“You Either Create Opportunities or Miss Them”: How Dubadu’s US Director Sees the World

Dubadu is an innovative and vibrant platform — and our team mirrors that spirit: strong, diverse, and deeply motivated. Today we introduce you to Ruslan Popov, Dubadu’s Director in the United States. A former soldier and participant in the 2014–2015 Donbas combat operations, Ruslan now lives in New York, leads an active lifestyle, runs marathons, and builds Dubadu’s international presence.

1) How does your morning begin? Do you have a personal formula for productivity?

I like to start my morning energetically — with coffee. The US is a country where sticking to schedules really matters. So my main productivity formula is to stay optimistic, stay disciplined, and have a clear plan. The army taught me that. Any routine becomes easier when you understand its purpose.
My weekdays are filled with practical work, while weekends I try to make brighter.

2) Marathon running plays a big role in your life. What motivates you to take part?

I’ve been involved in sports since childhood — track and field — and I’m a Candidate for Master of Sports. Running has always brought me joy.
But the marathons I run now — Washington, Chicago — carry a much deeper meaning. These are military marathons. Ukrainian soldiers who were injured take part in them, and sometimes my friends are among the runners.

I have experience supporting the rehabilitation of ATO veterans, so this is not formal for me — it’s personal, emotional, and very important. When you see people running on prosthetics, it gives immense motivation to join. For me, these marathons aren’t just about running — they’re about supporting our guys. I’ve taken part in many races in different cities — full 42 km.

The most significant and emotional for me is the Marine Corps Marathon — profoundly symbolic. Before the race, participants attach plaques with the names of fallen comrades to their backs. We run for them, and in their honour. In that moment everything unnecessary disappears, leaving only memory and gratitude. It is our way of keeping the connection alive.

3) Are there principles from sports endurance that you transfer into work or life?

I’d say that the greatest influence on me came not from sport, but from the army.
I took part in the 2014–2015 combat operations, was wounded, and became accustomed to serious challenges.

The army gave me the ability to act — when needed — despite everything, through “I can’t.”
It teaches discipline, purposefulness, planning, and clarity in what truly matters. These are qualities you need anywhere in the world.

4) Let’s talk about another part of the world. In your view, what is the biggest difference between Ukrainians and Americans?

I think it’s a different perception of life. Americans take it more lightly than Ukrainians. Everyone knows their trademark smile — whatever happens, keep smiling.
That probably explains their ability to turn anything into a show.

And another thing — their true God is business. Americans are energetic, practical, and genuinely try to turn almost any idea into a venture. It’s a country of immigrants with different histories and starting points, and that creates a powerful drive to succeed, “be someone,” leave a mark. That desire propels them forward and shapes the American dynamism you feel in everything — in work, communication, attitude to life.

5) What resonates with you most about living in the US?

After six years here I can say: the US is extraordinary in its diversity.
Travel from one state to another and you find different architecture, different people, different landscapes — sometimes even a different historical era.

Take the Amish, for example — a religious community that avoids modern technology and preserves traditional crafts. Their clothing, lifestyle, and transport haven’t changed in centuries. You won’t see cars — horses are the main mode of transport.

I love travelling — that’s how I rest. And the US gives endless possibilities: authentic towns, dramatic scenery, mountains, the ocean, fishing, camping — there is something for everyone.

I’m also inspired by the scale of thinking and the variety of people — with different perspectives, experiences, ideas, ambitions. This is a country of opportunities. Here you constantly feel that the world is open: study if you want, change your profession, start a business — everything is possible.
It’s quite simple: you either create opportunities or miss them.
If you truly want to achieve something and are ready to work persistently and systematically, you really do have a chance at the American dream.

6) As a real estate platform, we must ask: what is the first thing Americans think of when it comes to housing?

There is no single answer. Some people lean toward stability — owning a home gives them a sense of grounding. Others can rent all their lives and move easily. For them, changing cities is not stress but a natural step in life.
Today New York, tomorrow Boston, the day after — another state if there’s a good job or opportunity. Americans are far less attached to place than we are. Mobility is part of the culture.

There is also the popular business of renovating old houses — buying cheaply, restoring them, transforming them into cosy modern homes and then selling or renting them.
America is huge and multilayered — everyone chooses their version of housing according to their tempo and lifestyle.

7) And how do you personally choose a home? What matters most to you?

For me it’s important that the neighbourhood is quiet and comfortable, preferably outside the city. The crime situation in the US can be challenging — this must be considered seriously when choosing where to live. I also feel more comfortable in areas with Europeans — where values, communication style, and lifestyle are more familiar to me. It creates psychological comfort, a sense of being “among your own,” even in such a large and diverse country.

Of course, cleanliness and order matter — tidy streets, well-kept yards, attention to everyday details. All this creates daily comfort. I currently rent an apartment, but ideally I would prefer a house — my own space, my own yard, a place one longs to return to.

8) So when Dubadu fully launches neighbourhood selection, your query will be something like: “A home in a calm, clean, beautiful neighbourhood with a European community”?

Yes, absolutely. That’s exactly how I would describe it. For me it’s important not just to find a house, but an environment where you feel comfortable and protected.

The ability to choose a neighbourhood based on your values and lifestyle is a huge advantage. And I’m certain this function will be valuable not only for me but for many people who look not only for housing, but for their place.

9) What does the home-search process in America look like overall?

The process is very uneven — many factors must be considered. The biggest difficulty is the price: housing is extremely expensive now, and differences between neighbourhoods or states can be enormous. Each city has its own rules, specifics, and challenges — there’s no universal formula.

The most common way is through a realtor or acquaintances — the classic American approach.
There are online platforms, but most rely on photos. Videos do exist, but they’re scattered, inconsistent, and finding quality footage is often sheer luck.

Also read: Dubadu: how to turn property search into a pleasure

That’s why there is no unified video platform like Dubadu — and this is our huge opportunity. People lack transparency, the ability to see real conditions, atmosphere, and the scale of the space. Video provides exactly that: honesty, presence, trust.

10) Imagine an American asks you for three reasons to choose Dubadu. What would you say?

Global reach, innovation, convenience. These are the three qualities that, in my view, make Dubadu truly unique.

There are very few services in the US that allow you to look for housing abroad — most platforms are local. Dubadu opens a much wider horizon: you can plan a move, investments, purchases, or rental in different countries without ever switching platforms.

And Americans are people of action — they don’t like long explanations. I’d simply let them try Dubadu. When someone personally experiences the convenience, intuitiveness, and speed, that becomes the strongest argument.

Also read: AI in real estate: from distance calculations to virtual interiors

I’m convinced the future of real estate belongs to video. And Dubadu can offer the US exactly what is missing: a modern, technological, vivid platform that shows homes as they really are.

11) And what inspires you personally in Dubadu?

Essentially the same three things.
First — globality. Dubadu truly has no borders: it can operate in different countries, unite markets, simplify search, and offer a new level of accessibility. That scale genuinely inspires me.

Second — ease of use. Our filters, the search structure, the intuitive interface — everything is built to help, not hinder. People can quickly find exactly what they need, without unnecessary steps or barriers.

The absence of a language barrier is equally important. Dubadu is multilingual — a huge advantage for a global product. Whether you’re in the US, Ukraine, or the UAE, the experience remains equally smooth.

And one more thing inspires me deeply: the sense of being part of a project that presents Ukraine to the world as a country of talented, strong, and innovative people.
We’re not just building a tech platform — we’re demonstrating that Ukrainian teams can create global-level solutions that work across markets and change the industry. For me, this is both an honour and a powerful motivator — to represent our country on the world’s technological map.