Elevate Your Brand. Showcase Your Innovation

Founded and led by Denys Malakhov, WEB STUDIO DM LLC has grown from a boutique development firm into an international digital powerhouse specializing in SEO, custom web development, and digital performance optimization. With headquarters in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, and a global client base, the company has consistently demonstrated high-level technical proficiency, business innovation, and strategic clarity.

The agency’s application stood out for its clear metrics-driven results and sustained growth over the past decade. From 2011 to 2016, Denys honed his craft as a freelancer on high-profile projects — including work for beauty retail giant ILE DE BEAUTE — before establishing WEB STUDIO DM LLC in 2016. Under his leadership, the agency has grown steadily, with a 40% increase in clients and a 20% rise in average deal size since 2020.

What distinguishes WEB STUDIO DM LLC is its deep integration of SEO into broader development and business goals. Malakhov’s decision to implement automated project workflows, CRM-based tracking, and predictive QA systems led to a 30% drop in post-launch revisions and a dramatic reduction in turnaround times — now averaging just 1.8 months per project. With referral clients making up half of all new business and a client return rate of 35%, the company’s results speak to a rare combination of trust, expertise, and service quality.

WEB STUDIO DM LLC’s submission reflects a forward-thinking, methodical approach to SEO — not as a standalone function, but as a core driver of digital success.

Kateryna Roh is a digital marketing and e-commerce expert with more than five years of experience in performance marketing. She specializes in managing and scaling advertising campaigns aimed at improving the efficiency of digital channels and achieving measurable business results, including work with Google Ads (Search, Display, Shopping, Video, Performance Max), Meta Facebook & Instagram (Prospecting, Retargeting, Catalog Sales, Shopping), and Programmatic media (Display, CTV, Video, Audio).
Her professional practice is grounded in an analytical and strategic data-driven approach, using modern advertising tools to systematically optimize marketing investments with a focus on KPI achievement and sustainable business profitability. A creative problem-solving mindset and full-funnel conversion support play a key role in her work with clients. Kateryna acts not only as an expert in campaign execution but also as a mentor to business owners in leveraging advertising tools effectively. This working model enables scalable budget growth while improving core performance metrics.
In 2023, Kateryna received the Ukrainian Business Award in the category “Outstanding Expert in Digital Marketing and E-commerce.”

Developed by Alena Astravukh and her team, Backlinks360 is revolutionizing SEO by solving a looming challenge: fragmented, inefficient backlink management. This cutting-edge SaaS platform centralizes, automates, and optimizes backlink tracking and reporting, eliminating manual SEO professional and agency work. Streamlining workflows and enhancing agency-client collaboration, Backlinks360 introduces a brand-new communication strategy allowing clients to receive and approve potential backlink opportunities. With its real-time insights, Backlinks360 boosts efficiency, improves rankings. It’s a game-changer in digital marketing that frees up businesses to focus on strategy rather than tedious link management.
The Challenge
Backlinks are a SEO staple, yet professionals face several related challenges including:
Disorganized Link Tracking: Spreadsheets create inefficiencies and increase the risk of lost data.
Inconsistent Client Reporting: Agencies lack streamlined tools to efficiently generate branded, professional-quality reports.
Limited Accessibility: High-cost SEO tools make advanced backlink management inaccessible to freelancers and small businesses.
Ineffective Monitoring: Existing platforms lack real-time link status updates, leading to missed opportunities and diminished SEO performance.

So much more than just a software tool, Backlinks360 represents a revolutionary SEO link management shift. More specifically, the platform:
Eliminates Operational Bottlenecks
Reduces manual tracking and reporting time so SEO professionals can focus on higher-value tasks
Enhances SEO Data Transparency
Provides real-time insights that strengthen client trust and campaign accountability
Democratizes Advanced SEO Tools
Removes financial barriers, making enterprise-grade backlink management accessible to freelancers, agencies, and corporations alike
Improves SEO Efficiency & ROI
Helps teams detect issues faster, optimize strategies, and improve search rankings—all without additional staff or the need to outsource
Provides Full Backlink Investment Visibility
Allows SEO teams to track and manage only the approved backlinks they pay for, ensuring greater transparency, smarter budget allocation, and more strategic collaboration with agencies.

Proven Success: Client Testimonial
SOFTSWISS SEO Team Lead Nikita Trutsko speaks to the proven impact of Backlinks360:
“With Backlinks360, our team has finally found a solution that streamlines every aspect of link tracking and management. The centralized dashboard, real-time monitoring, and automated reporting have saved us countless hours of manual work. The ability to generate professional, branded reports has improved transparency and enhanced stakeholder communication. Unlike expensive competitors, Backlinks360 provides a straightforward, scalable, and cost-efficient experience. This tool isn’t just a convenience—it’s a game-changer.”

Diana Akchurina is being nominated in recognition of her outstanding achievements in elevating the global visibility of her communications agency, Easy Communications, despite operating with limited resources. In 2023, Diana began transitioning the agency’s focus from the Russian market to the international stage. This shift required building global trust and brand recognition without the support of large advertising budgets. Traditionally relying on word-of-mouth and personal referrals, Diana understood the need for a structured and strategic PR approach. Over the past two years, she has successfully positioned herself as a respected expert in tech communications through LinkedIn visibility, international media contributions, professional speaking engagements, and industry jury roles. Her efforts have led to partnerships with global clients, increased media mentions across more than five countries, and recognition of her as a thought leader in cross-border communication strategy.

One of the unique features of this project was the argumentation of the SEO team’s solutions to the METRO team. Each task was discussed not only from an SEO benefit perspective but also from a business standpoint — how each solution could impact revenue.
This case illustrates the importance of cohesive teamwork. When everyone strives to achieve a common goal, we not only improve and optimize but also work towards business objectives.

We worked on demand, the catalog, and search visibility, achieving results that exceeded our annual plan. In 2024, non-branded SEO traffic to catalog and product pages increased by 27%, while revenue grew by 28%. We calculated revenue based on the entry page — “category|product|dynamic” within a single session.
In December 2024, we recorded a year-over-year traffic increase of 40%, and our forecast for 2025 is already 11% ahead. We have planned even more ambitious goals for 2025 compared to 2024.

In this project, we performed both basic search optimization tasks and came up with ways to scale solutions with minimal effort.
From experience, we know that in e-commerce, it’s crucial to monitor the indexing of pages to ensure that all catalog pages appear in search results. This way, users will see exactly what they are looking for. To achieve this, we set up proper indexing.

Anastasiia Motorina is an international marketing and branding expert and the founder of The City Seduction (USA), specializing in strategic brand positioning, storytelling, and audience engagement for global markets. With professional experience in high-level communications and event coordination at the Ukrainian Association of Football, she brings strong expertise in cross-cultural communication and premium audience strategy. She is a member of the Ukrainian Marketing Association and the TOP-Marketing Club, and contributes to the industry as an educator, speaker, and author of scientific research on trust-based personal branding. Her work combines marketing strategy, aesthetics, and experience design to help brands and entrepreneurs build credibility, emotional connection, and long-term influence.

Sergei Gasilov is an Enterprise Software Architect at One Inc (U.S.), a leading digital payment platform for the insurance industry. With over 13 years of experience in enterprise software engineering, he defines the company’s architectural vision and leads the design of secure, scalable, and cloud-native payment systems processing billions of dollars annually.

He is the author of several key innovations at One Inc, including the Payment Data Migrator, Payment Platform API, Batch Processing System modernization, and Webhook Platform scaling, each contributing to the company’s technological leadership and PCI DSS compliance. Recognized for his deep technical expertise and strategic insight, Sergei has received multiple internal awards, including Employee of the Year and Tech Driver, and continues to shape the evolution of enterprise architecture and digital payments across the U.S. market.

Oleksandr Pliekhov is an award-winning Senior Android Engineer and recognized authority in mobile and IoT systems engineering, with over 11 years of experience in native mobile development. A Senior Member of the IEEE—a distinction reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional technical achievement—he is acknowledged by the Ukrainian IT community DOU.UA as a top-tier technical expert. Oleksandr has gained sustained national recognition for his pioneering work in Bluetooth communication, mesh networking, and performance optimization in mobile systems.

He has played a critical role in the success of several award-winning and high-impact technology projects. At Ezlo Innovation, Oleksandr was the lead Android architect behind the Atom Smart Hub, a smart home device that won the 2020 IoT Breakthrough Award. He engineered the hub’s Android system, enabling robust communication over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and developed multiple MVPs using BLE and mesh networking. His innovations in this area have had a lasting impact on the development of low-power, high-reliability mesh communication protocols in consumer IoT products.

Oleksandr’s work has been consistently recognized for its technical originality and practical application. His thought leadership includes multiple published articles on Android-based mesh networking and mobile power/resource optimization, including: “Strategies for Minimizing Power Consumption and Optimizing Resources for Android-Based Mesh Networks,” “Optimizing Android Mesh Networks for Mobility,” and “Disaster-Proof Mobile Networks.” These publications have informed the creation of FindMe.AI, his most recent invention—an indoor navigation system using voice, AI, and hybrid BLE/Wi-Fi localization for real-time guidance in airports, campuses, and shopping centers.

In addition to his technical achievements, Oleksandr has served in a leading capacity at distinguished companies such as Welltech and Intellias, where he directed codebase modernization, implemented CI/CD pipelines, and mentored engineering teams. At Welltech, his optimization initiatives helped raise app stability to 99.8% and increased the Play Store rating from 4.4 to 4.9. He also created and published the productivity app “Clients & Visits,” which has surpassed 5,000 downloads. Oleksandr’s consistent record of innovation, influence, and leadership positions him as a candidate of extraordinary ability within the field of mobile and IoT engineering.

As Director of Marketing at Halyk Insurance, Damir Zholeuov led a bold digital transformation that redefined how insurance products are marketed and delivered in Kazakhstan. His standout initiative—Halyk KASKO—was not only a product launch, but a strategic overhaul of the entire customer journey. Under his leadership, KASKO evolved into a fully digital experience: from vehicle inspection via video to online policy issuance and AI-powered damage assessment. These innovations turned a once lengthy, offline process into a seamless online service completed in minutes.

Backed by deep market research, a new positioning strategy, and a streamlined product offering, Damir’s work resulted in a 20x increase in KASKO sales—growing from 4.5 million to 175 million KZT in just one year. He doubled digital sales share, tripled conversion through direct channels, and implemented a loyalty program that raised retention from 65% to 80%. Campaigns featuring influencers and automotive bloggers helped raise national awareness of voluntary auto insurance, a product historically unfamiliar to many.

Damir’s contributions extend beyond insurance: he previously managed large-scale digital growth at Halyk Bank, launched lifestyle platforms like Halyk Market and Halyk Travel, and oversaw campaigns reaching over 5,500 schools. His results-driven, human-focused approach marks him as a true digital marketing leader for the region.

Mila Tkachuk has earned her recognition in the Digital Marketing Leader of the Year category through consistent, high-impact contributions to the SEO and digital strategy field across a wide array of industries—from tech and eCommerce to healthcare, finance, and travel. With over six years of progressive experience, Mila has established herself as a results-driven strategist and team leader, combining deep technical SEO knowledge with a creative and analytical mindset.

Currently leading the SEO function at New Media Services Pty Ltd, and consulting as a Senior SEO Specialist at Heyday in Los Angeles, Mila has successfully managed complex optimization projects, improved site architecture, and guided cross-functional teams toward measurable digital growth. She’s known for building SEO strategies from the ground up—integrating on-page and off-page tactics, link building, content development, user experience enhancements, and performance tracking into one cohesive system.

What sets Mila apart is her ability to lead with both vision and precision. Her work spans global and local markets, with a strong focus on aligning business goals with organic growth strategies. She is certified in digital marketing, content strategy, and SEO, and has recently completed an advanced program at UCLA Extension.

KIOSKO is a standout nominee for Best Social Media Agency, renowned for its strategic creativity, measurable results, and deep expertise in digital storytelling. With over a decade of experience, KIOSKO has managed more than 150 social media accounts and successfully implemented over 70 comprehensive strategies, demonstrating a consistent track record of excellence in social media marketing.

Founded in 2014, KIOSKO specializes in developing and executing multichannel social media marketing (SMM) strategies that deliver rapid and quantifiable outcomes. Their services encompass SMM strategy development, tailored content creation—including text, video, and photography—and thorough consulting and audits to evaluate and enhance brand presence across social platforms. ​

Candidate for the “Professional of the Year” award: Sergey Kurazhev and his achievements in HR PR and HRM Marketing

Over the past three years, the technology market has been characterized by significant changes and challenges, but Sergey Kurazhev’s work at DataArt Armenia has been proof that it is possible to achieve impressive results even in conditions of instability. His achievements are not only large-scale but also qualitative, and we are happy to share their details.

Sergey has developed a unique scientific sociological approach, which, thanks to the application of a completely new methodology, has been successfully integrated into the company’s business cases. Unlike traditional methods, this approach allows to rely on scientific data and sound research, which is a highly effective solution in the context of HRM marketing. This innovation has opened new horizons for DataArt Armenia, allowing the company to more consciously and purposefully implement changes that are reflected in measurable business performance.

Sergey strives to ensure that all changes recommended within HRM are based on facts and analytical data, which minimizes risks and makes the process of people management more transparent and predictable. This not only improves team performance, but also creates a sustainable foundation for a corporate culture based on respect and trust.

Understanding and applying science-based methodologies in HRM marketing allows Sergey to promote changes that affect not only the internal atmosphere in the company, but also its positioning in the labor market. He actively contributes to DataArt’s positive image, thus strengthening the company’s reputation as an employer that values and develops its employees.

Despite external challenges and market instability, Sergey’s work is hard to overestimate. His approach to HR management to the DataArt Armenia team has become a role model and best practice in HR PR and HRM marketing. He applied principles that help not only to solve current problems, but also lay the foundation for the future sustainable growth of the company.

Taking into account all the above-mentioned factors, we can confidently state that Sergey Kurazhev is the strongest professional on the market. His achievements based on deep understanding and scientific approach to HRM make him a candidate eligible for nomination to the ECDMA Global Awards. We are confident that his successes will not go unnoticed and he will become an example for future HR and marketing professionals around the world.

The Eurasian Beauty Guild (EBG) demonstrated that an email campaign doesn’t need a massive list to make a powerful impact. Targeting a niche but highly engaged audience of beauty professionals, EBG launched a personalized member email series designed to drive participation, renewals, and professional involvement — achieving exceptional engagement rates and real-world results.

Rather than relying on generic newsletters, EBG’s campaign focused on creating a sense of personal relevance and professional belonging. The emails were segmented by member status and involvement history (e.g., new member, inactive, or previously nominated), and crafted with a direct, friendly tone that reflected the Guild’s supportive values. Each message included tailored content such as member spotlights, upcoming awards deadlines, invitations to join the jury panel, and curated opportunities for public recognition.

What made the campaign stand out was its format: concise, visually clean, and action-driven, each email featured one clear call to action — whether to submit a nomination, update a profile, or book a member consultation. Personal touches, like addressing members by name and referencing past interactions, helped boost open and click-through rates well above industry averages.

Despite the relatively small database, the campaign achieved:

• Over 75% average open rate
• 40% response or click-through rate on key calls to action

The EBG’s success proves that highly focused, emotionally intelligent email marketing — even to a select group — can outperform mass campaigns when it speaks to the right people in the right way. This nomination celebrates an elegant, effective approach to community engagement through smart, human-centric email communication.

Palina Litvinkovich stands as a model of modern leadership in strategic growth and client delivery across the global digital and IT services landscape. Throughout her career, she has exemplified not only operational excellence but also the ability to build and scale teams, processes, and client relationships that deliver sustainable results for both agencies and clients across the U.S., EU, and CIS regions.
At Yellow LLC, where Palina served as Unit Head and Project & Delivery Manager until the end of 2023, her leadership drove the delivery of over 20 international projects in highly competitive markets. She unified and mentored a diverse team of 30+ professionals, introducing standardized delivery, BA, and communication frameworks that quickly became benchmarks for the company’s operations. Through her initiatives, project delivery times dropped by 35%, project profitability rose to 45%, and client satisfaction climbed by 20%. Her commitment to quality and transparency resulted in a remarkable 90% client retention rate—a direct testament to her ability to blend operational rigor with customer-centric thinking. Palina further institutionalized her impact by launching scalable onboarding, collaboration, and project health monitoring systems, ensuring knowledge continuity and rapid integration for new managers.
Her earlier work at Innowise Group revealed Palina’s talent for bridging business development with delivery execution. She pioneered presale processes and modular RFP templates that accelerated team responses by 50%, while her approach to cross-team alignment led to a 30% increase in new client acquisitions within a single year. These accomplishments highlight her foresight in connecting operational and commercial strategies—a rare skill set that has benefitted every organization she’s led.
Since late 2024, Palina has continued to advance the discipline of client delivery at Comrade Digital Marketing Agency and as Co-Founder & CEO of Okeen. At Comrade, she manages complex U.S.-based client accounts, upholding high retention rates and orchestrating seamless coordination between sales, delivery, and creative teams. At Okeen, she architected the entire delivery model from the ground up: from designing agile project workflows to implementing onboarding frameworks. Her continuous improvement culture—driven by retrospectives, feedback loops, and knowledge sharing—has directly elevated both team productivity and client outcomes.
Beyond operational achievements, Palina is known for her commitment to mentorship, resilience in crisis management, and ability to turn feedback into lasting organizational improvements. She is recognized as a Senior Member of the E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Association (ECDMA) for her leadership in process design and cross-border team management.

Nataliia Cherep is an international digital marketing strategist specializing in integrated digital marketing strategy, investor communications, and cross-industry digital transformation. Her professional experience spans luxury retail, alternative energy, agribusiness investment projects, insurance, and international humanitarian organizations. Natalia is known for building trust-based digital ecosystems that unite brand strategy, multi-channel communications, CRM-driven automation, and stakeholder psychology to support growth, investment readiness, and long-term credibility. Her work combines strategic rigor with narrative precision, making her a valued expert in evaluating complex, integrated digital marketing initiatives across global markets.

Over the past decade, digital advertising has evolved dramatically, but automation in Google Ads management remains a challenge for many businesses. I founded Yakiv Ads to bridge this gap, providing a seamless and efficient automation tool that enables marketers to create and manage Google Ads SKAG campaigns in minutes without technical complexities.
My expertise in computer science, digital marketing, and automation led to the development of this solution, helping businesses, agencies, and individual advertisers save time, reduce costs, and enhance campaign performance. In 2024, after extensive testing on over 200 projects, we launched Yakiv Ads as a publicly available tool, revolutionizing PPC management.
This nomination recognizes my contributions to marketing automation, AI-driven advertising optimization, and the empowerment of businesses through efficient digital advertising solutions.”,”1. Developed and launched Yakiv Ads (2024) – An automation tool that simplifies Google Ads SKAG campaign creation and management, saving businesses up to 86% of manual effort.
2. Implemented AI-powered automation – Our tool automatically optimizes keyword selection, ad copies, and budget allocation, improving ROI and reducing ad spend inefficiencies.
3. Adopted by 200+ businesses – Within months of launching, Yakiv Ads has become a go-to tool for advertisers who want error-free, AI-enhanced campaign automation.
4. Recognized by industry experts – Yakiv Ads has been featured in PPC forums and case studies as a game-changing innovation in digital advertising automation.
5. Optimized advertising for global markets – The tool supports multi-language campaigns and localization, allowing businesses to scale internationally without additional manual efforts.

Digital Marketing Leader of the Year As the Digital Marketing Manager at Summit Properties USA, I specialize in increasing foot traffic to shopping malls across the United States. This task is particularly challenging due to two significant factors: Not all malls are in ideal condition, requiring creative strategies to enhance their attractiveness. The rise of e-commerce, which has shifted consumer shopping behaviors toward online platforms, reducing physical store visits. To address these challenges, I developed a comprehensive digital marketing strategy tailored to each mall’s unique circumstances. My approach includes: Social Media Management for Malls: I implemented a structured content strategy across Facebook and Instagram to engage local communities, showcase mall offerings, and highlight tenant success stories. By leveraging targeted advertising and organic engagement, I successfully increased reach and interactions with potential visitors. Support for Local Businesses: Recognizing that tenants’ success directly impacts mall traffic, I initiated a support program to amplify their presence on social media. This includes collaborative promotional campaigns, content creation guidance, and featuring tenant businesses in mall-wide marketing efforts. This strategy has strengthened the relationship between malls and their tenants while driving customer engagement. Event-Driven Traffic Growth: I designed and executed an event program to attract additional visitors. These events range from seasonal markets and community gatherings to interactive experiences that encourage repeat visits. To maximize attendance, I implemented targeted event promotions through social media advertising, influencer collaborations, and strategic partnerships with local organizations. Strategic Planning and Performance Tracking: We have developed a structured event and marketing program for 2025, ensuring consistency and strategic growth. Each month, we track results using the Placer AI platform, allowing us to measure the impact of our initiatives and adjust strategies accordingly. The results of my digital marketing initiatives have been significant, with increased social media engagement, higher attendance at mall events, and positive feedback from both tenants and visitors. Notably, in the first two months of 2025, event attendance increased by 27%, post views on social media grew by 67%, and the number of followers on Facebook and Instagram continues to rise each month. Through data-driven decision-making and innovative marketing tactics, I have contributed to revitalizing physical shopping experiences and enhancing community connections within the malls Summit Properties USA manages.

In the rapidly evolving digital market, our company recognized the need to rethink traditional customer acquisition and communication channels. Facing increasing competition and ever-changing client expectations, Sergey Sukhov, AdQuantum’s CBDO and the nominee for Digital Marketing Leader of the Year spearheaded a strategic transformation. He was the driving force in implementing cross-functional solutions across departments and enhancing the company’s visibility and transparency with clients. This not only strengthened our brand presence both online and offline but also fostered a new data-driven decision-making culture within the team, improving our approach to both new and existing partnerships.

Key Highlights:

• Established partnerships with Meta, Google, Moloco, RevenueCat, Adapty, FunnelFox, Snapchat, and TikTok as a Creative Exchange Partner
• Earned certifications from Google, Meta, Moloco, Adjust, and AppsFlyer
• The Business Development team attended 20 conferences across North America and Europe in 2024 to build partnerships and increase brand awareness. Our conference presence is now expanding to South America
• Acquired 108 new clients in 2024
• Company headcount grew by 20% over the past year which partially was the result of increased brand awareness
• Has successfully launched a series of events organized by AdQuantum across Europe, either independently or in collaboration with partners. So far, we have hosted seven major events—three in Limassol, two in Vilnius, one in Warsaw, and one in London.

Daria Shiian is a strategic brand designer redefining how small and medium businesses leverage branding as a growth engine—not just a visual asset. Her unique contribution to the field lies in developing a data-driven model that quantifies the impact of branding on core business metrics such as revenue growth, customer acquisition, and brand trust. By linking branding investments directly to financial outcomes, Daria has equipped agencies and clients alike with a clear argument for seeing brand development as a strategic investment with measurable ROI.

She also pioneered a system of “premium branding democratization,” enabling local businesses to access high-quality, emotionally rich branding once reserved for large corporations. This approach combines human-centered insight, atmospheric design, multisensory experiences, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to create brands that function as cultural and emotional communities—not just commercial entities.

Among her key innovations is the introduction of multisensory branding and “atmospheric DNA” into visual identity systems, where elements like lighting, music, and spatial design become integral parts of the brand experience. Her “living brand architecture” framework ensures brand identities evolve naturally with changing markets and audience behaviors, minimizing the need for costly rebranding while maintaining cultural relevance.

Furthermore, Daria’s integration of AI-generated mockups into prototyping workflows has cut MVP development time by up to 40%, reduced budgets by 50%, and accelerated time-to-market for startups, helping them secure investment faster. These innovations make her work a reference point for modern brand-building—at once strategic, artistic, and scalable.

Over the past three years, I have made a significant impact in digital marketing, personal branding, and content creation, helping creators and business owners build strong digital presences. My expertise has been recognized internationally, leading to jury positions at prestigious awards, including ECDMA Global Awards and Armenia Digital Awards. I have worked with many successful creators and entrepreneurs, including Angela Pearl, a well-known international celebrity, global awards winner “WIBA AWARDS”^ frequent guest at events like the Cannes Film Festival. I contributed to the development of her personal brand on the international market, enhancing her visibility and positioning. Beyond individual collaborations, I am a member of professional marketing associations and guilds in Russia (“Guild of Marketers” and “RASO”), where experts are selected based on their industry contributions. My work spans across personal branding, social media marketing, and content strategy, impacting thousands of professionals and businesses. My book, “How to Become a Content Creator and Build a Personal Brand”, became a #1 Amazon bestseller in Global Marketing and E-Commerce, further solidifying my authority in the field. Through my blog, I have built an engaged audience of over 11,000 followers, sharing insights on branding, content marketing, and social media strategies. My marketing campaigns have reached millions, driving engagement and business growth for my clients and collaborations.

Gulzira Omarova is a visionary public relations strategist, media expert, and educator who has redefined communications across government, corporate, and international sectors. As Founder and President of the PR Academy for Central Asian Journalists, she has pioneered professional education in the region, empowering over one hundred specialists with expertise in strategic PR, ethics, and global communication standards.

Her distinguished career includes serving as Press Secretary for the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan, where she spearheaded the modernization of public information frameworks, and contributing to the PR team for Astana EXPO-2017—one of the most significant international events in Kazakhstan’s history. Before entering public service, she spent years as a journalist and TV host at Khabar Agency, where she produced and presented over 3,000 national broadcasts, establishing new benchmarks for ethical storytelling in Kazakhstani media.

A Bolashak International Scholarship Laureate and Rutgers University alumna, Gulzira merges academic excellence with visionary leadership, championing PR as a discipline rooted in transparency, trust, and social responsibility.

Oleg Mikhelson is a distinguished software engineer specializing in backend systems and automation. He is the sole author of PostgreCare, a lightweight, high-performance PostgreSQL automation toolkit designed to bridge the gap between inadequate scripts and over-engineered enterprise solutions. The success of PostgreCare is rooted entirely in Oleg’s engineering insight, personal initiative, and technical mastery — making him a standout innovator in infrastructure reliability for e-commerce.

Maestra.io is nominated as Best Marketing Automation Platform for revolutionizing how e-commerce brands automate and scale their customer communications. The context for this nomination is the increasing demand for omnichannel marketing efficiency. Modern marketers juggle email campaigns, SMS alerts, push notifications, pop-ups, and more – often across disjointed tools​. This fragmentation makes it hard to deliver a cohesive message or measure impact. Maestra was built to tackle this challenge head-on by providing a cloud-based marketing automation platform that unites a CDP, loyalty program, site personalization, omnichannel communications, and more into one interface​. Over the past few years, many mid-market e-commerce brands outgrew basic email tools (like Klaviyo) but lacked the tech resources for enterprise systems; Maestra stepped in as the ideal solution, offering drag-and-drop flow building and multi-channel campaign orchestration without coding​. The platform’s ease of use (each client gets a dedicated success manager for implementation) and breadth of capability allow lean marketing teams to launch complex automated journeys that previously required entire departments. In short, Maestra provides the context of a unified, scalable marketing automation hub where all customer touchpoints can be managed intelligently. This nomination recognizes Maestra’s role in enabling brands to do more with less – executing timely, relevant marketing actions at scale, which is the essence of marketing automation. Maestra Platform Customer Testimonials: George Granoff, CEO at REKS “They are designing, delivering, and managing our customer engagement which is resulting in producing 17% of our monthly sales.” Stephanie Bregman, Vice President Marketing at 4ocean “Maestra has become an essential part of our workflow. Its ease of use, reliable performance, and excellent support have exceeded our expectations.” Will Palumbo, Director of Marketing at Enlightened Equipment “I’m very happy with the product overall, and we’re even considering applying Maestra to our second brand as a 2025 project.” Etan Efrati, E-Commerce Manager at Magnum Bikes “We’ve not only significantly boosted our marketing efficiency but also created a cohesive omnichannel experience for our customers.” Kyle Cannon, Marketing Manager at Furniture Fair “Working with Maestra’s CSMs has set a new standard for what I expect from customer success. Instead of the usual monthly check-in and upsell, the collaboration is constant, communication is immediate, and the team is truly invested in our success.” Ceata E. Lash, CEO at PuffCuff “I’m super pleased with what we’ve achieved together and can’t recommend them enough.” Lana, Marketing Manager at Unidragon “Awesome! Effective client engagement, adaptable implementation, and rapid integration.” Jennifer Fenton, Sr Director of Marketing at Jolyn “I switched from Klaviyo and couldn’t be happier. The fee structure is straightforward and the features are already great but they keep adding new ones based on feedback.”

The nomination arises from a critical need in today’s increasingly virtual workplace: remote workers, particularly those with ADHD, face unique challenges in maintaining focus and engagement. Empy.ai, led by the nominee, addresses this gap by offering an AI-driven platform that structures meetings, provides real-time focus cues, and tracks engagement for individuals who struggle to stay present in digital environments. This innovation emerged during a pivotal period when remote collaboration became the norm, spotlighting a growing demand for tools that promote inclusivity and productivity. By combining advanced AI with a deep understanding of neurodiversity, the nominee successfully transformed a recognized problem—underrepresented support for ADHD professionals—into a high-impact solution that redefines how remote teams function.