How a Ukrainian Refugee Built a Luxury Design Empire

How a Ukrainian Refugee Built a Luxury Design Empire

From Living Your Legacy by Rudy Mawer

June 11, 2026 · 22 min · Episode 219

About this episode

Helena Khomkalova shares her journey from a legal career in Ukraine to building a luxury design empire in Miami after fleeing the war.

Helena Khomkalova went from building a successful career in Ukraine to rebuilding her entire life and business from scratch in Miami after war forced her family to leave everything behind. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Helena shares how she trusted her instincts, walked away from a legal career, embraced entrepreneurship, and transformed adversity into opportunity. She reveals the mindset, planning, and relentless focus that helped FKTR Group become one of South Florida's fastest-growing luxury interior design and architectural finishes companies. From leadership and manifestation to building a world-class team and creating unforgettable client experiences, Helena offers a powerful lesson in resilience, vision, and refusing to waste time on a life that doesn't align with your purpose. Key Takeaways • Why Helena left a promising legal career to pursue marketing and entrepreneurship • How fleeing Ukraine during the war became the catalyst for building a new life in Miami • Why creating premium experiences is the foundation of luxury business growth • How building a company like a family accelerates team performance and long-term success • Why successful entrepreneurs plan…

People in this episode

Host: Rudy Mawer

Guest: Helena Khomkalova

Topics covered

  • entrepreneurship
  • resilience
  • luxury design
  • personal transformation
  • business growth

Keywords

  • Ukrainian refugee
  • luxury design
  • entrepreneurship
  • business growth
  • resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FKTR Group

Places: Ukraine, Miami

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