Elevate Your Brand. Showcase Your Innovation

Sergiu Metgher is a technology executive, AI architect, and founder of ReignCode, specializing in large-scale digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies and international enterprises. He has led the development of AI-powered platforms across fintech, retail, and B2B marketplaces, including nationwide financial systems serving more than eight million users and managing over €250 billion in assets.

Sergiu is the creator of multiple enterprise frameworks and platforms, among them SourceMate PIM, an AI-driven product information system that orchestrates millions of SKUs and powers major European marketplaces. His work emphasizes structural modernization, data governance, and the safe deployment of intelligent automation in complex legacy environments.

Alongside his commercial work, Sergiu has founded education and innovation initiatives that have trained more than 100 professionals transitioning into software careers. He is currently pursuing a PhD in International Law focused on AI, ethics, and digital regulation.

Natalia 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.

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.

Serhii Novosel stands at the forefront of global e-commerce, setting a new benchmark for excellence, innovation, and community contribution among Amazon sellers. Over the past seven years, he has transformed the challenges of cross-border retail into engines for growth, scaling multiple Amazon businesses from Ukraine to the United States and redefining what’s possible in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace.

His operational achievements are extraordinary in an industry where just 0.01% of U.S. Amazon Marketplace sellers ever surpass $1 million in annual sales. After relocating to the U.S. amidst the war in Ukraine, Serhii rebuilt from scratch and quickly achieved over $100,000 per month in FBA wholesale sales. These results were independently audited and recognized by AmazonLit—the leading Amazon wholesale seller community in North America—through their $50K and $100K/month verified performance awards, an achievement reached by fewer than 10% of their 1,000+ members.

Serhii’s reputation as a thought leader extends far beyond his business performance. In 2021, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Ukrainian Business Awards (UBA)—one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for founders and executives. This is not an accolade granted lightly; the competition attracts hundreds of accomplished entrepreneurs across sectors, and the selection process is rigorous and highly competitive. Winners are chosen through a combination of peer review, independent evaluation of financial and operational metrics, and assessments of innovation and impact on the business community. For Serhii, securing this title meant standing out not only for outstanding commercial results but also for integrity, vision, and industry-wide influence.

His approach to e-commerce is rooted in rigorous system-building and automation. Serhii developed proprietary procurement and inventory frameworks leveraging spreadsheets, Google Apps Script, and AI-powered analytics, enabling his teams to execute at scale and minimize errors. He is the author of Amazon Wholesale Advantage: Winning Playbook, a tactical guide now used by many aspiring sellers. His strategies for negotiation—such as simulating purchase orders and optimizing global discounts—are recognized case studies in efficiency and margin improvement.

As a community leader, Serhii contributes actively to the top professional networks in Amazon wholesale, including The Wholesale Network’s “Mastermind” tier and the EsellersRI group. He shares tested systems, automation tools, and actionable frameworks that empower sellers worldwide. His role as a featured speaker at the Ukraine Seller Conference and Harper College Business Club in Illinois further amplifies his commitment to education and mentorship.

Serhii’s academic credentials—a U.S.-equivalent Master’s in economic analytics and a Bachelor’s in Economics with honors—equip him to bridge data science with business execution, driving sustainable, year-over-year growth.

In a marketplace where the average seller generates $250,000 annually, Serhii Novosel’s seven-figure, cross-continental businesses and proven leadership distinguish him as a true industry exemplar. His verified results, peer recognition, and national honors—earned in rigorous, highly competitive environments—position him not only as a top seller but as an architect of the future of e-commerce.

The case study details the collaboration between 4ocean – a mission-driven company dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis – and Maestra – a marketing platform for e-commerce.

4ocean is a sustainable brand with a unique model (removing 5 pounds of trash from oceans for every product sold, with over 36 million pounds removed since 2017)​. To engage its community of contributors, 4ocean wanted to provide personalized “impact reports” showing each supporter the tangible environmental impact of their contributions. However, their previous marketing tool (Klaviyo) could not support the real-time personalization and complex calculations required for this initiative​. The case study in question, “4ocean’s Personal Impact Report Now Possible after Switching to Maestra from Klaviyo,” serves as an example of how innovative marketing technology can drive engagement for a sustainable cause. It provides rich context on the challenges faced and the solutions implemented, making it a strong contender for Best Digital Marketing Case Study Publication.”,”Innovative Personalization Campaign: The case study documents the successful launch of a real-time personalized email campaign for 4ocean. This campaign enabled individualized impact reports emailed to each contributor, a feat not previously possible with standard tools. Achieving this level of one-to-one personalization in marketing communications is a notable innovation.

Measurable Engagement Results: The publication highlights outstanding results – 49.3% of active contributors read the new impact report emails, which is double the engagement rate of 4ocean’s regular email campaigns​. This high open/read rate, uncommon in email marketing, evidences the excellence of the strategy and is clearly attributed to the Maestra-powered personalization.

Mission-Driven Impact: By tying marketing metrics to mission metrics, the case shows that digital marketing can directly support a social cause. Contributors receiving their personal impact data were more motivated, effectively increasing their participation in 4ocean’s mission. This alignment of business goals (engagement) with social impact (ocean trash removal) stands out as a breakthrough approach for sustainable brands.

Comprehensive Case Study Publication: From a publication standpoint, the case study is thorough and educational. It not only reports on the results but also transparently walks through the challenges, solutions, and technical implementation. It serves as a model case study for the industry, illustrating how challenges were overcome by strategic use of technology. The clarity and depth of this write-up under my editorial guidance have been praised within both Maestra’s team and by external readers (the case has been shared by marketing professionals on platforms like LinkedIn as an example of effective storytelling in martech).

Establishing Thought Leadership for Maestra: As one of the flagship “Success Stories” on Maestra’s blog, the 4ocean case bolstered Maestra’s reputation in the past year. It has become a reference point for prospects in the sustainable e-commerce space, showing real-world proof of Maestra’s capabilities. This elevates Maestra’s content marketing portfolio and demonstrates my role in delivering content that drives brand credibility.”,”Challenges-Led Narrative: The strategy began with a clear identification of 4ocean’s challenges. Traditional marketing metrics didn’t suit 4ocean’s needs, since success is measured in pounds of trash collected rather than just dollars or conversion rates. The case study outlines these unique challenges (e.g. calculating impact in pounds, setting personalized goals for each contributor, tracking “Plastic Neutrality” status)​. By framing the narrative around solving these challenges, the publication immediately connects with readers interested in advanced personalization and purpose-driven marketing.

Make it Real! is a unique community that brings together leaders and professionals from the digital and marketing industries.

In an era oversaturated with formal events, we have created a space for genuine connections — where ideas turn into projects and acquaintances grow into real partnerships.
We unite participants from leading advertising agencies, banks, FMCG companies, tech startups, and major manufacturers.
We are not bound by contracts or shared employers — we are united by values: a drive for growth, a willingness to support one another, and a passion for moving the industry forward together.
Make it Real! is more than just a meetup

Make it Real! is proof that the future of the industry belongs to real human connections.”,”Since 2022, Make it Real! has hosted over 50 events in Armenia, becoming one of the most recognized platforms for networking and professional development in the digital community.
All events are held in Russian, creating a welcoming space for professionals from different countries to connect and grow.
We originally started as a community for expat marketers — and today, Make it Real! unites not only expatriates but also a growing number of local Armenian professionals and international participants from across the region.

Our lineup includes:
⏺ the first Russian-language marketing hackathon in Armenia,
⏺ 18 meetups on current digital topics,
⏺ 8 large-scale lectures by industry speakers,
⏺ a Digital StandUp show,
⏺ and 20 networking brunches.

Each Make it Real! event is not just about speaker sessions. Every gathering has its own theme and a unique networking format:
🎴 card games for structured introductions,
💬 dynamic chat discussions,
🧠 team quizzes during session breaks,
🤖 interactive engagement through a Telegram bot,
🤝 and dedicated business networking sessions.

We actively develop partnerships, having organized events together with leading IT companies and collaborated with Armenia’s largest HR event — Career City Fest.

Our events have attracted speakers and participants not only from Armenia but also from Georgia, various Asian countries, and Europe, giving Make it Real! an increasingly international reach.

Within our community, we’ve also launched special interest clubs:
🎾 squash,
🎲 board games,
📚 and a bilingual book club focused on cultural diversity (in Russian and English).

Today, Make it Real! brings together over 500 engaged community members.
We help participants discover new career paths, launch collaborative projects, and build meaningful professional relationships that truly transform their lives and careers.
With a growing organizing committee, we continue to expand and strengthen our impact on the professional landscape.
Our meetups are often informally called “”the trendiest events in Yerevan’s digital scene.”,”Strategies we employed:

а) A clear focus on core values:
From the very beginning, we built the community around support, knowledge sharing, and real networking — not around formal speeches or status.

b) A customized approach to every event:
Each event has a unique theme and a dedicated networking mechanic: from card games and dynamic chats to team quizzes, interactive Telegram bots, and structured business networking sessions. This keeps every gathering engaging and fresh.

c) Building a high-quality audience:
We attracted participants through personal recommendations, partnerships with IT companies, and collaborations with major events such as Career City Fest.

d) Integrating international expertise:
We welcomed speakers and participants not only from Armenia but also from Russia, Georgia, various Asian countries, and Europe, expanding the community’s global reach.

e) Maintaining strong community engagement:
We created internal clubs for squash, board games, and a bilingual book club, ensuring that the community thrives not only during events but between them.

Why our achievements stand out:

1. Every event is built around genuine engagement, not passive listening.

2. Each gathering has its own unique concept and networking experience.

3. We have created a space where participants feel part of a vibrant, supportive community.

4. In just a short time, we evolved from a small expat-focused group into one of the most dynamic international digital communities in Armenia.

5. Our participants naturally become ambassadors for the community, fueling organic growth and long-term impact.”,”Make it Real! is a community and event series for digital and marketing professionals, created to foster real professional connections through open and engaging communication.

What we do:
We organize regular events in Armenia, held in Russian, attracting participants and speakers from Armenia, Russia, Georgia, Asia, and Europe.
Our program includes meetups on trending digital topics, expert lectures, networking brunches, thematic quizzes, a Digital StandUp show, and a signature marketing hackathon.
Each event is enhanced with unique networking formats to help every participant build valuable connections and feel truly part of the community.

How we work:
Each event has a specific theme and a carefully designed engagement mechanic.
We use elements like card games, dynamic chat activities, team quizzes, interactive Telegram bots, and structured business networking to break barriers and create an atmosphere of openness and energy.

Who it’s for:
Initially, Make it Real! was created for expat marketers who had relocated to Armenia. Over time, the community grew into an international and open platform for all digital and marketing professionals — welcoming both local specialists and international participants.

Our approach:
At the core of Make it Real! is the belief that networking should be genuine and human.
We believe in the power of real human connections and create conditions where people can meet, exchange ideas, support each other, and grow together.
We don’t just host events — we build an environment for personal and professional growth.

The result:
Since its launch in 2022, Make it Real! has united over 500 members, hosted more than 50 events, formed a growing organizing committee, and become one of the most recognizable networking platforms in Armenia’s digital scene.

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.

“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.

Ianina Agapovichev is recognized for her transformative contributions to international conference management, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and innovation in crisis conditions. Her pioneering approach combines agile methodologies with strategic budget optimization, consistently delivering world-class events at 50-70% below industry average costs.
Her expertise shines through her development of a proprietary 700+ point checklist system that standardizes the preparation of complex international events while maintaining flexibility to navigate changing circumstances. This methodology enables her to create scalable event structures that can adapt to evolving budgets and sponsorship conditions without compromising quality.
Throughout her career, Iana has successfully executed conferences for up to 15,000 participants across multiple countries, including complex international events requiring coordination of speakers, logistics, marketing, and sponsorship elements. Her skill in managing events during challenging situations, including the evacuation of international speakers during conflict, showcases her exceptional risk management abilities.
Beyond technical competence, Iana has demonstrated remarkable business development skills, creating and implementing the “Adizes. Think Together” project that organized over 250 roundtable discussions for business leaders, resulting in significant revenue growth despite market instability.

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.

Our design meetups are a series of warm and open gatherings for designers in Serbia.
We bring together product, UX/UI, graphic, and motion designers to discuss important topics, share experiences, meet new people, and support each other.

We run two formats:
• Big meetups — 80+ people, with talks, panel discussions, and presentations.
• Design breakfasts — cozy morning meetups in cafés, where we have relaxed conversations and get inspired.

Topics range from AI in design to inclusivity, from freelancing to migration.
The most important things are honesty, respect, and a genuine wish to be part of the community.

• Built a Thriving Design Community in Serbia: Over the past three years, we’ve launched and grown a grassroots design meetup series that now connects over 900+ designers across Serbia and beyond — including product, UX/UI, graphic, and motion designers.
• Hosted 10+ Major Design Events: We organized large-scale meetups (80+ attendees each) featuring talks, panel discussions, and showcases from top professionals. These events created a vital platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration within the local creative scene.
• Launched a New Format — Design Breakfasts: In 2024, we introduced smaller, cozy design breakfasts — a more intimate format that fosters meaningful conversations on current topics like AI in design, inclusivity, and freelancing. These events quickly became a favorite among the community.
• Supported Newcomers and Relocated Creatives: Many attendees are designers who moved to Serbia in recent years. Our meetups help reduce professional isolation and provide a soft landing, offering both emotional and career support through peer connection.
• Documented and Amplified Voices: We record video podcasts with our speakers and share insights through social media, expanding the reach of local design voices and strengthening the visibility of Balkan-based creatives internationally.

Alexey Kalmykov, known globally as Alex Bobl, is a trailblazer in digital publishing, content distribution, and online e-commerce strategy. As the Founder and CEO of Magic Dome Books, he has transformed independent publishing into a scalable, multimillion-dollar digital enterprise. Over the past three years, he has expanded his publishing operations internationally, developed high-impact content monetization models, and leveraged platform-driven e-commerce strategies to dominate niche literary markets. His leadership has directly contributed to Magic Dome Books’ position as a market leader in multilingual digital publishing and audiobook production.
Revenue Growth & Market Expansion: In 2022-2024, Aleksey doubled Magic Dome Books’ revenue, expanding its presence in Germany, the U.S., France, Spain, and South Korea through strategic partnerships with Amazon Kindle, Audible GmbH, Tantor Media, and Dreamscape. Audiobook Market Penetration: Successfully launched audiobook production in German, partnering with six professional narrators, and secured exclusive distribution deals with Audible GmbH, ensuring top-charting audiobook sales. Global Publishing & Content Localization: Maintains active contracts with 45 professional translators, ensuring efficient content adaptation across multiple languages and sustaining a 50% market share in the European LitRPG segment. E-Commerce-Driven Publishing Strategy: Leveraged SEO, platform-driven ranking algorithms, and data-driven marketing to maintain a consistent presence in Amazon Kindle’s bestseller categories for niche genres, positioning Magic Dome Books as a leading global independent publisher. Editorial & Production Leadership: Structured two specialized editorial teams dedicated to literary publishing and audiobook production, enhancing content quality, scalability, and monetization strategies.

Ruslan Shadenov, founder of RS IMPORT, stands as a trailblazer in the digital transformation of cross-border car trading for private clients in Kazakhstan. In a market historically dominated by opaque processes and intermediaries, Ruslan was among the first to introduce a transparent, client-focused e-commerce model for purchasing vehicles from U.S. auctions. His strategic approach has set new industry standards and created genuine value for thousands of Kazakhstani consumers.

Ruslan’s strategy is built around direct-to-client service, leveraging a proprietary digital platform that simplifies every step—from auction selection and bidding, to logistics, customs clearance, and final delivery. By integrating legal, financial, and operational expertise, RS IMPORT provides end-to-end support with absolute transparency in pricing, documentation, and vehicle condition. This model eliminates hidden costs and risks, empowering private buyers to access the global auto market confidently.

Beyond operational excellence, Ruslan has driven significant advances in digital education and industry literacy. Recognizing a gap in consumer awareness, he launched educational initiatives, including webinars, guides, and expert commentary, demystifying the process of cross-border vehicle purchase. His educational content not only builds trust in the RS IMPORT brand but also elevates the entire market by fostering informed decision-making.

Ruslan’s leadership has helped shape public discussion on regulatory best practices for vehicle importation and digital commerce, positioning him as both an innovator and a responsible industry voice. His dual background in finance and law ensures each transaction is not just efficient, but fully compliant and secure, reflecting a rare blend of entrepreneurship and consumer advocacy.

As RS IMPORT continues to grow its presence both in Kazakhstan and internationally, Ruslan Shadenov’s B2C strategy stands out for its clarity, customer-centricity, and measurable results. By setting new benchmarks for transparency, support, and digital innovation in e-commerce, he has redefined how consumers in Kazakhstan access the U.S. auto market—making global commerce accessible, honest, and secure for all.

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.”

Digital & Ecomm EVN Conference stands out as one of the most dynamic and impactful events in the region, earning its place among the best digital marketing conferences. Organized annually in Yerevan, Armenia, this conference gathers marketing leaders, digital innovators, and e-commerce professionals from across Eurasia to explore the most pressing topics shaping the future of the industry.

The 2024 edition attracted over 300 participants and featured expert speakers from more than 10 countries, including CEOs, CMOs, and founders of high-growth startups and established enterprises. The agenda focused on real-world applications of artificial intelligence in marketing, influencer strategies, performance-driven campaigns, cross-border e-commerce, and retention marketing. Each session was carefully curated to deliver practical insights, case studies, and emerging trends, fostering deep discussions and valuable connections among attendees.

What truly sets the EVN Conference apart is its commitment to professional development, international collaboration, and promoting Armenia as a hub for digital transformation. With multilingual sessions, high-quality networking formats, and a forward-thinking jury of speakers and partners, it offers unmatched value for both local and global participants.

More than just a one-day event, the Digital & Ecomm EVN Conference serves as a launchpad for regional innovation and a recognized platform for thought leadership in digital marketing.

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.

Creating an IT School: steps to reach educational horizons In a world where information technologies are rapidly developing, the importance of education in this field cannot be overestimated. The idea of creating an IT School was proposed by the PR team, as well as by Karapet Hakobyan, an experienced web developer from DataArt. His more than ten years of experience became the basis for creating this unique educational program aimed at helping new professionals eventually expand their technical knowledge and skills. As part of DataArt’s commitment to education and empowerment, the QA for the Women of Artsakh program provided women who were forcibly displaced from their homes in Artsakh with an opportunity to gain valuable IT skills. Through hands-on training and mentorship, participants learned the fundamentals of Quality Assurance (QA), helping them transition into the tech industry and rebuild their professional paths. The program not only equipped them with technical knowledge but also fostered resilience and new career opportunities in a supportive community. Classes are held twice a week, allowing participants to balance their studies with other responsibilities. The focus is on the offline format, which creates an opportunity for face-to-face interaction between instructors and students. This approach promotes better learning and allows for a friendly classroom atmosphere. Each course has specific requirements, which makes learning more structured and effective. A basic knowledge of English is a prerequisite for admission. This is a crucial factor, given that most modern technologies and resources are available in this language. Thus, IT School participants not only gain technical knowledge, but also develop their international communication skills. The project focuses on the creation of QA School for Artsakh Women, a course specifically aimed at supporting the socially vulnerable group of “Artsakh women”. This course has been designed to help women who find themselves in difficult circumstances and provides them with new opportunities for employment and professional development. QA School for Artsakh Women provides access to training in the field of software quality assurance, which opens new horizons for the participants in the IT field. The training is on the same terms as other courses: free of charge and in a convenient format, making it even more accessible to the target audience. Supporting socially vulnerable groups in such difficult times is an important aspect of IT School’s work, which emphasizes the importance of social responsibility of educational initiatives. In addition, the project was made possible thanks to a highly qualified team of organizers and marketing specialists ready to take care of recruiting participants and promoting the program. It is also important to note the presence of a senior staff member who shares their experience and supports students throughout the program. IT School has become not just an educational project, but a real platform for creating communities where people can share experiences and inspiration. This project aims to create a new generation of professionals capable of making a positive contribution to the world of technology. Thanks to the commitment of the organizers, the inspiration of the mentors and the participants’ desire to learn, IT School has turned into a significant event in the educational space. Thus, we take pride in the impact of our IT School programs, which provide hands-on education, career opportunities and industry-relevant skills to aspiring tech professionals. By equipping participants with essential knowledge and connecting them with mentors, we help shape future IT specialists and foster growth in the tech ecosystem. We look forward to achieving even greater successes and contributing to the advancement of the industry.

The 5S Strategy Framework: Success Factors in Domestic Business
The effectiveness of the 5S Strategy Framework in domestic business is driven by several key factors:

Deep Market Segmentation (Segment)
The Russian market is highly diverse, and the 5S methodology helps businesses precisely identify target segments. This enables the development of more effective marketing strategies, considering regional differences, cultural characteristics, and consumer preferences—crucial for business success.
Personalized Strategies (Strategize)
In a highly competitive market, businesses must stand out. The 5S Framework enables the creation of unique, innovative strategies tailored to each segment, fostering higher engagement and conversion rates.
Process & Resource Optimization (Streamline)
Many Russian companies require process optimization for increased profitability. 5S helps eliminate inefficiencies, automate operations, and improve resource management, which is vital for medium and large businesses.
Departmental Synchronization (Synchronize)
A common challenge in domestic businesses is lack of coordination. 5S focuses on synchronizing marketing, sales, and customer support, enhancing communication, accelerating decision-making, and boosting customer satisfaction.
Sustainable Development (Sustain)
Long-term sustainability is essential, especially amid economic instability. 5S helps businesses build customer loyalty, embrace corporate responsibility, and strengthen their market position.
Path to Successful Implementation
For optimal results, businesses should:
✅ Conduct detailed market segmentation for tailored offerings.
✅ Develop flexible, innovative strategies for each segment.
✅ Automate processes to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
✅ Foster seamless departmental collaboration with feedback systems.
✅ Invest in loyalty programs and sustainability initiatives for long-term growth.

Additional Recommendations:
Train employees in the 5S methodology and conduct regular evaluations.
Ensure active communication for smooth implementation and adaptation.
By following these principles, companies can enhance efficiency, optimize resources, and secure sustainable growth. The 5S Framework integrates innovation, strategic planning, and process optimization, helping Russian businesses adapt to market conditions and achieve long-term success.

The collaboration between GoMining and AdQuantum has played a crucial role in the app’s growth and market expansion. The primary goal was to grow the active paying user base within the app and run campaigns worldwide to reach a global audience. AdQuantum assisted GoMining by optimizing top traffic sources, generating high-quality traffic, and achieving significant results.

During the five months of collaboration, AdQuantum generated over 350,000 registrations for GoMining, leveraging various traffic sources such as Unity Ads, Moloco, Google UAC, Meta, and ironSource. The partnership delivered impressive results, including a ROAS of 646.04% during the initial campaign period.

By integrating advanced advertising techniques, AdQuantum has transformed GoMining into one of the leading platforms for Bitcoin mining. AdQuantum’s remarkable success in promoting GoMining makes it a strong contender for the ECDMA Global Awards.

The nominee demonstrated exceptional PR leadership during an annual partner conference attended by 500 top executives. A severe storm caused multiple power outages, plunging the event into darkness. Instead of disruption, the nominee kept the event running, ensuring speakers continued, using flashlights, and maintaining engagement. This crisis management not only preserved the conference’s success but also reinforced trust, leading to new business deals signed on-site.

Over the past two years, the nominee has consistently demonstrated excellence in PR and strategic communications, achieving measurable results:

Enhanced brand recognition by strengthening the company’s reputation among key industry players.
Secured new business opportunities, turning high-stakes events into platforms for successful deal-making.
Mastered crisis communication, transforming unforeseen challenges into moments that reinforced trust and reliability.
Through innovative PR strategies, adaptability, and bold leadership, the nominee has elevated the company’s public perception, built long-term partnerships, and showcased PR as a driving force for business success.

For the last 10 years pharmaceutical industry is shifting from traditional way of promotion through medical reps to consumer oriented channels – offline and online media. But in general there is lack of understanding how to connect business and marketing needs with media KPIs and what goals we need to focus on with the media agency.
Mostly Eurasia countries are not so developed within media buying and are based on agency recommendations who mostly work with FMCG companies. But pharmaceutical market sometimes follows FMCG rules with pharma specific points.

I’ve developed regional approach for media planning (both offline and online) that was used for each brand in media in Eurasia region.
We have 120 brands in promo and the approach decreased time of briefing, strategy preparation and helps us to check the acceptance of the planning.

After that global teams also moved to this approach

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.

Predictive Inventory Profitability System for Auto Parts. This custom-built inventory and data analytics platform was created to transform how auto parts businesses make purchasing and operational decisions. Developed in-house by our team at Straight Six, the system integrates and analyzes data from over 80,000 sales transactions across online and offline platforms, covering every dismantled vehicle since 2021. It offers real-time insights into break-even periods, return on time invested, and forecasted profits over customizable timeframes—monthly, quarterly, annually, or lifetime.

The system automates 99% of data processing tasks, reducing manual labor to near zero. It is structured as an intelligent spreadsheet-based platform that continuously consolidates financial and operational metrics—including cost of goods sold, sales performance, and cash flow—from all available channels. This has enabled the business to scale rapidly, with no added personnel, while increasing strategic accuracy in procurement.

What sets this solution apart is its adaptability: it can be reconfigured to fit different industries, languages, and company sizes, from single-operator businesses to enterprises with 1,000+ employees. The platform has become the foundation of our company’s exponential growth and is now being prepared for patenting, with interest already expressed by multiple external companies eager to implement it in their operations.

By turning raw transactional data into clear, actionable strategy, this system empowers data-driven decision-making at every level of the business. It not only reveals which investments generate the highest returns in the shortest time but also helps predict future profitability, enabling smarter, faster decisions. It is a living model of operational intelligence built from the ground up—by a business, for businesses.

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. ​

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.