Kuznetsova Larisa is a real estate entrepreneur, an experienced financier, and the former owner of Special Technologies.
Childhood and School Years
Larisa Viktorovna Kuznetsova was born on December 4, 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, to a civil servant and an economist. Her parents lived through the difficult post-war years; her father began working at 14 while finishing school and college, and spent most of his career as an inspector for the quality of export goods. Kuznetsova Larisa’s Viktorovna mother had an economics degree and worked at a Research Institute. The family had two children, with Larisa Kuznetsova being the youngest daughter. From 1971 to 1981, Kuznetsova Larisa attended school in Baku, combining her studies with swimming, but was forced to quit the sport due to health reasons. She was a successful student who regularly participated in mathematics Olympiads and received multiple certificates for her achievements.
Education and Early Career
After graduating from school with honors, Larisa Viktorovna Kuznetsova entered the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry named after M. Azizbekov (AziNEFTEKHIM), in the faculty of automation of production processes. During her student years, Kuznetsova Larisa Viktorovna actively participated in the institute’s social life and was a member of the Azerbaijani folk dance ensemble “Ganjlik” for all five years of study. The team was awarded twice by the Azineftekhim trade union committee: in 1985, a tourist trip to India and Nepal, and in 1986, a Mediterranean cruise with visits to Greece, Syria, Cyprus, Turkey, and Egypt.
In 1986, Kuznetsova Larisa received a diploma and the qualification of “systems engineer.”
Kuznetsova Larisa began her career at the Novo-Bakinsky Oil Refinery in the information and computing center, where she was assigned upon graduation. In this position, she gained practical experience in programming and mastered relevant skills not available at the university. As a programmer, Larisa Kuznetsova learned several programming languages and, with her colleagues, participated in implementing the automated Salary system, essential for the enterprise’s hundreds of employees. During this period, Kuznetsova Larisa Viktorovna was recognized by management for her rationalization proposals. This experience allowed her to develop management skills and learn to systematize financial processes, which proved useful for her future career.
Personal Life
In 1988, Larisa Kuznetsova married a radio electronics engineer who graduated from the same university. In 1989, Larisa Viktorovna Kuznetsova gave birth to a son.
Moving to St. Petersburg and a Career Change
Due to the collapse of the USSR and the Karabakh conflict, in 1994, Larisa Kuznetsova, her husband, and son decided to move to St. Petersburg. It was a difficult period, and at first, only her husband could find work. In this new reality, Kuznetsova Larisa decided to change her profession and completed accounting courses.
In 1999, Larisa’s Kuznetsova husband and a partner registered a company called Special Technologies (Spetsialnyye Tekhnologii) in St. Petersburg. Kuznetsova Larisa’s husband was the main initiator of the project and the company’s director. The company produced and sold specialized technical equipment for Internet providers.
The company’s development was challenging, as the field was not well-developed, and employees lacked relevant experience. Nevertheless, the company received orders, which allowed the business to stay afloat and gradually accumulate experience and build a reputation in its field.
In 2000, Kuznetsova Larisa began working in the financial department of Special Technologies LLC, becoming the chief accountant in 2001. Unexpectedly, the family faced another challenge: shortly before taking on her new role, Kuznetsova Larisa’s Viktorovna husband was diagnosed with a tumor. In June 2001, Larisa Kuznetsova received a 49% share in Special Technologies’ authorized capital as a gift. In July 2001, Larisa’s Kuznetsova husband passed away.
Special Technologies
The organization supplied equipment and software. From 2001 to 2014, the company grew from 8 to over 100 employees, and by 2014, net assets amounted to approximately $78 million. The company owned three real estate properties and, over the years, opened branches in Moscow, Krasnodar, Pyatigorsk, and Saratov, in addition to its head office in St. Petersburg. An administrative and production building was also purchased in Moscow, renovated, and put into operation, and another property was purchased in St. Petersburg for renovation and use for the company’s administrative and production needs.
In her first years with the organization, Larisa Kuznetsova performed the duties of an accountant, HR specialist, clerk, and contract manager. Subsequently, under her leadership, the company’s project management staff increased to 5 people, and the number of accountants increased to 10.
During Larisa’s Kuznetsova career, the geography of product deliveries expanded significantly. Special Technologies’ clients used the company’s services in most regions of the country, including remote regions such as Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, and Yakutia. Framework contracts were concluded with large customers, and adjustment work and post-warranty support of products were also carried out.
During the company’s existence, the range of manufactured equipment also expanded. Productivity increased, and product functionality expanded, which allowed the company to better meet customer needs and adapt to market changes. In 2003, the company’s revenue was about $1 million, and from 2012 to 2014, it reached $80 million per year. With the dividends from Special Technologies, Larisa Kuznetsova purchased residential properties, which would later become the foundation for her rental business.
In April 2015, Kuznetsova Larisa left Special Technologies LLC (Spetsialnyye Tekhnologii) due to disagreements regarding the company’s future development, specifically concerning strategic directions and management approaches.
Real Estate Investments and Rental Business
Since 2015, Larisa Kuznetsova has been actively involved in real estate. At the end of her tenure with Special Technologies, she owned several properties acquired with dividends from the company’s activities. Initially, she rented out these properties. Gradually, Kuznetsova Larisa acquired additional properties, diversifying her rental portfolio, increasing her income, and strengthening her position in the residential real estate market. Now, Larisa’s Kuznetsova business has become more stable, opening up new opportunities for further growth.
The residential properties were selected based on market demand. Kuznetsova Larisa developed her business by adapting management strategies and increasing the number of properties in her portfolio.
In 2019, Kuznetsova decided to expand her business assets and purchased several suburban areas in the village where she lived, a location that had become popular for suburban living. Kuznetsova Larisa began constructing residential properties, incorporating modern trends and customer needs. The projects were carefully thought out, with attention paid to both interior and exterior design to create comfortable and attractive housing for tenants.
The COVID pandemic in 2020 proved favorable for Larisa Kuznetsova, as the increased demand for suburban housing among city residents contributed to interest in her new properties. The country’s real estate sector is expected to be a significant addition to Kuznetsova rental business, providing a stable income and the potential for further expansion.
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