Meet Anessa Kitchin: Founder of Fortuna Vincere

By Kristen Oliveri

Anessa Kitchin has carved out a unique niche at the intersection of luxury real estate, fine art, and strategic investment advisory. With her firm’s Fortuna Vincere’s recent expansion into key U.S. markets, including New York, Florida, and California, she brings her global expertise and visionary approach stateside, offering high-value clients unparalleled guidance in acquiring, developing, and curating properties and art.

Headquartered in London with a presence spanning the EU, UAE, and Japan, Kitchin has earned international recognition for her ability to weave meaningful narratives into residential and commercial spaces through thoughtful design and strategic insight.

Kitchin sits down with Kristen Oliveri of Wealth Reimagined to share her perspective on reimagining real estate, harnessing technology for opportunity, and infusing balance and purpose into the places we call home.

Your career beautifully bridges the worlds of art, real estate, and commodities. Can you tell us about your early influences and how your personal background shaped your global perspective?

I grew up in an economically unstable and, at times, violent household where my escape and grounding took the form of seeking out beauty outside of my home environment. And as a child, I instinctively realized that not only was there a connection between the emotional and financial worth of an object or space, whether that was a historic painting, a rare gem, or a unique property, but that in fact, aesthetics and how we assign meaning and price directly influences value. It was out of this early grasp of how luxury art and real estate can be approached that my career was born.

In time, my work evolved out of the requirements of my clients who needed someone with that perspective to function on their behalf. Fortunately, I am also the product of contrasts and dualities, of mixed races and cultures, languages and economies, which enabled me to develop a natural instinct for navigating between fields of expertise and across global borders. All that, coupled with my voracious thirst for knowledge, motivated me to earn my Master’s degree in Economics with a focus on housing, the financial markets, and the advent of AI.

Art gave me an entry point into cultural legacy, real estate taught me about stability and asset building, and commodities revealed the logic behind global markets. Over time, I realized these weren’t separate interests—they were all connected through curation, capital, and a long-term vision.

Fortuna Vincere operates at the intersection of design, investment, and strategy. What inspired you to launch the firm, and how has your vision evolved over time?

Fortuna Vincere started as a deeply personal venture, a response to how beauty, value, and long-term strategy were rarely treated as part of the same conversation in both the real estate and art worlds. I wanted to build a firm that didn’t just transact, but curated. It was born from that synthesis: a way to approach asset acquisition with both strategic and aesthetic intelligence, tailored for a global clientele who think in terms of legacy, not just returns. I am constantly inspired by the idea that an asset could be visually compelling, culturally significant, and financially resilient all at once.

At first, it was about bringing my eye for design and my background in economics into alignment, helping clients see their collections, properties, or investments as part of a broader, intentional portfolio. But as the firm grew, so too did the vision. Today, Fortuna Vincere operates on a global scale, advising clients who think in terms of legacy. Whether that’s acquiring a property in Mayfair, a blue-chip painting, or a rare asset class, our role is to bring precision, taste, and long-term thinking to every decision. The more I’ve grown, the more I’ve seen how much people crave meaning in the things they own—and that’s what I always strive to deliver.

You’ve recently expanded operations into major U.S. markets. What excites you most about working with American clients, and how do you tailor your global expertise to local sensibilities?

My background taught me to see beyond borders—both geographic and conceptual—and that perspective is at the heart of everything I do. In servicing an international client roster, it was imperative to strengthen my presence in the US.

There’s a distinct boldness and openness in the American market that I find both exciting and creatively liberating. American clients tend to think big and move fast, and there’s a strong appetite for innovation, especially when it comes to blending lifestyle with investment. And perhaps more relevantly, emotional attachments are purchase drivers in this market, which aligns beautifully with how Fortuna Vincere operates: we’re not just offering assets, we’re offering a curated experience grounded in taste, value, and long-term vision.

What I find most rewarding is translating global expertise into something that feels personal and local. Whether it’s a collector in New York or a buyer in Miami, I make it a point to understand not just the financial goals, but the cultural cues—how someone defines beauty, legacy, or success. I tailor every acquisition with both global context and local nuance in mind. It’s not a copy-paste formula. It’s about knowing when to bring European discretion, Middle Eastern elegance, or American dynamism into play—and building relationships based on trust, fluency, and refined intuition.

As a curator of art and rare objects, how do you see storytelling through design influencing the way people live and work today?

Storytelling through design is more influential today than ever, especially in how people choose to live, work, and express identity through their spaces. We’ve moved beyond the era of simply collecting beautiful things for display. Now, clients are drawn to pieces and environments that tell a story about who they are, what they value, and where they come from. Whether it’s a minimalist home with brutalist accents or a workspace infused with contemporary African art, every design choice becomes a kind of narrative thread.

As a curator, I see my role not just as sourcing objects, but as composing experiences. Design has the power to shape mood, spark creativity, and even shift the way we perceive time and place. A carefully chosen painting or antique can elevate a room, but more importantly, it can anchor a space in emotion and meaning. In both personal and professional environments, storytelling through design fosters connection and cultivates a deeper sense of purpose. That’s what truly excites me—helping clients create spaces that are not only functional or fashionable, but deeply resonant.

Your academic work explored the strategic use of AI in the future of business. How are you integrating technology into your practice, especially in traditionally tactile industries like art and real estate?

I’m deeply passionate about technology’s role in supporting how we live in this digital era. My academic work focused on how AI can support—not replace—human decision-making in industries that have historically relied on intuition, taste, and human relationships. In real estate and art, these qualities still matter deeply. But technology, when used strategically, can elevate the entire process. At Fortuna Vincere, we’re using AI and data analytics in very tailored ways—from identifying underpriced assets in emerging markets to predicting buyer behavior and art valuation trends. It’s not about automating creativity—it’s about using technology to sharpen insight and reduce friction.

For example, I use predictive modelling to help clients understand long-term value trajectories for both properties and fine art, while also integrating digital tools that streamline due diligence and asset tracking. Even in tactile industries, clients expect a seamless, tech-forward experience—and rightly so. Businesses can thrive while staying true to its soul by blending that emotional intelligence of curation with the precision of data.

When you’re not advising clients around the world or overseeing global expansions, how do you unwind? What brings you joy outside of work?

Unwinding for me often still involves learning. I genuinely find joy in expanding my knowledge. I love reading, especially about art history, architecture, and the evolving dynamics of global real estate. Whether it’s a beautifully written book on post-war design movements or a dense report on asset trends, I relish diving through the deeper layers behind the industries I work in. Visiting museums, rare bookshops, and private collections when I travel is a passion and a form of quiet inspiration.

Even in my downtime, I’m naturally drawn to ideas, aesthetics, and discovering patterns in how people create and assign value. That ongoing curiosity is what energizes me, both in business and in life.

Beyond that, I dedicate a significant part of my time to humanitarian work, particularly with the Red Cross. Supporting causes that promote dignity, safety, and relief is something I feel deeply connected to. Giving back reminds me that success is about more than professional milestones, it’s about contributing to something larger than yourself. That perspective keeps me grounded and reinforces the values I bring into my work and relationships.