Branka Nakanishi
Vancouver, BC

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Branka came to America with her doctor mother and music professor father in January of 1982. After many years in Yugoslavia, her parents decided to come to America so their daughter could find the American Dream. Once here, they discovered that the American Dream is elusive, so it fell upon Branka to find it for all of them. Like so many others, they believed that the easiest route to the American Dream was through education so Branka got a Masters Degree in Art History. It didn’t take long before Branka realized, even though she got a job with a prestigious museum that sent her to England on a study project, she was making peanuts and would not find financial success in this vocation. In fact, she was barely surviving! So, she found herself in Seattle, where her parents had relocated and answered an ad she didn’t understand; however, it did mention art, and she was desperate to find a job. In the interview, Branka failed to mention that she did not drive nor even have a driver’s license. Back for the second interview, dressed in a business suit and holding a briefcase, she discovered that she was going out for training with a casually dressed man with long hair. That man was Les Carlsen, who attracted her with his charisma and told her things that were exactly what she was looking for. Branka says, “It was amazing to me that I could make so much money selling art. I couldn’t believe that in one day of selling art to strangers I could make more money than in three days with my Masters Degree.” Branka went home and told her parents, “We wanted to find the American Dream; well, I think I have found it.”

Branka’s dad drove her around every day for a year, including on out of town trips, and continued to do so after she opened her own business. After ten years, she finally has a license to drive a car AND one to sail a boat! Branka is also very proud to tell you that when she came to America she worked in a museum that housed wonderful works of art but that she had none at home. Now, however, she has them in her home, too, including a beautiful Rembrandt etching.

Traveling is one of Branka’s passions, and being a Regional Manager at Partners, Branka has been given wonderful opportunity to travel. Since joining the company she has been on 15 trips abroad, as well as several within the U.S. While others are dreaming of where to go when they retire, Branka goes whenever and wherever she pleases.

“My career has enabled me to purchase a half-million dollar home in Seattle on Sammamish River. I have a boat and a yacht and go boating whenever I can. Also, I have been able to buy my parents a beautiful condominium, on Sammamish River, just 10 minutes from my house.”

“Originally, I said I would dedicate five to ten years to this company, but, now, I know I will be here forever. Today, I meet more and more people who want the kind of lifestyle this company has given me…people who are tired of giving 100% only to come up empty-handed. So, I believe that I must be here to welcome them to the world’s greatest opportunity.”