Tatiana an inspiration to many women

THERE is a liveliness, a positive life force, an optimistic and confident energy, a quickening that is translated through her into action.

In the process she inspires many and has led a group of professionals who have taken West Property to greater heights.

Her name is Tatiana Aleshina Ellis – as a businesswoman, she has scoped multiple awards and is in-line for another one this week– a testimony that – “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” She surely loves what she does.

Tatiana Ellis, says woman should aim high in life and should never get discouraged

As a woman she has inspired the girl child and many woman to work hard and keep climbing the corporate ladder or to start their own businesses – This can be summarised as – “Investing in women is smart economics, and investing in girls, catching them upstream is even smarter economics.”

Without saying it, she is the person whose boy language suggests – “I want little girls to grow up knowing they can do anything positive.”

To fellow Zimbabwean her silent message seen clear – “Dream big. There is nothing seen that was not imagined. There’s no overnight success. You have to start by dreaming big and working towards your goal, brick by brick you will achieve your targets and objectives”

In a recently posted video after winning the Zimbabwe Business Awards – business woman of the year she said: “Being a woman is not an easy task and being a woman in business in Zimbabwe makes it even tougher, woman who more than just being female – it embraces many things.”

“We are mothers, looking after our families, we are wives looking after our husbands, but we are also businesswoman, trying to create a brighter future for our nations. The future is important for every woman, because that is where our children are going to live. Even if the environment is sometimes difficult and very tough, we must never be discouraged and we must keep pushing.”

Her momentous achievements have gone a long way in affirming the huge strides West Property is playing in the property development industry and the leadership qualities that Ellis exudes.

Her profile includes being an investor, businesswoman, philanthropist, girl child activist and an advocate for women empowerment.

Asked to comment on how she balances her work routine with family demands Ellis had this to say: “Surely I am a wife, mother of five, housewife and an executive. I maintain a strict time balancing act to make sure I at least fulfil; all my duties without any side feeling short changed.

“I have a very supporting and loving husband. He lightens my busy work load by always being available. My twin sister Joanna Sharpe who is my best friend, advisor and instructor is always available to give a helping hand and listening ear”.

On the work front she believes equal opportunities should be accorded to both men and women adding that West Property has a deliberate “policy that allows both men and women to flourish”.

She was born in the Soviet Union where she grew up and obtained her first University degree in Pedagogy and psychology at the Pedagogical University of Education in Russia.

She is well travelled and has worked in many countries that include South Africa, Ukraine, Dubai and Russia.

In 1977, Mrs Ellis and her friends made their first investment in Zimbabwe. Up to this day she is still standing and making inroads in the previously male dominated property sector. She believes in Zimbabwe and its future.