All people are unique in their own way, but some succeed in life, while others complain about their terrible luck and lack of connections. But the reality is that we ourselves are responsible for what happens to us. Success is not achieved through magic or luck — it depends on a combination of personal qualities. Famous Moscow builder Leonid Monosov, who has dozens of construction projects under his belt, including the restoration of the Manege exhibition complex, is convinced that you can become successful only through hard work and determination. It is also important to have people in your life who are willing to teach and support you and give you practical advice. Leonid Monosov encountered many such people on his journey; among them was his father who played a significant role in his life.
Childhood and School Years
Leonid Monosov was born in Mazyr, a small Belarusian county seat. In the middle of the last century, it was a little provincial town without a single large enterprise located there. Leonid could have spent his whole life here if not for a tragic turn of events. When the boy was only five years old, his mother died. This became a turning point for the family; in 1963, Monosov Sr. decided to move to Moscow.
He had to gather all his courage for such a step, because he knew that conquering the capital of the USSR with a small child in his care would not be easy. But fortunately, everything turned out well, and the family soon settled in the Sokolniki area, which eventually became home to several generations of the Monosovs. Leonid Monosov was enrolled in first grade at School No. 315, the same school where years later his son Andrey and daughter Alina would study too.
Studying came naturally to Leonid and he enjoyed going to school. He was especially good at the exact sciences, so there was no doubt that he would later choose a career in a related field. But which one? The student decided to listen to his father, who saw great promise in the construction industry and advised his son to pursue this path. Leonid easily entered a prestigious university of railway engineering, after which he was assigned to a job at Glavmospromstroy.
Career Beginnings and First Achievements
At the end of the 70s, this construction enterprise was famous even far beyond Moscow, as it was the contractor that was building new facilities for the 1980 Olympics. The iconic stadium in Luzhniki, the Olympic Sports Complex, multiple new hotels — these were just some of the projects Glavmospromstroy builders worked on.
It was an organization with great practical experience and portfolio; its projects could be considered ambitious in terms of both architecture and innovative ideas. Among these were:
1. Relocation of 20 houses on Tverskaya Street, including the building that now houses the government of the city.
2. Reconstruction of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses.
3. Construction of new buildings of Moscow State University.
Some of the projects were well underway when Leonid Monosov joined Glavmospromstroy. The young man, of course, expected to be hired as an engineer. But there were no suitable job openings, and he was offered to work as an ordinary foreman for some time.
Although this position did not meet his qualifications, it allowed him to apply his freshly acquired knowledge in practice. On top of that, the young man had to supervise the builders and was responsible for their performance. This was a highly sensitive task and required a lot of attention, even to the smallest details. Leonid Monosov could not afford to make a single mistake, because his own future, as well as the livelihood — and maybe even the lives — of other people depended on it. The young graduate was very insightful and knew how to delegate responsibilities and make decisions quickly — all this came in handy when he was taking first steps in his new profession. To this day, Leonid is grateful not only to the management of the enterprise, but also to his colleagues from whom he had learned a lot.
Leonid Monosov quickly established himself as a responsible and competent worker, so it was not long before his career took off. His professional path was not, of course, strewn with rose petals, and he had to constantly prove his competence by proposing and implementing creative solutions. Over the course of 20 years, he went from foreman to deputy CEO of a large construction company, which by that time had been renamed Mospromstroy.
Leonid Monosov remembers this period as one of the most productive and eventful in his life. He was able to learn a lot from the people who surrounded him. Leonid still talks about his participation in ambitious and conceptually challenging projects with delight and excitement. He had the chance to construct:
- Mining University building;
- modern TASS building;
- Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The latter was of great significance not only for the city of Moscow, but also for everyone involved in its construction. Without this project, Leonid Monosov's biography would not be as bright and rich. Everything about the new building was fascinating, including the architectural design and its execution. And even the fact that the cathedral was built with donations from ordinary people deserved admiration.
The original Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the heart of Moscow was destroyed in 1931. But fortunately, photographs and blueprints of this unique religious building survived. Based on them, architects had to create a new project, which turned out to be a difficult task. The goal was to accurately replicate the exterior and interior of the old cathedral, while making the new building modern and highly functional.
Today, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior fits perfectly into the local infrastructure, while remaining one of the most beautiful landmarks in the city. It is a modern complex with a unique museum, refectory, and two-level parking space. Leonid Monosov admits that this was one of the most difficult projects in his career — and, perhaps, the most interesting, as many of the engineering solutions were highly advanced for that time. The time frame was also impressive; although there were some financial issues, the cathedral was erected in just 6 years, which was an absolute record for religious buildings of its scale. Just to compare, the famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has been under construction for almost 150 years and is still far from completion.
From Construction to Engineering
In 1999, Leonid Monosov accepted an offer to become the CEO of the Moskapstroy company. Its field of operation was familiar to the new executive; the company specialized in engineering services, such as utility installation and supervision. Beyond that, Moskapstroy also provided construction site preparation services. These services were in great demand in Moscow that was expanding and transforming at the turn of the century. It was during this period that the talks about reshaping industrial areas within the city started; today, many of them have become construction sites for new residential neighborhoods.
However, Leonid Monosov and his team soon found out that coordinating the work of several contractors with different functions took too much time and effort. Eventually, the company decided to switch to what is know as "turnkey" operations and engage in the construction of buildings and facilities on its own. As an experienced builder, who had worked on many landmark projects in his time, Leonid did not find it particularly challenging. Naturally, within only a few years, Leonid Monosov's company was the contractor for almost half of the construction projects in Moscow.
Moskapstroy was mainly engaged in the construction of residential buildings in new neighborhoods. It was this company that developed the Butovo and Mitino districts, winning one contract after another. And it was Moskapstroy that was tasked with the restoration of the Manege exhibition complex after the fire of 2006 and the restoration of the memorial on Poklonnaya Hill. By that time, its organizational structure had changed significantly; it opened around 20 subsidiaries that performed all types of design, construction, and engineering tasks. Moskapstroy's projects were often set as an example for other developers and described as having no shortcomings, which new residents usually encountered in other buildings.
Leonid Monosov created a real construction brand that was synonymous with quality, efficiency, and punctuality. The enterprise built not only residential property, but also urban amenities in the surrounding areas. Lawns, benches, and playgrounds provided by the developer very quickly became a trend, just like landscaping, which many developers had not bothered with before.
At some point while expanding the scope of Moskapstroy's operations, Leonid Monosov decided to switch to full-scale residential development, acting simultaneously as an investor, client, and contractor. This symbiosis turned out to be very productive and after the 2008 financial crisis helped the company to stay afloat. When the economy collapsed, many construction companies were forced to leave the market, as they lost their clients who now considered it risky to invest money in real estate with its bouncing prices. Monosov's team faced the same problem, as the number of projects dropped sharply and no one was buying apartments in the finished residential complexes.
Then the executive made a decision that not only saved the company, but also allowed it to retain the team of several hundred skilled workers. Leonid Monosov was one of the first businessmen in Moscow to rent out apartments in company-owned and virtually "orphaned" new buildings. This was not a popular strategy, because no one could predict what would happen to such housing during the lease. But the crisis passed, and the apartments were eventually successfully sold. This turned out to be another one of Leonid Monosov's major strategic victories.
In Search of an Independent Path
Choosing a career is a momentous step in a person's life. But it is no less important to find fulfilment in doing what you really like. Sometimes you need to leave your achievements behind and start something new, so that you can move forward and reach new heights in self-actualization. This was the path that Leonid chose when he took over as vice president at AFK Sistema in 2012. 10 years later, this new experience helped him start his own business, which combined in it several different areas of activity.
Leonid Monosov is still interested in construction, but this time as an investor and not as a client or contractor. Since 2022, he has been in charge of the Moskapstroy-TN company, which invests money in promising construction projects. It has already financed the construction of the Topolya residential complex, the Na Ordynke office building, and the Pavshino shopping center. Each project is an example of successful and well-targeted investment. This was where Leonid Monosov's experience in construction came in handy, helping him select the most viable investment options from a dozen different proposals. One way or another, the most famous Moscow builder is still in business and still involved in the construction of real estate built to last for generations.
About Personal Life
Although his name is well known to everyone who has at least some connection to the construction industry, Leonid does not consider himself a public person. He does not advertise his personal life and rarely gives interviews. What is known is that he has a close-knit family and two adult children, who followed in his footsteps and chose careers in the construction field.
His eldest child, Andrey Monosov, was born in 1981. Andrey has a degree in economics and construction enterprise management from the prestigious Moscow State University of Civil Engineering.
After university, he found a job in a large construction corporation, where he consequently built a brilliant career. He has been awarded several government certificates and prizes for his professional achievements.
Not unlike his father, Andrey Monosov avoids public attention and prefers to keep his personal life private. It is known that he is married, has a son and daughter, and enjoys sports and hunting in his free time.
Monosov's daughter Alina was born in 1990; she has a bachelor's degree from MGIMO related to international economics and a master's degree in public administration. She also has a diploma in psychology and is currently working on her master's degree in this field.
At the same time, Alina continues to work in a construction company, where she oversees investment management issues. When explaining her desire to study psychology, she confesses that she does it for personal reasons; her goal is to achieve a better understanding of the people around her.
The list of Alina Monosova's interests is quite diverse and extensive. Years ago, she fulfilled her childhood dream and had a job on television for a short time. Today, she co-authors a blog dedicated to life in big cities. Alina says that she will continue to venture into different fields, striving for personal development and self-fulfilment. However, the construction industry remains her priority and she intends to continue the Monosov family tradition.
