Roman Vasilenko: Biography, Career, Business, Best Way, and Public Projects

Childhood and Family Traditions

Roman Viktorovich Vasilenko was born on April 5, 1969, in Leningrad. His family was closely connected with military service: both his father and mother were career naval aviation officers in the Soviet Navy.

Vasilenko’s early years were shaped by the nature of his parents’ military careers. The family lived in different military garrisons, so his school years involved frequent moves and changes of surroundings. The military environment was characterized by a strict routine, discipline, and adherence to established rules.

Vasilenko later noted that his family upbringing and life in military towns influenced his attitude toward work. Planning, consistency, organization, and a focus on long-term results became principles that he subsequently applied in his professional life.

Military Training and Service

In 1986, Roman Vasilenko enrolled at the Yaroslavl Higher Military Financial School named after Army General A. V. Khrulev. The institution specialized in training specialists for the financial units of the Soviet Armed Forces.

In 1990, Vasilenko completed his studies at the Faculty of Financial Support of the Armed Forces. After earning a degree in Economics, he began his officer career with the rank of lieutenant.

For the next eight years, his professional activities were connected with the Baltic Fleet’s financial service. From 1990 to 1998, Vasilenko served as Head of the Financial Service of military unit No. 22966 at the Leningrad Naval Base.

In this position, he was responsible for the unit’s financial support: planning expenditures, overseeing payments, conducting settlements with contractors, and preparing financial reports.

During his service, Vasilenko continued his additional education. Over the years, he completed specialized courses in financial services, planning, capital formation, asset protection, and financial resource management.

In 1998, due to organizational and staffing changes, Vasilenko was discharged into the reserves. At the time, he held the military rank of Captain 3rd Rank.

Transition to Entrepreneurship and Finance

After completing his military service, Vasilenko began a new professional chapter in the civilian economy. In the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, he worked for commercial organizations, where he was involved in financial matters.

His career included positions as a financial consultant and executive. His areas of interest included investment instruments, insurance, and personal financial planning.

His experience at a Swiss consulting company played a role in his professional development. This stage gave him an opportunity to become familiar with the principles underlying the international financial market.

Vasilenko continued to expand his qualifications. In 2006, he completed a program in investments, insurance techniques, and management. He later studied international financial markets, securities trading, and financial derivatives.

Over time, teaching became an increasingly important part of his professional activities. Vasilenko began giving lectures and conducting training sessions focused on business and financial literacy.

International Business Academy IBA

The development of his educational activities led to the creation of his own project. In 2009, Vasilenko founded the International Business Academy, known as International Business Academy (IBA), in St. Petersburg.

The academy focused on continuing professional education. Its programs covered entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, and financial planning.

The organization was officially established as the International Business Academy, a private institution providing additional professional education, on September 1, 2011. In 2016, the educational institution received license No. 1901 from the Education Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg.

IBA hosted educational events and presentations by invited experts. Among the international business trainers who participated in the academy’s programs were Alan Pease and Andreas Wintz.

Since 2017, Vasilenko has combined his work as an academy lecturer with other professional projects. In 2018, he became the CEO of IBA.

Academic Degrees and Further Education

Vasilenko focused not only on the practical aspects of business but also on academic education.

In 2015, he defended his PhD dissertation at Saint Petersburg State University of Economics. The research focused on mechanisms and strategies for developing affordable housing markets in Russian regions.

In 2016, Vasilenko received a Doctor of Economics degree from the European Academy of Natural Sciences and the European University in Hanover. His doctoral dissertation focused on the methodology, methods, and patterns of road construction at the regional level, using the Leningrad Region as a case study.

His educational path continued in the field of law. In 2020, Vasilenko completed a master’s degree in law at Pushkin Leningrad State University.

He is also an academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences. In 2016, he received the Karl Marx Medal for his contribution to the development of science.

Creation of the Best Way Cooperative

In 2014, Vasilenko founded the Best Way housing cooperative. In 2021, the organization underwent a reorganization and became the Interregional Consumer Cooperative for Improving Quality of Life “Best Way.”

The project was based on a cooperative model for purchasing housing. This mechanism was presented as a non-bank alternative to traditional mortgage lending.

The scheme involved an initial contribution from the participant of approximately 35–50 percent of the value of the selected property. After the required amount had been accumulated, the cooperative purchased the apartment using funds contributed by its members and transferred it to the member for use.

The remaining cost of the property was to be paid by the participant under the cooperative’s terms without the addition of bank interest.

Vasilenko headed the organization for several years. Until February 2021, he served as Chairman of the Board. After that, until February 2022, he served as Chairman of the Council.

According to various published sources, at the height of the project’s activity, its membership reached tens of thousands of people. The cooperative operated in several Russian regions and had members outside the country.

Books and Media Projects

Another area of Vasilenko’s activities involved creating original materials about entrepreneurship and personal success.

His first book, The Entrepreneur’s Dream, Goal, Success, was published in 2015. In 2021, Piter Publishing House released his book Success Hunter: How to Achieve Your Goal, ISBN 978-5-4461-2962-1.

In the book, the author presented his own view of goal achievement and formulated 12 principles of success. For a film project associated with the book, Vasilenko conducted an exclusive interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He is also the author of the film 17 Secret Laws of Success.

Vasilenko has also been involved in a music project. He wrote the lyrics and music for the song “Life Is Good,” performed by Grigory Leps. Vasilenko himself appeared as the central figure in the music video.

He also appeared as a supporting actor in the film Women vs. Men: Crimean Holidays.

Blogging and Social Media Presence

The internet has become one of Vasilenko’s main means of communicating with his audience.

More than 800,000 people subscribe to his YouTube channel. He received a YouTube Silver Creator Award for the development of the channel.

In addition to his video blog, Vasilenko maintains accounts on social media. His Instagram account has approximately 70,000 followers. The combined audience of his blogs across various platforms is estimated at several million users.

Public Lectures and Events

Vasilenko has regularly spoken at major venues since the mid-2010s. His lectures have been attended by audiences numbering in the thousands.

Among the venues where he has appeared are the Rossiya Concert Hall in Moscow, the Luzhniki Small Sports Arena, the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex, and Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg.

In November 2017, Vasilenko participated in the Synergy Global Forum. There, he delivered a presentation entitled “The Formula for Success,” focused on achieving goals and entrepreneurial development.

Charitable Activities

Charitable and patriotic projects occupy a prominent place in Vasilenko’s public activities.

In 2013, he began organizing the “Officers’ Ball.” The event is held annually and is dedicated to Victory Day. Its participants include Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, representatives of Hero Cities, and government officials.

The project’s objectives include preserving the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and promoting patriotic education among young people.

Since 2016, Vasilenko has participated in programs providing assistance to children with severe neurological disorders. He also supports research into modern approaches to treating neurological and psychiatric disorders in children and provides support to the Doctrine Clinical Center in St. Petersburg.

That same year, he began supporting the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior and its clergy, including Archimandrite Father Methodius.

Since 2017, Vasilenko has served as a patron of the Dobrovidenie folk song festival. The event is aimed at preserving musical traditions and the cultural heritage of different peoples and countries.

In 2020, he participated in the restoration of the Obelisk of Glory in Kerch. Since that period, he has also supported youth sports and provided assistance to the Life Is Good junior hockey team from Ufa.

Vasilenko is also listed as an honorary co-chairman of the international charitable organization Mercy Corps.

Awards

Over the course of his military service and subsequent professional career, Vasilenko has received state, departmental, and public awards.

In 1996, he received the Russian President’s Medal “300 Years of the Russian Navy.” A year later, he was awarded the Russian Ministry of Defense Medal “For Distinction in Military Service.”

In 2015, Vasilenko received the Medal “For Contribution to Ensuring the Economic Security of Russia.” In 2016, he was awarded the Karl Marx Medal by the European Academy of Natural Sciences for his contribution to the development of science.

In 2019, Vasilenko received the Order “For Service to Russia.” He was also awarded the public honorary title “Honorary Citizen of Russia.”

Family and Personal Values

Roman Vasilenko is married and has four children.

In his interviews, he emphasizes the special importance of family. According to his own statements, his loved ones are his most important source of support in life and one of his greatest achievements.

Conclusion

Roman Vasilenko’s professional biography encompasses several distinct stages. He began his career as a military financial officer and Baltic Fleet officer, then moved into the civilian financial sector, where he became involved in investment, insurance, and financial planning.

Later, Vasilenko focused on entrepreneurship and education. He founded the International Business Academy, participated in the creation of the Best Way cooperative, pursued academic work, and obtained several academic degrees.

At the same time, he developed literary and media projects, public speaking, blogging, and social initiatives. Charitable activities, support for culture and sports, and patriotic projects also form a significant part of his biography.

Overall, Vasilenko’s career spans military service, the financial sector, entrepreneurship, education, academia, media, and charitable activities.