Russian Immigrant Builds $48M Business w/Kory Rkyman
Season 7 | Episode 3
September 10, 2025
Kory Rkyman’s parents waited eight years on a Soviet government list for permission to leave Russia, clutching one suitcase per person and $400 in cash when their escape finally came. “You can’t stand up to the government back then,” Kory explains about fleeing communism as a six-year-old in 1989. Today, he runs a $48 million insurance agency with 31 remote employees he’s never met face-to-face, admits being “broken” drives his relentless pursuit of more, and just made $57K from a house flip that originated through social media content.
Kory’s approach to business centers on being “broken” and “never satisfied” – a psychology forged by childhood experiences of government oppression and starting over with nothing. His unconventional hiring practices involve paying recruiters $5K to poach top performers from competitors, while his remote team management philosophy challenges traditional corporate structures. The conversation reveals how early trauma shaped an entrepreneur who refuses to accept limitations.
Building Without Boundaries
From corporate sales to insurance empire to real estate investing, Kory’s diversification strategy follows specific timing and capital allocation principles. His 50/50 real estate partnership structure, social media lead generation tactics, and remote team scaling methods provide a blueprint for service-based businesses looking to break geographic constraints. The systems he’s built allow him to flip 30 houses annually while managing a national insurance operation.
From Survival to Scale
The journey from Soviet refugee to American entrepreneur illustrates how adversity creates competitive advantages in business. Kory’s story demonstrates the connection between childhood scarcity mindset and adult business aggression, while his specific operational strategies show how remote teams can outperform traditional office-based companies. His willingness to share both psychological drivers and tactical approaches makes this conversation valuable for anyone building scalable service businesses.