🏆 ECDMA Global Awards 2025 Winners

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.

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.

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.

Iana 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.

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.

Short Summary Following McDonald’s exit from Kazakhstan in 2023, we faced the urgent challenge of building a new brand that could win consumer trust and compete in a fiercely competitive QSR market. In November 2023, we introduced I’M Restaurants, marking the start of our journey to establish a distinctive identity. I had a unique chance to lead the development and execution of the Qazan Burger campaign during Nauryz (March–April 2024) to accelerate brand recognition and restore sales momentum. This strategic initiative leveraged deep consumer insights, cultural storytelling, and a high-impact multi-channel strategy to position I’M as a locally relevant and emotionally resonant brand. The results exceeded expectations: +17% sales growth, record-breaking product performance, and a surge in brand awareness. By transforming skepticism into loyalty, the campaign proved that a locally inspired brand can not only survive but thrive against global competitors. Brief description of the setting and circumstances: McDonald’s sudden exit from the Kazakhstani market in 2023 presented a significant challenge for the company. We successfully launched the new brand “I’m Restaurants” with a smooth transition and overwhelmingly positive reception, not only in Kazakhstan but also across the CIS region. However, after an initial surge in sales, demand dropped sharply, marking the beginning of our journey to establish a unique brand identity. With intense competition in Kazakhstan’s quick-service restaurants industry, rivals quickly moved to capture the market share left by McDonald’s, using aggressive promotions, new product launches, and increased marketing efforts to challenge our brand. “I’m” found itself in a unique situation that required swift decision-making, a strategic approach, and effective communication to emphasize its local identity while maintaining international standards. This was a critical moment for the business, as we experienced a decline in customer visits and sales. Our main objective was not only to retain our existing customers but to strengthen their loyalty and lay the foundation for the brand’s long-term success. Rebuilding trust and reconnecting with our audience was essential to ensuring a smooth transition. We aimed to show that I’M was more than just a new brand—it was a part of local culture. We decided to launch a campaign during the national holiday of Nauryz, which is traditionally a time of heightened advertising activity, making it essential for us not just to attract attention but to forge a deep emotional connection with our audience. Goals: – Recover sales lost after McDonald’s exit. – Establish “I’m” as a familiar and trusted brand within the local market. Key Strategies: – Launch a Limited-Time Offer (LTO) featuring Qazan Burger and Chicken Qazan, tailored to local taste preferences. – Partner with popular Kazakhstani singer Raim to enhance emotional engagement through celebrity endorsement. Target Audience: Young adults aged 18–35 in cities where I’m Restaurants operate (Almaty, Astana, Karaganda, Kostanay, Aktobe, and Atyrau). This demographic is highly engaged with quick servicve restaurants and enjoys trying new menu items. Market research revealed that local consumers particularly value juiciness and spice in burgers. Using these insights, the Qazan Burger and Chicken Qazan were developed to cater to their preferences.

As a Senior Cloud Quality Engineering Specialist at SAP, I work within the fast-paced e-commerce domain, ensuring the stability and scalability of SAP Commerce Cloud. My achievements, such as reducing solution provisioning times from 6 months to 1 day, implementing proactive monitoring systems, and setting quality standards, address the critical need for reliable, efficient, and customer-focused solutions. These contributions have empowered clients to optimize their operations and maximize their technology investments in a competitive digital marketplace.

As the SEO Expert for Solomia Home, a luxury furniture brand based in the UAE, I spearheaded a digital marketing campaign that transformed the brand’s online presence from nonexistent to globally recognized within one year, starting in December 2023. Initially, the website had no traffic, no rankings, and zero visibility in the highly competitive luxury furniture market. Facing challenges like frequent Google algorithm updates in 2024, I drove exponential growth in organic traffic by targeting a discerning luxury audience searching for premium furniture brands and interior design solutions. My SEO strategies not only generated clicks and users but delivered a highly targeted audience, boosting Solomia Home’s visibility—including in AI-powered search answers—and establishing it as a trusted name for affluent customers worldwide. This nomination reflects my ability to achieve exceptional results, building a luxury brand from scratch and securing global reach through innovative SEO.

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.

Anvar Bogdanov has built a unique career by turning deep customer understanding into a powerful business driver. With roots in law enforcement and entrepreneurship, he has consistently applied psychological insight and structured thinking to the field of marketing. Today, as an independent consultant, Anvar leads customer development (CustDev) initiatives for businesses across the heating equipment, medical supply, and digital sectors — consistently delivering measurable sales growth and product-market alignment.
His standout contribution lies in a distinctive approach to CustDev, which he has refined into a practical framework that directly influences marketing strategy, sales funnels, and product design. Unlike traditional customer surveys, Anvar’s method uses in-depth psychological probing to uncover not only customer pain points but also subconscious drivers of purchase behavior. He carefully constructs each interview to create trust and provoke genuine insights — often culminating in the customer purchasing the product during the interview itself.

If payment is secured, the same script is reused for others. If not, the questions are refined — creating a continuous feedback loop that evolves in real time based on actual purchasing behavior. The learnings are then transformed into specific marketing triggers, updated sales scripts, blog content, and social media creatives. This system ensures that marketing speaks the language of the customer — literally using their own words, priorities, and emotions.

Thanks to this approach, Anvar has helped clients significantly increase funnel conversion rates and discover unmet customer needs, leading to the launch of new revenue-generating product lines. His strategy doesn’t just improve campaigns — it transforms businesses by putting the customer’s voice at the center of every decision.

This nomination recognizes Anvar Bogdanov’s outstanding work in creating a living, adaptive, and customer-driven marketing system that delivers both commercial success and lasting brand loyalty.

Social Media Marketing Campaign: launching a new strategy for the company’s new account Digital platform of the Campaign: Instagram About the agency: KIOSKO is a global digital agency that excels in social media marketing for exceptional businesses throughout Russia, the CIS, and now the United States. The agency boasts a diverse portfolio of clients, including Michelin-starred chefs, major international restaurant groups, television networks, top-tier recruitment agencies, and influential bloggers with vast audiences. With over ten years in the industry, KIOSKO has established a reputation for delivering customized strategies tailored to the unique needs of each client, guiding them through all phases of execution. This expertise has led numerous prestigious brands to choose KIOSKO over larger, more recognizable firms. Specializing in the creation and implementation of highly effective social media marketing strategies, KIOSKO consistently achieves fast results within tight deadlines, further solidifying its standing as an industry leader. Client: ManpowerGroup (Russia) About the client: ManpowerGroup stands as a global leader in workforce solutions, dedicated to helping organizations navigate the rapidly evolving world of work. By offering expert services in talent sourcing, assessment, development, and management, ManpowerGroup enables companies to transform and achieve lasting success. At the same time, the company connects millions of individuals to meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities, empowering them to thrive in their careers and personal lives. Through its innovative approach, ManpowerGroup shapes the future of work, creating positive outcomes for both businesses and people across the globe. Key Campaign Challenges: The task involved designing and executing a comprehensive SMM growth strategy for a newly launched company’s account in Instagram (with fewer than 100 followers) exhibiting critically low engagement levels. The strategy needed to address the client’s primary objectives, which included:

• Achieving significant audience reach
• No budget for paid promotion, focusing solely on content marketing
• Creating a distinct and visually cohesive brand identity across the account

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.

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.

The nomination of Olena Iashchenko arises from a period of extreme volatility in global markets, accelerated digital transformation, and unprecedented levels of information noise. As Vice President of Glad Selena Corporation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Olena was tasked with developing sustainable digital marketing strategies capable of delivering business outcomes across diverse sectors — from retail and finance to technology and education — during periods marked by declining consumer confidence, budget constraints, and content oversaturation. Her response was a breakthrough framework: Minimalist Adaptive Marketing, integrating behavioral analytics, omnichannel alignment, emotional content design, and data personalization to generate meaningful consumer interactions in resource-restricted environments. Her methodology was not only implemented at scale across North America and Eastern Europe but also transformed into a replicable model adopted by businesses and educational institutions, positioning her as a global expert on marketing resilience and efficiency.

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.

In this case, we provided a promo code with a discount coupon to customers identified by our AI/ML system as high-risk for churn. Our goal was to use deep learning and ML algorithms to pinpoint customers who were likely to discontinue purchases with us and offer them an exclusive discount to incentivize them to stay with Metro.
We conducted an A/B test, which demonstrated with 99.83% probability of being the best variant that offering a discount coupon increases purchases by 7.2% and helps reduce customer churn by up to 10%.
We developed and implemented a specialized AI/ML churn prediction model, trained on real-world data from Metro’s e-commerce CRM system. This model identified users with a 70% probability of churn. We then conducted an A/B test, offering a 15% discount promo code to half of these users while withholding it from the other half. The results confirmed that users who received the promo code were significantly more motivated to make a purchase.
To combat e-commerce churn, we built an AI model analyzing CRM data to predict at-risk customers (70%+ accuracy). Through A/B testing, high-risk users receiving 15% discount codes showed: -Significant conversion lift; -Improved long-term engagement; -Validated predictive model. Proving ML-driven retention works, future optimizations will personalize offers by customer value.

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.

Over the past decade, Yurii Vasenko has become a respected and influential figure in the SEO industry, particularly known for his deep technical expertise, measurable performance outcomes, and ability to translate complex SEO strategies into tangible business growth. With the digital landscape becoming increasingly saturated and algorithmically complex, Yurii carved out a unique position by focusing on technically demanding and performance-driven SEO projects that require both strategic insight and engineering precision.

From 2021 to 2024, Yurii has led multiple high-impact initiatives across two distinct but interrelated domains: (1) managing a portfolio of SEO-driven affiliate platforms that generated over $1.14 million in partner revenue, and (2) providing consulting and execution services for government institutions and industrial enterprises, where he engineered transformative improvements in visibility, conversions, and public reach. At the same time, he contributed to the professional development of the SEO community as the author of “Deep Technical Analysis of a Website: A Manual for SEO Professionals,” widely used among Eastern European practitioners.

Natalia Maximova’s professional journey stands as a benchmark for what strategic digital leadership can achieve in today’s fast-moving market. With a career defined by precision, creativity, and a performance-first mindset, Natalia has redefined customer engagement, retention, and sales growth within the e-commerce sector.

As Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of a premium direct-to-consumer audio equipment brand, Natalia led a transformation that resulted in a staggering increase in revenue—from just $4,500 in 2022 to $3.38 million in 2024. Her approach blends deep customer insight with highly targeted performance marketing strategies, using advanced analytics, personalized funnels, and mobile-first UX to drive acquisition and lifetime value. Her work is characterized by discipline, experimentation, and consistent optimization, backed by a clear vision of digital growth.

Beyond execution, Natalia plays a central role in shaping brand identity and strategic positioning. She has built a loyal customer base through thoughtful storytelling, superior digital service, and intelligent use of owned and paid media. Her impact is measurable not only in revenue but in sustained brand equity, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Natalia’s application impressed the jury with its clarity, results, and strategic coherence. She embodies what the ECDMA Global Awards celebrate: measurable excellence, innovation, and leadership in digital marketing.

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.

The development of the program “Snapshot Testing for UI Consistency in SwiftUI and UIKit” is officially protected by patent No. 2025610028, registered with the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent). It was created in response to the increasing demand for high-quality user interfaces in mobile applications and is designed for free use. This tool ensures high accuracy and automation of the UI testing process, minimizing display errors across various devices. My goal is to make a significant contribution to the industry by providing iOS developers with an accessible and efficient tool that meets modern quality standards and helps to raise them even further.
“Snapshot Testing for UI Consistency in SwiftUI and UIKit” Project Objectives: Provide automated and highly accurate testing of user interfaces for iOS applications. Simplify interface development for various devices and screen orientations. Minimize display errors and improve the visual consistency of interfaces. Project Description: The program is designed for automated testing of user interfaces in iOS applications. It leverages the Snapshot Testing approach to compare visual changes in the interface with pre-saved reference images. This helps developers quickly detect unintended changes and maintain the visual quality of their applications. Key components of the program: Core Module – SnapshotTestCase.swift: Defines the required device and OS version for testing. Configures the visual comparison tool (ksdiff) and disables animations for stable testing. Array+Images.swift Module: Extends arrays to work with snapshot testing strategies. Supports precision and subpixel threshold settings for image comparison. SnapshotTesting+Extensions.swift Module: Adds functionality for testing SwiftUI and UIKit components. Includes methods to test across various devices and configurations. UITraitCollection+Extensions.swift Module: Provides predefined configurations for different iPhone models, including screen orientations. Technical Features: Programming Language: Swift. Frameworks: SwiftUI, UIKit. Testing Type: Snapshot Testing. Devices: Supports iPhones (including various models), iPads, and different screen orientations. Flexibility: Customizable precision parameters and device configurations. Key Benefits: Automated Testing: Reduces manual effort and minimizes human errors. Supports cross-platform solutions for interface testing. Flexibility and Precision: Configurable testing parameters, such as pixel precision and screen sizes. Supports multiple device configurations. Accelerated Development: Identifies errors in the early stages, reducing the time to release updates. Simplifies application maintenance through precise change control. Compliance with Modern Standards: Aligns with Apple guidelines. Utilizes modern technologies like SwiftUI. Implementation Results: Reduced development time by 40%. Increased visual consistency of interfaces to 95%. Improved user ratings for applications utilizing the technology. Accelerated update release cycles and enhanced interface stability. Uniqueness: The project is protected by a patent (No. 2025610028) and offers an innovative approach to user interface testing, making it an indispensable tool for iOS developers. Future Goals: Expand the functionality of the program. Integrate with additional CI/CD tools. Promote the project among developers for widespread industry adoption.

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.

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.

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.

With over 10 years of experience in the market, Kazarian Marketing provides a full range of services tailored specifically for businesses. Our primary clientele comprises 80% organizations involved in the auctioning of real estate, including one-bedroom apartments, houses, historical buildings, deposits, manufacturing sites, and land plots. We primarily serve real estate agents and auctioneers from Russia, Armenia, Cyprus, and Kazakhstan. Our expertise lies in delivering a complete online marketing cycle, focusing mainly on paid advertising across all possible platforms, with the selection being project-dependent. Our dedicated team consists of skilled professionals, including designers, copywriters, content marketers, web developers, photographers, and videographers, ensuring that we can meet the diverse needs of our clients and help them achieve their marketing goals effectively.

Alexey Artemov is a Data & AI Solutions Architect specializing in designing and implementing scalable data processing platforms with AI integration for retail enterprises and industries with stringent security and regulatory compliance requirements.

Oleg Mikhelson initially created PostgreCare in January 2019 and actively developed significant feature enhancements from 2021 through 2024. The driving force behind PostgreCare was the clear industry gap between simplistic, unreliable maintenance scripts and heavyweight enterprise solutions like pgBackRest and Barman, which require significant investments and expertise. PostgreCare occupies this essential niche by providing SMBs with advanced database maintenance automation at minimal costs, minimal resource usage, and virtually no specialist intervention once deployed. Initially developed for Kazakhstan’s rapidly growing SMB e-commerce sector, PostgreCare quickly demonstrated its practical value, becoming an essential infrastructure for local businesses managing between 1GB and 200GB databases. Clients ranged across multiple industries, such as fashion, electronics, home goods, grocery delivery, and various online marketplaces. In the context of regional digitalization initiatives and infrastructure independence, PostgreCare has provided tangible, accessible solutions to businesses that historically lacked sufficient technical resources or external support. The solution’s unique approach to automation, ease of implementation, and lightweight system footprint have directly contributed to sustained business growth and technological empowerment for SMBs throughout Kazakhstan and neighboring CIS markets.

A transformative AI-driven system that unified sales, support, inventory, and marketing through intelligent automation—saving 40+ hours weekly, boosting forecast accuracy to 92%, and reducing customer response time from hours to seconds. This innovation empowered real-time decision-making and delivered measurable gains in efficiency, revenue, and customer satisfaction.
Developed a centralized AI-driven system for a leading supplier of laboratory equipment. that gathers, processes, and analyzes data from across an entire organization — turning raw data into strategic, coordinated actions.
Think of it like the “brain” of digital operations.
When AI agents (Sales Agent, Marketing Agent, Inventory Agent, Support Agent, Analytics Agent) communicate within a Central Intelligence System like expert teammates, they form an intelligent network where each agent performs a specialized task but shares data and decisions to optimize outcomes across the business. This leads to faster, smarter decisions across the company.

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.

Aleksey 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.

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.

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.

Daria Shiian exemplifies a new generation of strategic brand designers who seamlessly merge design thinking with technology to deliver measurable transformation for emerging businesses. As Art Director at DD.NYC Agency, Daria has redefined how digital branding can operate at the intersection of premium aesthetics, scalable systems, and cross-cultural relevance. Her methodology centers on converting tactical design outputs into enduring brand systems—empowering small and medium-sized businesses to build sustainable, self-sufficient brand ecosystems.

Daria’s impact spans both creative innovation and business performance. Her projects—ranging from award-winning AI-integrated design for Kinode, immersive digital experiences for the Women of Vision Awards, to comprehensive educational ecosystems like SVCH—demonstrate how technology enhances brand storytelling and user engagement. The Addicts Collective, her own venture, pushes the boundaries of retail branding through AI-driven product cataloging, AR-enhanced packaging, and omnichannel content automation.

What distinguishes Daria’s approach is her ability to democratize high-level brand strategy—once exclusive to large corporations—making it accessible to growing enterprises. By embedding brand architecture into digital infrastructures, she enables clients to scale brand presence in real time while ensuring cultural adaptability and narrative coherence.

Her work leads to quantifiable outcomes: improved conversion rates, extended customer lifecycles, and elevated brand perception. In a digital-first economy, Daria Shiian’s vision offers not just design—but strategic, technological, and emotional clarity for brands ready to lead.

Alena Lipina has emerged as a transformative figure in the field of Human Resources, particularly in digital and e-commerce sectors, through her innovative application of artificial intelligence in personnel management. As companies navigate the evolving demands of talent acquisition and retention, Alena’s work stands out as a beacon of modern HR transformation. From pioneering ethical AI practices to ensuring employee well-being while enhancing efficiency, her contributions have resonated within the HR community, marking her as a forward-thinking leader in the digital age. Her active membership in global HR associations such as the American Economic Association and various regional HR networks has positioned her as an influential voice in the discourse on AI integration in human resources. Alena’s leadership in these environments, coupled with her innovative approach to AI application, has contributed to a positive shift in the adoption of advanced HR solutions in the e-commerce landscape.

I am a Technology Strategist. One of my clients was a big retail chain with a large volume of online sales. They had a huge volume of customer transaction data and wanted to use it to improve the quality of product supply forecasting. My task was to analyze the client’s business needs and current state and then prepare and implement an innovative strategy to achieve the goals.

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.

I am a software engineer specializing in civic technology, with a focus on building open, scalable tools for public participation. Since 2022, I have been a contributor to Decidim—an open-source platform for participatory democracy used by governments and institutions around the world. Decidim powers citizen participation processes in cities like Barcelona, Helsinki, Paris, and Zurich. In 2024, the Brazilian federal government formalized a national-level partnership with the Decidim Association, aiming to bring the platform to millions of citizens. My work has been part of this ecosystem. Over the past years, I have contributed to the platform’s architecture, improved its modularity, and led the development of new features. In 2023, I played a leading role in one of Decidim’s most ambitious technical evolutions: integrating a full digital voting system into the platform. Before this work, Decidim supported deliberative processes, proposals, and participatory budgeting, but it lacked the ability to conduct formal voting within its core. Institutions that wanted to run verifiable digital votes had to rely on external or closed-source tools, which often conflicted with the transparency and autonomy values that define civic tech. I was responsible for designing and implementing the core elements that made voting possible directly within Decidim. That included the backend logic, admin flows, participant-facing voting interface, scheduling system, result display, and public traceability. I worked to ensure that the module followed platform conventions, was easy to adopt by cities and organizations, and could operate without introducing unnecessary complexity. This development has already been used in real-world decision-making contexts, such as the Decidim Association’s General Assembly. At the same time, all of this work was published as free and open-source software. I ensured the module was cleanly structured, documented, and extendable—allowing others to build on it across countries and contexts. My role combined technical leadership with product thinking and a deep understanding of how public-sector technology must work: reliably, transparently, and under public control. This nomination reflects both my technical contribution to a key innovation in Decidim and my broader commitment to building open, civic-focused digital infrastructure that can serve millions of people, today and in the future.

Aleksei Grigorenko has transformed car audio sales through innovative direct sales strategies. By combining a high-performance website with personalized customer interactions via Facebook, he created a unique sales ecosystem that bypasses traditional retail channels. His approach focuses on building trust and delivering tailored solutions in a niche market where personal connection drives success. Key Context Points: Industry Challenge: Premium car audio customers often prefer hands-on buying experiences. Solution: Personalized sales consultations via Facebook Messenger paired with a streamlined website checkout process. Outcome: Significant growth in customer retention and average order value through relationship-based selling. Revenue Growth: Scaled from 4,492 USD (2022 year) to 3,38M USD (2024 year) Team: Built remote team of specialists

ThinkAd was created to address a critical challenge faced by small businesses selling on Amazon: the complexity and inefficiency of managing advertising campaigns. Many small business owners lack the expertise, time, and resources to effectively optimize their Amazon PPC campaigns, leading to wasted ad spend and unprofitable sales. Recognizing this gap, ThinkAd developed an AI-powered advertising automation platform designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. The platform automates keyword bidding, budget allocation, and campaign optimization, enabling sellers to reduce wasted ad spend, improve profitability, and scale their businesses efficiently. Since its launch, ThinkAd has been tested by over 100 small business owners and has demonstrated measurable improvements in Advertising Cost of Sales (ACoS), Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), and overall ad performance. The platform has already contributed to the success of well-known U.S.-based brands such as Handcraft Blends, Brooklyn Botany, and New York Biology, helping them scale their operations and increase sales. With a commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and economic growth, ThinkAd is not just a software tool—it is a business enabler that empowers small businesses to compete effectively in the Amazon marketplace.

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.”

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.

Alena Astravukh is a visionary leader in digital marketing who leveraged her expertise to position a leading IT outsourcing firm at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation. In a highly competitive industry, Alena spearheaded the launch of an AI-focused microsite, supported by a network of satellite websites and cutting-edge AI tools for content and image generation. Her mission was to drive brand visibility, elevate keyword rankings, and rapidly generate high-quality marketing-qualified leads (MQLs). Through her strategic leadership and innovative approach, Alena set a new benchmark for integrating AI into digital marketing campaigns, achieving measurable results in a matter of months.