of his time to charity, generously helping those in need of financial support. The businessman leads a healthy lifestyle. His favorite hobby is tennis. The fact that he does not make his personal life public and does not engage in personal PR once again proves that he is an old-school person who believes in deeds, not words.
Leonid plans to grow his business in the construction sector and has many ideas that are waiting to be implemented. He is not afraid of challenges and has an optimistic outlook for the future. He sees an improvement in the public attitude towards entrepreneurship in the country and has high hopes for innovations and the simplification of the development approval process.
At his age of 66, he is convinced that all hardships are temporary and you can overcome anything with hard work and self-discipline. He has encountered many difficulties in his life and emerged victorious from every one of them. Today, with the growing role of private equity in construction, things are looking quite good for Leonid Monosov’s business.