Alena Odegova, also known by her online alias, Canada Alena – is an international inspiration for her incredible work in immigration law and her empathic ways of helping as many people as possible. As someone who immigrated to Canada and went through every obstacle and roadblock in immigration, Alena understands the process on a deep, emotional level. She wishes to improve the process so that no one will ever have to face the hardships she did ever again.
Alena posts YouTube videos giving away valuable information for free on how to immigrate to Canada, with hopes of helping as many people as possible find new homes, especially those who were affected by the invasion of Ukraine. To date, Alena has helped thousands of people get help and receives feedback of gratitude. Alena’s big heart for helping others is one of the reasons she believes to be successful, as her clients have referred her to others after achieving their citizenship dreams.
Alena has consistently proven to achieve anything she sets her mind to over the years but is just now finding her stride. She currently holds four separate master’s degrees, is the Owner and CEO of Blue Pacific Immigration, has gold medals in Judo and has won ballroom dance competitions in the past. Nowadays she is preparing to make another entrance into the beauty world this upcoming December, by participating in Miss Vancouver 2022.
How did you get started in this business?
When I was immigrating to Canada, the immigration process was stressful, and it was challenging to find help who truly understood my situation. I started working in immigration law and then wanted to start my own practice and become the person I wish I had when becoming a Canadian citizen.
How do you make money?
Our clients pay for services to help them gain study/work permits, permanent residency and citizenship in Canada. We also have helped Canadian employers to obtain legal rights to hire temporary foreign workers.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Less than six months. I began doing a lot of pro-bono services until I built a good-sized network, which led to the start of my company generating revenue.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I never doubted that my business would be successful because I had years of experience in the field and was confident that my skills would be helpful to those who needed them. A lot of due diligence happened before I launched it.
How did you get your first customer?
It was from a referral. I did a lot of pro bono work initially, which ended up getting me referrals from my satisfied clients.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Being active and sharing valuable and helpful information on social media. This has helped exponentially.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
One of the most challenging decisions I made over the past few months was to provide support to those impacted by the invasion of Ukraine for free and dedicate most of my time. I jumped in immediately without thinking and invested so much time and energy without expecting any return, and I’m happy I’ve done it, as thousands of families have been helped for free and sending me messages with gratitude, which is the most fulfilling experience.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I love my life and the people in it. Gratitude and transparency makes it easy to be successful.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The gratitude and appreciation I’ve received over the past few months from my pro-bono work have been immensely satisfying. Knowing how many people achieved their goals and dreams was also a dream come true for me.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future holds a lot for me. I plan to expand and help more people have a home. Nothing is more exciting than knowing how many people I’ll be able to help achieve their dreams.
What business books have inspired you?
I like business books, but more inspirational to me are biographies about people who came from nothing and built an empire for themselves. Seeing people achieve success against odds is highly inspiring to me. For example, the biography of Logan Paul.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Just be yourself and strive to become a better version of yourself daily. Acknowledge all your great qualities and keep working on those that aren’t perfect. Everything will work out regardless.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
If you need guidance with the immigration process, please reach out to https://bpimmigration.ca/contact-us/