Elevate Your Brand. Showcase Your Innovation

Metro 2.0 is a strategic initiative by METRO to transform its offline retail strengths—such as personalized recommendations, volume-based discounts (BMPL), and social proof—into a successful online business model. This digital transformation enhances the data-driven approach with AL/ML learning & AB testing improves customer experience, increases sales, and strengthens brand loyalty.

Results:
-A 4.17% increase in purchases and 3.02% higher revenue among new users exposed to private label brands recommendations.

BMPL Impact:
-1.65% increase in average order size;
-3.81% growth in purchase volume.

2.5% more purchases and 3.58% higher ARPU (average revenue per user) with social proof tactics.
10% less churn.

First-Impression Advantage: New users unfamiliar with METRO’s assortment discovered own brands organically, reducing reliance on external marketing.
Higher Margins: Private label & BMPL products typically yield better profitability than third-party brands.
Trust Over Information: Prioritized peer validation (reviews) over technical details, aligning with how users make decision.

Metro 2.0 is a digital transformation initiative that bridges METRO’s offline strengths—private label appeal, bulk discounts (BMPL), and trust-building—into online retail:
+4.17% Metro brand sales lift among new users
+1.65% larger baskets via BMPL
+3.58% ARPU growth
Key innovations include cross-category discovery, volume-based discounts, and social proofs. The results highlight METRO’s ability to digitize wholesale advantages while enhancing margins and loyalty.

Development of fast growing travel tech mobile application with multimillion audience, which has several dynamic content systems for user inspiration and support with journey planning. Within the past 2.5 years: – Developed a solution for integration of external modules with backend-driven UI, allowing for effective scaling of mobile applications. – Developed instagram like stories module with dynamic content system, which greatly increases users retention and engagement. – Designed a new extensible system and reorganised the existing deeplink system, simplifying the integration of various application modules. – Developed and implemented code review standards, introduced innovative practices for code quality assessment, adopted by other teams.
The Tutu.ru app underwent significant redesigns to improve usability. The development team focused on creating a flexible architecture that supports easy updates and maintenance. The app’s design includes 120 screens and 80 user scenarios, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the booking process while minimizing complexity. Users can compare and purchase tickets from various transportation modes, including airlines (e.g., Aeroflot, UTair), trains (e.g., Sapsan), and buses across Russia and Europe. The app provides real-time schedules and allows users to book tickets without long queues. The app boasts a streamlined interface with intuitive navigation, allowing users to complete their bookings in under four minutes. It incorporates user feedback to continuously enhance the experience. In-app customer support is available 24/7, ensuring travelers receive assistance whenever needed.

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.

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.

Before this project, VTB clients could only check and update their personal data in person at a bank branch. Remote modifications were impossible due to high fraud risks, internal security concerns, and the lack of secure digital interfaces for customer interactions. However, the growth of digital services and the rise of fraud schemes involving identity theft required a secure and reliable solution for remote data management. The primary goal of the project was to create a system that would allow clients to verify and update their personal data remotely while minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and manipulation by fraudsters. To achieve this, the bank integrated its systems with the national digital profile via state services such as ESIA and SMEV. The use of National ID ensures secure identity verification through official government sources, preventing fraudsters from making unauthorized changes. Now, any update to personal data requires additional authentication through state services, significantly enhancing security. The project not only improved client access to their personal data but also significantly reduced fraud risks. When applying for a loan, mortgage, account, or bank card, the system automatically verifies client data against government records. Additionally, built-in regulatory compliance checks and interdepartmental data exchange detect suspicious activity and prevent fraudulent data modifications. The key innovation of this project is the ability to securely update personal data remotely without compromising security. By leveraging National ID, the bank ensures that it always works with accurate and verified client information, protecting customers from fraud and financial crimes. This initiative has strengthened cybersecurity and set a new standard for secure digital identity management in banking.

Adsy has been nominated in recognition of its innovation and impact in the digital marketing and SEO industry, particularly in the realm of guest posting and link-building services. Launched in 2017, Adsy was created to address a growing challenge in content distribution—connecting brands with high-authority publishers in a scalable, efficient, and transparent way.

Between 2022 and 2025, the digital landscape evolved rapidly, with increasing demand for ethical, ROI-driven content marketing. During this time, Adsy established itself as a trusted guest-posting marketplace—now boasting over 90,000 publisher listings and servicing both brands and agencies worldwide. Its position as a top-tier solution is underscored by its ranking as the #4 guest post marketplace globally in 2025​​.

Kristina Pikunova is a public communications and social impact specialist with more than ten years of experience in large-scale public, municipal, and civic information initiatives. Her work focuses on designing clear, policy-compliant communication systems that support social integration, workforce readiness, and community engagement. She has led and implemented socially significant projects across institutional and international contexts, combining strategic communication expertise with ethical responsibility and measurable societal impact.

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.

I’m a 6 x Certified Salesforce developer with a PHP development background and 13+ years of experience as a Programmer / Team Lead / partly Architect. Almost all my projects were related to e-commerce, business process optimizations, internet marketplaces, etc. My greatest achievement related to the E-commerce award was an excellent optimization of E-commerce processes to ABInbev (the largest beer producer in the world). Regarding my work, that company saves $22.5 million per year on their E-commerce system, which is demonstrated in the recommendation letters. Also, when I was a PHP developer and worked in Gameloft (one of the largest mobile game producers in the world) in the E-commerce department, I made many websites in the EMEA region for selling their games and increased sales in the EMEA region.

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.

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 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.

Evgeniia Sonts is a seasoned PR expert, entrepreneur, and consultant with over 25 years of experience in strategic communications and personal branding. She is the founder of the PR agency ApPRove, which specializes in international promotion and personal brand development for business owners and creative professionals.

Eugeniia Sonts exemplifies a professional who combines deep expertise in PR with personal charisma and an active life stance. Her approach to building personal brands and international promotion makes her a sought-after expert in her field.

Articles about her clients have been published in leading international media such as Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and others. Throughout her career, Evgeniia has helped more than 500 entrepreneurs develop their personal brands, win prestigious awards, and build strong international reputations.

Kirill Timofeev is an internationally recognized email marketing strategist, founder of Mad Lead Printer, and Fractional CMO/CPO at the U.S.-based fintech platform GFS Group. He has driven GFS’s growth from early-stage revenues to eight-figure annual turnover, achieving a 1130% increase over six years and making email a core driver of over 20% of total revenue.

Known for combining technical precision with strategic vision, Kirill consistently delivers industry-leading results, including 45% B2B open rates, ten full-scale deliverability restorations, and cutting customer acquisition costs by half through data-driven outreach systems.

This award recognizes Alex Holeniev for his outstanding work in infrastructure automation and AI-driven optimization, demonstrated through the development of the startup Grow with AI. As founder and CTO, Alex has built a scalable, full-stack platform that enables intelligent virtual assistants powered by custom-trained large language models—designed to help users grow through structured, personalized digital experiences.

Grow with AI stands out for its seamless integration of automation, performance, and adaptability. The system architecture combines cloud and private LLMs, vector databases, and dynamic backend orchestration—delivering real-time performance with minimal manual intervention. Every element, from deployment pipelines to dialog flows, is optimized for flexibility and scale.

Alex’s hands-on leadership spans system design, infrastructure optimization, and AI model fine-tuning. Under his direction, the platform achieves high availability, fast response times, and efficient resource use—serving as a model of how startups can deploy complex AI technology with operational clarity and technical excellence.

With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, I’ve come to understand that technologies should provide tangible value by solving real-world problems and bringing happiness to its users. This understanding guides me in creating meaningful solutions across various domains. In this nomination, I present a technological innovation that enables differentiated access management based on the importance of consumers. As a result, it improves the overall quality and stability of IT solutions.

In 2022, I designed and launched a solution at Sberbank (the largest universal bank in Russia and Eastern Europe) that enabled clients to automatically receive tax refunds, reducing the waiting period from four months to just one month. This solution was awarded the Digital Leaders Award 2022 in the category “Solution of the Year” within the investment banking services sector.

In 2023, I designed and introduced new features in Sberbank’s mobile app that allow users to perform financial transactions using voice commands. This innovation won the Investment Leaders Award in the “Online Assistant of the Year” category for informational support in investing, as well as the National Banking Award in the “Investment Product” category.

In 2024, during my personal research, I delved deeper into system design principles. Through this exploration, I identified gaps in existing rate-limiting methodologies. Consequently, I formulated and experimentally validated new methods addressing these deficiencies. Additionally, in 2024, I presented at the prominent Code Fest conference, where I shared my original approaches to improving the analysis and design of information systems.

This comprehensive track record underscores my commitment to driving technological innovation and creating impactful solutions across industries.

At the core of my focus lies the client and their needs. This approach ensures that I avoid creating overly complex yet unnecessary solutions. Additionally, the innovations I develop often reveal untapped potential for further improvements, allowing me to remain optimistic about future possibilities.

Companies today rely heavily on distributed systems and intricate ecosystems composed of numerous interconnected information systems. These systems interact through APIs, delivering vital data and functionalities required for seamless business operations. However, unchecked access to these resources may lead to escalating operational costs, overburdened servers, degraded performance, and even catastrophic system failures. These challenges frequently stem from abuse by specific users or malevolent actions such as DDoS attacks.

In response to these threats, rate-limiting algorithms have been developed. At the same time, existing algorithms do not differentiate between types of users, leading to scenarios where lower-priority users exhaust available quotas, depriving critical users of essential services. For example, free-tier or unregistered users could monopolize all available resources, leaving paying subscribers without access. In e-commerce, this issue manifests as heightened infrastructure costs and potential attrition of premium clients. Similarly, in digital marketing, it generates inaccuracies in analytics due to duplicate requests and disrupted communication between advertisers and platforms.

I devised two novel methods based on the time-tested token-bucket algorithm to address these shortcomings. By implementing a classification framework for API consumers, my methods guarantee equitable allocation of resources among disparate user groups while ensuring consistent access for high-value customers. These methods not only boost system efficiency but also bolster customer satisfaction by curtailing service outages and enhancing overall dependability. Furthermore, they empower businesses to exercise greater control over operational expenditures by mitigating superfluous resource usage.

It’s worth noting that public literature on rate limiting has been sparse until now. My methods were recently published in a scientific journal online, making them accessible to anyone who wishes to adopt and build solutions based on them, thus increasing their operational effectiveness.

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.

Semen Semochkin is a seasoned content marketing leader with a strong editorial background shaped at top-tier digital agencies. He honed his craft at the prestigious Bureau Gorbunov, a renowned digital design and editorial studio, where he led innovative publishing projects and upheld high standards of content excellence. Building on this foundation, he transitioned to the marketing technology sector, taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief at Mindbox in 2019. In this capacity, Semochkin transformed a modest corporate blog into a powerhouse content platform that became integral to Mindbox’s business strategy. This context of blending editorial rigor with marketing objectives set the stage for his achievements: by the end of his Mindbox tenure in 2023, the company’s online journal was not just a communications channel, but a key revenue driver and community hub. Now, as a content leader at Maestra (a marketing platform for e-commerce), he continues to apply his content marketing expertise to drive engagement and showcase the value of technology through storytelling. This nomination recognizes the unique circumstances of his career trajectory – from editorial innovation to content marketing excellence – and the way Semochkin has leveraged content to achieve outstanding business outcomes in recent years.

Nataliia Kravchenko is a Recruitment Team Lead at Boosta with over 9 years of experience in technical and non-technical hiring across Europe, CIS, South Africa, the Philippines, and India. She leads a team of 10+ recruiters, builds data-driven hiring strategies, and implements AI-powered tools to streamline processes and reduce time-to-hire.
Nataliia authors industry publications on recruitment automation, AI adoption, and offer-acceptance strategies. Her work focuses on creating efficient, scalable recruitment systems that elevate candidate experience through innovation and analytics.

Denis Zabolotnyi is the founder of GetLens, an online store for professional photography equipment and a thriving community of over 100,000 enthusiasts. With a background in digital marketing and a deep understanding of consumer behavior, Denis has positioned GetLens not just as a marketplace, but as a hub for education, exchange, and engagement among visual creatives.

He is best known for creating Russia’s first “Trade-Out Funnel,” a groundbreaking marketing system that transforms product exits—returns, exchanges, and disposals—into strategic entry points for repeat sales and customer loyalty. This approach introduced a new marketing layer known as “exit-based marketing,” reshaping how businesses engage with customers at the end of the ownership cycle.

Recognized as an innovation by both industry leaders and academia, the Trade-Out Funnel integrates digital user activation tools, CRM systems, gamified auctions, and embedded API solutions for brands. It has been successfully implemented by major retailers and B2B partners across the CIS region, turning secondary product circulation into a driver of growth.

Denis’s work represents a new frontier in marketing—one where post-ownership behavior is no longer overlooked but becomes central to business strategy. His model continues to influence e-commerce development, making him a key voice in the evolution of digital customer experience.

“Architect fault tolerant Azure AI Microservice infrastructure and security in Azure , implement AKS,WAF+API Security using DevOps and DevSevOps approach in this project, used AI and ML technologies – AI Search service , Azure OpenAI, Speech Services, Document intelligence , Bot services. I led the architectural design and implementation of robust, highly available cloud infrastructures on Azure for multiple projects:

StalthMail is a cybersecurity solution that secures email communication by keeping sensitive data within your controlled environment. Instead of sending actual email content, it sends encrypted references, protecting against interception and unauthorized access.

Kaizen.Finance is a cross-chain platform for creating, issuing, and managing cryptocurrency tokens without coding. It offers automated tools for token security, vesting schedules, and staking, simplifying the token launch process for projects and DAOs.

HyperSecureID.com offers HyperID, a platform that integrates Web 2.0 and Web3 authentication. It provides secure, passwordless user onboarding with Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Decentralized Identifiers (DID), ensuring user control over data for enterprises, DAOs, NFTs, and wallets.

R2 Copilot is a privacy-focused AI assistant for business communication. It integrates with tools like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace to draft emails, summarize, and translate, while ensuring data confidentiality through encryption and no data retention.

My transition from architecture and teaching architectural design to content creation began in 2016 when I started collaborating with hotels as a content and UGC creator and social media manager.
What’s truly interesting is how my architectural background has become an unexpected (even for me) advantage in content creation. I apply fundamental design principles — composition, spatial awareness, and color theory—to create visually sophisticated content that resonates with audiences.

This unique perspective has led to amazing partnerships with over 32 hotels across 15 countries from 2017 (14 for the last 3 years), where I’ve curated content strategies that drive engagement and deliver measurable results in social media traffic and audience growth.
These successes opened doors to collaborations with global brands like Lancôme, Penhaligon’s, Huawei, Lenovo, Yves Rocher, NYX, Milka, Nutella, Purina One, Pfizer, Sony, and many others. Since 2018, I’ve also expanded my impact by developing comprehensive courses on brand collaboration and hotel partnerships. As a mentor to over 1,000 students who now work with industry leaders like Vogue, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental.

The strategy is very simple:
Keep your finger on pulse of marketing, be creative, and develop your powers of observation.
Develop a teaching methodology in which everything will be clear and structured, so students can apply the information as instructed step by step.

Vladimir Kochnev’s nomination for E-Commerce Leader of the Year at the ECDMA Global Awards is a recognition of his exceptional achievements in e-commerce brand development, Amazon marketplace strategy, and digital business scaling. As the CEO of Purus Manufacturing, he has built a thriving herbal supplement empire, transforming an initial investment into a multi-million-dollar business while pioneering new approaches to product development, operational efficiency, and customer engagement. In just four years, Vladimir has launched and scaled multiple high-performing e-commerce brands, including Herbamama and Forever Puppy, generating over $53.2 million in revenue and amassing 102,000+ Amazon reviews—a testament to customer trust and brand loyalty. His ability to identify untapped market segments, leverage data-driven marketing strategies, and implement cutting-edge operational processes has established him as a leader in the competitive digital commerce space. Beyond financial success, Vladimir has revolutionized e-commerce product development, introducing 819+ unique herbal supplements tailored to evolving consumer health needs. His strategic expansion of manufacturing facilities from a single 2,500 sq. ft. warehouse to six totaling 15,000 sq. ft. showcases his visionary approach to scaling operations, ensuring sustainable growth and supply chain optimization. Vladimir’s leadership extends beyond his own brands—he is a recognized thought leader in the e-commerce industry, regularly sharing insights through workshops, educational content, and media contributions in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times. His commitment to mentorship and knowledge-sharing has empowered countless entrepreneurs and e-commerce professionals to succeed in the digital marketplace.

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.

Polina Varfolomeeva’s nomination for the “Outstanding PR Achievement” award reflects not only her extraordinary capabilities as a legal strategist but also her rare ability to navigate public narratives and regulatory landscapes across high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional environments.

As the Founder and CEO of Ation Law, Polina leads a consultancy that supports media, tech, and creative businesses in over 20 countries. Her approach uniquely combines legal precision with PR foresight—ensuring that organizations under reputational, regulatory, or geopolitical pressure not only survive but maintain operational integrity and public trust.

A standout example of this was her leadership in crafting and executing crisis PR strategies for companies affected by international sanctions. These strategies safeguarded reputations while simultaneously mitigating legal exposure in over 10 key markets. Through coordinated legal-communications frameworks, she helped businesses maintain access to financial services, retain strategic partnerships, and continue international operations—achievements that speak to both legal mastery and reputational resilience.

Polina also brings PR sensibility into the heart of brand architecture. She has successfully structured marketing campaigns in tightly regulated industries like alcohol and tobacco, delivering legally sound yet creatively vibrant campaigns that reached over 3 million users. These campaigns not only complied with varying national advertising laws but were also recognized with multiple industry awards, highlighting her ability to fuse compliance with competitive positioning.

Further demonstrating her cross-functional leadership, Polina has advised on the launch of media platforms, lifestyle venues, and digital products with valuations up to $10M—each requiring a coordinated legal and PR foundation to build credibility, manage public messaging, and support investor relations. Her experience structuring high-profile media deals with global entertainment leaders such as Netflix, Warner Bros., and HBO speaks to her deep involvement in content rights, brand alignment, and stakeholder positioning.

Polina’s excellence lies in her strategic ability to ensure that every public-facing message is not only compelling but legally secure—an essential asset in a world where media exposure, market regulation, and litigation risk are deeply intertwined.

In an industry increasingly shaped by public perception and legal scrutiny, Polina Varfolomeeva exemplifies what it means to lead with clarity, integrity, and cross-border influence. Her achievements position her as a clear frontrunner for the Outstanding PR Achievement award.