How An Immigrant Turned Uncertainty Into Opportunity

You better ton it down. That is the message that you grow up with. And look at you now. Look where it's left you too.

Yeah, well, yeah, I want to invite a stranger. You never know. This is the way to tell my story.

Maybe it's meant to be it. So I'm just going to roll with it. And it was a... Kachibor Sova is a strategic growth-driven, real estate professional investor, and certified appraiser based in Arizona. Drawing from her journey from corporate leadership into real estate entrepreneurship, she helps investors, homeowners, and industry professionals make confident decisions through

valuation expertise, market insight, and a passion for building long-term wealth. Tell these to people all the time. It feels like you're on a path. And something you put putting like a stone to step on to cross that river, like that means you're on the right path. You don't say no. You just go, you step on it and you keep moving. I don't know where it's needing. I don't know. No big business, no big brand, no nothing. That doesn't matter to me.

“I'm like if I can inspire one person hearing me talk and say, "You know what? I think”

if she can do it, I can do it too." The living your legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy. Welcome to another episode of the Living Your Legacy podcast for Insights Access. I am Regretira's. Joining me today is another amazing woman in power, Katia Barisoba. I've got some show notes. She is the founder of a Bulgarian school and grew a real estate portfolio

to create opportunities for others while staying true to her values. Katia, wow, what an intro. How does it feel? It feels grounded, but I'm just a woman in power. That's all, folks. So, obviously my love, welcome to the show. You literally finished it. Tell me your episode, "All smiles." I hope these are real smiles and that just really smiles.

Does it look like that? I look a bit above. This is reality. So welcome to your reality. Welcome.

“Thank you. What are we going to learn about you in your episode?”

Oh, my goodness. Well, I guess you're going to learn that. I'm a Bulgarian. It's so obvious by my heavy accent. Came from through this country without speaking the language. So it kind of stuck with me. It was really trying initially to speak proper with not having the accent. Oh, my dear. I realize that this is not me. And I will be me. And you rather take it or leave it type of a thing. But what I found out also through the years is that

I obviously interact with a lot of people with different cultures and accents. And I hear them and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, this sounds so good." So then I started realizing what people were telling me. Oh, you have a beautiful accent. Yes, you do.

I had someone on the one's tells me that if I hear on the radio, I would always know it's you.

I don't see. You don't have to show your face. Of course. You've been, you know, unique is not about these events. How is that work, you know, for you being so unique? Well, it's, I mean, the accent totally almost the open stores. Like sometimes I would go to a conference and just I would say a couple of words and people naturally will start asking, "Hey, where are you from?" It's such an easy, you know,

you know, open of a conversation. It's beautiful. It's just very easy.

“Yeah, it's awesome. So what, what is it that you do with this amazing accent?”

Which craft? Poetry. So I'm writing. No, no, that's unfortunate. I'm a creative soul. I love creativity, but I used to write some poetry, but I was young. That's not happening anymore. I think in my own language, with the accent, there is no accent, because it's my language. But yeah, no, it's I, I have a school and so I am very in love with my coucher and where I come from. I grew up, you know, with history, also a big portion,

big subject in school. And I just always was proud of where I come from and the heritage.

And when I came to United States and had my own kids, one thing I did is I brought grandma over. Wow. So my mom came. She's been here with me helping me for many years. But, you know, that helped with the kids to keep the language. Sure, sure, sure. To speak, but then at some point, I was like, I won't be able to preserve the language at the

know, we're all busy. So anyhow, so I started the school because I wanted my kids to be able to speak, right? I just started school. So how do you start a school? Who do you call? Mr. School guy? Like, how does this work? I don't know what she gave me. What's the goal? What's from here? Where what? Oh, this is the first. We're bringing the fourth wall. That was the famous Lauren. That was the famous Lauren after five of it episode. We finally see

what Lauren looks like. Oh. Lauren's amazing. Amazing. Thank you. How does one begin school?

You just basically killed her. Well, hello. I have a close friend. Her name is Gala. I love that girl so much. I met her, like almost one of the first people I met in United States. She moved with her family. I lived in Madison, Wisconsin at the time. Wow. And she moved like just three months after I moved in and she moved in with the baby, not even a year old baby. So anyhow, we became close friends over time. I moved to one state. They moved, actually a few months after that one

shorter to another state. But we kept in touch. And one day, we were talking. It was around Christmas.

“And we were talking and, you know, hey, if you have to call it this all of that. And I was telling her,”

she started the school Bulgarian school in Northern Colorado, Colorado, right? Carl Lina. Oh, my gosh, North Carolina. And any house, so I was like, oh my gosh, I'm so jealous. I want my heroes to go. And someone opened back in, you know, at the time in Northern California. And I was thinking to sign the kids, but it was kind of toward the end of the year. Sure. So I was like, okay, next school year. And it comes September all day. I'm like, I'm going to sign them and he closed the school.

So we're talking around Christmas and like, oh my gosh, she was telling me about the school. Like, how so good for you? Like, I'm so jealous. You know, he closed the school. She's like, why don't you open one? I'm like, oh, I can't. Why? Because I have a career, you know, I'm just, you know, starting I mean MBAs, hooking to that time. And no, actually, I was outside of the MBA school. I'm sorry. But but anyway, there was a lot going on young kids and stuff. My theory is no way. She's like, of course,

“there is a way if you want to help you. I'm like, oh, well, do I need to do it? So she said,”

why we need to do this. And that connected with people spoke about it. And that is Christmas and by January 10, I think I started, you know, opening my LLC and in April, 20th of April, that, you know, sure, sure. After the new year of the school was life. Wow. So that's how I

wrote. That's how I wrote. That's an amazing story that you did it under 90 days or a little bit

over 90 days. Um, so how did you, how does the enrollment begin? Is it a small school? How did you build the curriculum? Oh, well, give me the montage. Okay. So it's a small school. So we're a small community. We'll get in countries like very big. But we do have quite a few people living in the Bay Area. We have very smart engineers like, so anyhow, so there are people there. I still have us hours. Let's go. Yeah. Good, good, good, good. I miss that every day. We, uh, again, I knew nothing.

But I found out that actually the Bulgarian Ministry of Education is stimulating folks like me shopping schools because they do want to preserve the culture. We're still country. We are very old country. Why not, right? Of what's better than that, you know, people to know their heritage. And there was one program that they had that I signed up. They were providing it a bit of subsidy to that program. And luckily for me, so I mean, I, I truly believe like, like, the

universe is driving cars like there is a path. And if you follow, you know, and don't, you know,

“question too much, you're going to get to where you need to be. So the school started like that”

out of a literally like, hey, why don't you open? It's like, okay, so like, I don't know what I'm doing. And then, um, as I opened it in April, 20th, like the Bulgarian, um, embassy, that the council, that no, embassy, but the council that in Los Angeles, they get in touch with me in a friend of mine get in touch and says, hey, the Bulgarian president is coming for a visit to Silicon Valley. Wow. Um, he was really that friend that connected with me. He was very

interested with the Bulgarian community. But he was now he, we return back to Bulgaria. He's like, I don't know anyone who is of a, you know, I trust to be able to do this right. And so anyhow, so I, when me and another friend, we put it together. I was the conference here. We, that we had 350 people, the biggest meeting of a Bulgarian president with the Bulgarian community outside

of the country at the time. That's amazing. It was really, really cool. Um, and the kids had, I mean,

two years before that a Bulgarian folk dance group in, uh, of course he did with some friends,

“obviously. But like, we had that going. So we had them dancing. Oh, my gosh. I remember,”

you know, the funny thing is like, obviously, this is a president of another country. So the, the special services were surrounding, you know, coming, checking the room, calling us need to give emails, phone numbers of people that will be attending. I'm like, what is going on? And so they came there and they're like, they were looking like really kind of scary. Just looking at them. I mean, they're like, obviously, in their role and doing what they need to do. And suddenly,

this video, the suddenly we're getting up and like, we're dancing. Bulgarian folk dance is we hold hands and go in circle. Like counterclockwise. And everybody goes. And I went and got the president by his hand. Now the circle is 300 people rolling. I mean, you could see like, the security guys were just frozen. Like they don't know what to do. They went kind of in the, like, you can't, like they're like, well, we are not going to join anything. Of course not. But anyway, it was fun,

because I also had the chance. My father-in-law at the time, like, he used to work for the government. He's like, if you have the chance to ask for something now is the time. Oh, absolutely. We need something like, we need books. He's like, ask for it. How am I going to ask for it? The point is, the point is, the point is, he comes with his, you know, airplane and stuff. So he

“can bring stuff. So they brought us maps and books. And so that's how the school gets going.”

At the same party, the plane to show it up. The plane to show it up, but then you wait was really freaking cool experience. Then look at you now. Look where it was. Let you too. Yeah. Well, yeah,

one thing, please join other. You never know. And how do you feel sitting in this chair telling

you story? You know, I feel like it's meant to be. That's exactly how I feel. As I mentioned, like, this for me is not for the marketing. I really can care less like, you know, what happens, you know, from that. But what I know, I've learned to trust my intuition. And so many times through my life in United States, I've been like, I know everybody has a story. And I feel like I really want to tell my story. And I'm like, one day, probably will be a chance to tell my story somewhere.

So when when I saw the email, you know, coming women in power, what is this for? Then I'm reading I'm like, oh, no, this is not for me. Like, this is for infamous people, important people that don't dig things like, I mean, I have businesses. No, I just don't have the school. Move the

cross of world as a great personality. Very engaging. I just never felt like this is me. You know,

it's like, but I just said, I know something prompted me. And then from there, it became like, you know what, if this is the way to tell my story, maybe it's meant to be. So I'm just going to roll with it. And it was a tough time for me because I was doing so many things, making so many decisions, but I was like, you know what, if it shows up on your pet, I believe that I believe that because I believed it and I saw it happen. When something shows up and it feels like it's a stepping stone,

I tell these two people all the time. It feels like you're on a pet and something keep putting like a stone to step on to cross that river. Like, that means you're on the right path. You don't say, no, you just go, you step on it and you keep moving. I don't know where it's leading. I don't know, I, I have no big business, no big brand, no nothing. That doesn't matter to me. I'm like, if I can inspire one person hearing me talk and say, you know what, I think if she can do it,

I can do it you and all that's enough. That's it. That's exactly what you're seeing in the

“damn chair. I'm glad you landed on that because that's what I was hoping you realize why you're here.”

You're part of a greater movement of a women men, anyone that's listening or watching this, that it can relate to you with your with your accent and your language and what you're from, you've inspired them to just say yes, to say yes and follow the intuition and it's led you here. What are some things that we're going to learn about you in your episode? What gives a couple of previews, a couple of teasers? Well, I already mentioned, I think that I came to this

country now speaking the language and I got to my first ever interview asking my husband at a

time to come with me because they told him there is no way to go to an interview by yourself while I find out like you have to know you. So I mean just some of the challenges like overcoming that kind of a I guess fear and not feeling like you're good enough like going through a little bit of depression coming here like living you know fun life in Europe, suddenly ending up in medicine Wisconsin, you know. I mean I know that alone is like yeah that has a lot. I mean it's a beautiful

how to dress for that environment. I mean it's just the smallest things. I lived in Switzerland for a year. I was like I live in Montro, I was like like a leg like a leg alone and I'm like wow, where is it? That's so cute. I really had it. I was very lonely. I didn't say that but like

in the, I remember the first time we go to a restaurant and my husband says, "Red the menu,

did you read the menu for you?" Well, I was thinking maybe I asked him to maybe help me with some of the stuff. I knew Sam. I knew how to read and I knew grammar but speaking was almost impossible and so he's like you're gonna order for yourself. No, I'm not gonna order myself. I was so ashamed that I cannot talk. I can't even tell. It's a shame. Like I just know so many people feel the same

“when they come from, I think, from different countries especially because we don't grow up like here.”

People here have self-esteem, they're built up and like in Bulgaria, it's like an communist country. You're not good enough. This is the message. You're not good enough. You better tone it down.

That is the message that you grow up with. And I don't like, oh my gosh, wow. What do I do here and

like how, and so anyhow, the girl comes and I'm like, can I have water without ice? And she says, no ice? I say, yes, without ice. No ice. And I look at him and I'm already terrified because I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm saying something wrong. And he's like, you don't say here, man. I was like, you don't say without ice. You say we say here, no ice. And I learned like British English. We were starting British, we were starting the Queen's tongue, the proper way of speaking.

Yeah, it's a funny story. It's around like learning the language so many of them. But here you are, no. But here I am. I wanted to take a moment and kind of make fun of you a little bit because you're like, you come to this country and all, do you realize that most people in this country only speak one language? How many languages do you speak? Uh, capital. A couple, right? Yeah, so it's like, I mean, we learn Russian. Like, Russian is a must. Like, it's Spanish here. Like,

you, you will speak Russian. I mean, I don't speak it as well, but I can read it. Like, I can, I can, when I lived in Switzerland, English was basic, right? Oh, you even know basic. And you can work

“honestly in this, you work. Like, you go to Serbia, it's kind of similar. Like, if you're”

Spanish speaking, you speak probably couple, like you can, good time, a couple of countries. Like, Macedonian is dialectic. I mean, at the end of the day, that whole like area, you know? Yeah, but honey, this is the United States of America. When you say Macedonia, they're like, is that an elephant? Like, people, I love United States. Born and raised here, but there's no culture here. They just hopped out and football. And a lot of self esteem, yeah, but there's no culture here.

Yeah, the self esteem thing for football. Soccer, big difference. One's very theatrical and one's football. You're funny. I didn't say that. I didn't say that. I didn't say it. That was more here. Honey, where can people find you? Where is your website? Give me your social media. How can people find you? So, I'm an appraiser. I'm an Arizona. So, actually, is that what you do? Yeah, I'm an appraiser.

“So, that's what I do. It's one of my businesses. Okay, I love real estate. So,”

I have a website. You go, finally, by my name. Put Katya Borisov,

a praises services. It's gonna show up. Did you say that a little slower honey? It's www.AziaPraisovCompany.com. AziaPraisovCompany.com. My name is Katya Borisov. It's spelled with a Y. So, if you search for an appraiser, I will show up. I'm also on the board of the coalition of Arizona praises. So, I-- Would you like to see something in your language to folks are listening? The Sitchki

Bulgaric, we don't know, maybe be glad that Tossia Pizot. Gordison, just some Tukas, and I don't know what Povich would do. I basically said that if you're a Bulgarian swatching cast, I just am so proud to be here. And I am hoping that you see many more of you in this situation. I completely agree. Thank you so much for your time and energy. I hope you had even tastic time. You're laughing your smiles contagious. Go out there

and make the world brighter every day. With that, that concludes another episode of the Living Your Legacy Podcast that was in a power addition for Insights Access. I am Ray Gutierrez. [Music]