Winners & Honorees

An internationally recognized Digital Marketing expert specializing in SEO, MarTech, and AI-driven growth strategies. An author of scholarly articles in the field of digital marketing. Has a proven track record of scaling products and driving measurable business impact across international markets. Widely recognized for developing advanced frameworks and integrating SEO into high-performance marketing ecosystems and business outcomes. Known for transforming SEO into a strategic driver of sustainable growth, lead generation, and digital innovation.

“Marketing excellence is defined by the ability to translate strategic innovation into measurable business outcomes. This award recognizes our commitment to building sustainable growth models that don't just capture traffic, but dominate competitive international markets through technical precision and market insight.”

Aksaule Abdullayeva is an international expert in aviation and tourism who has played a pivotal role in the establishment and scaling of FlyArystan (a subsidiary of Air Astana) as Kazakhstan's first low-cost airline. Her areas of responsibility include the launch and commercial development of the airline's international route network (covering Turkey, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia), the building of a sustainable sales system through GSA partners, and the negotiation of international contracts. She has been involved in key stages of the airline's institutional development, including the implementation of International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association standards, the expansion of the agency network, and the optimization of distribution channels. The tangible results of her work include the expansion of the route geography, growth in international sales, and the enhancement of Kazakhstan's accessibility as a regional aviation hub. The nomination "International Expert in Aviation" is substantiated by her measurable contribution to the development of cross-border cooperation — building partnerships with foreign markets, conducting negotiations, and concluding agreements on leading international industry platforms, including Arabian Travel Market and EMITT. Aksaule has not only ensured the airline's commercial presence abroad but has also contributed to the integration of aviation and tourism into a unified, export-oriented model for promoting the country. Her profile is further reinforced by her academic work in the fields of low-cost aviation and the digitalization of tourism services, demonstrating her ability to develop industry solutions at the intersection of practice and analytics.

“Every new international route opens thousands of opportunities for business, for tourism, for people. I am grateful for this recognition and consider it a confirmation that low-cost aviation in Kazakhstan has matured into a competitive industry with strong international potential.”

voestalpine Metsec plc · United Kingdom

Thomas Baumgartner (CFO of voestalpine Metsec plc) created and led the AI Test Labs, delivering an inspiring and fresh approach to digital transformation that put employees at the centre of how new technology was introduced and adopted. Rather than a traditional top‑down rollout, he deliberately reframed AI as a practical, people‑owned capability, enabling employees to shape how technology supports their daily work. The AI Test Labs were designed as immersive, three‑hour hands‑on workshops that created a safe and engaging environment for employees to explore AI tools directly. The atmosphere encouraged curiosity and experimentation, giving people time and freedom to play with new technology, test ideas, and learn by doing. This approach helped remove fear, build confidence, and make digital transformation accessible to employees across all levels and functions. Thomas developed a bottom‑up model that combined practical experimentation with clear governance, ensuring innovation could happen safely and responsibly. He personally championed AI across the business, communicating its value in plain language, addressing risks openly, and establishing trust through transparency. This ensured AI adoption was both enthusiastic and controlled. The impact has been measurable. Through 12 workshops, 40 percent of the workforce—including operations, manufacturing, and project engineering teams—received role‑relevant AI training. Satisfaction averaged 4.77 out of 5, 87 percent of participants requested further training, and AI adoption increased from around 20 percent to 80 percent. Employees identified 29 AI use cases spanning productivity, decision support, quality, safety, and learning. Some ideas were paused or rejected due to governance considerations, reinforcing responsible technology adoption. Several use cases are now embedded into daily working practices, delivering time savings, improved consistency, and better decision‑making. The AI Test Labs have driven a lasting cultural shift, with employees feeling trusted, inspired, and actively involved in leading digital transformation. This innovative, people‑first approach has been externally recognised, with voestalpine Metsec shortlisted for the Employee Engagement Award at the CBM Awards 2026.

Satenik Ghazaryan has been named Digital Marketing Strategist of the Year for her exceptional role as the chief architect behind the Armenia Digital Awards 2025 marketing ecosystem. By designing and executing a sophisticated, data-driven digital framework, she successfully scaled the project to a record-breaking 800 applications, demonstrating an elite level of market penetration and campaign efficiency. Beyond mere numbers, Satenik orchestrated a high-impact international outreach strategy that transcended regional boundaries, attracting high-value global participants and establishing the awards as a premier benchmark in the industry. Her leadership was instrumental in revolutionizing the brand’s positioning, resulting in exponential audience engagement and a formidable digital footprint that sets a new standard for strategic marketing excellence.

“True digital strategy is not just about visibility—it’s about creating a resonant brand narrative that bridges data with human connection. My goal for the Armenia Digital Awards was to build a global platform where innovation is accessible, and the results we achieved reflect the power of combining precise targeting with a visionary approach to market positioning”

SEReputation · Russia

Vitaly Shendrik is an innovative leader in online reputation management (ORM) and digital communications who bridges strategy, operations, and automation to deliver measurable business outcomes. Over 15+ years in the field, he has built and led high-performing ORM teams, including managing a 10-person department and designing end-to-end workflows for monitoring, triage, escalation, and crisis response. He translated complex, high-stakes reputation challenges into standardized operating procedures, quality controls, and training systems that improved speed, consistency, and scalability of delivery. Under his leadership, ORM operations achieved significant growth and performance gains, including a 5× increase in team capacity, 9× revenue growth for ORM services, 4× growth in ORM project volume, a 3.12× increase in average deal size, and a 3× improvement in customer lifetime value. His work is also recognized beyond one organization: he authored a 2024 monograph that systematizes ORM methodology and developed an AI-assisted bot that helps professionals apply reputation frameworks at scale. Vitaly’s leadership is defined by innovation with impact—turning expertise into repeatable systems that strengthen digital trust, protect brands, and drive sustainable business growth.

As the founder and technical lead of Trade-Engineering, Yerzhan Temerbayev has established himself as a preeminent figure in Kazakhstan’s industrial landscape. With a career spanning 29 years, he has spent nearly a decade at the helm of strategic automation projects for the metallurgy and energy sectors. His leadership was most recently demonstrated through the groundbreaking automation of a new flotation complex at the Donskoy Ore Mining and Processing Plant, part of the world-leading TNK Kazchrome (Eurasian Resources Group). This $40 million project represents a global technical milestone, implementing direct flotation technology for chromium sludge to process over 14.5 million tons of historical waste accumulated over half a century. Under Temerbayev’s technical guidance, a multi-disciplinary team of over 50 specialists integrated a fault-tolerant Siemens-based architecture that manages every stage of production—from waste recovery to the export of high-grade chromium concentrate to global markets including the USA, Japan, and the EU. His portfolio includes successful full-cycle implementations for national giants such as Aluminum of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Electrolysis Plant, and various strategic thermal power plants, solidifying his reputation for engineering excellence and operational reliability.

“Modern industrial automation is no longer just about optimizing mechanical processes; it is about creating an intelligent, resilient ecosystem that balances economic efficiency with environmental responsibility. Our work at the Donskoy flotation complex proves that through sophisticated engineering and fault-tolerant digital architecture, we can transform decades of industrial waste into valuable resources for the global steel industry. I believe that technical leadership lies in the ability to bridge the gap between ambitious environmental goals and the rigorous demands of heavy industry, ensuring that every solution we deploy today contributes to a sustainable and technologically sovereign future for Kazakhstan.”

Kuanysh Mustafin has demonstrated exceptional expertise in business scaling by transforming ABKTRANS from a local startup into a national leader in Kazakhstan’s LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) logistics sector, capturing up to 60% of the market share in key regions. His strategic leadership enabled the company to maintain stability and growth during post-pandemic market volatility through the implementation of innovative management models and a robust international partner network spanning China, Russia, and Germany. In 2024, Mr. Mustafin successfully executed a high-stakes international expansion, launching Green Moving LLC in the United States. Within its first year, the U.S. division achieved a near-perfect customer satisfaction rating of 4.96/5 and served over 500 clients, including more than 20 major corporate accounts. Under his direction, group revenue grew from $934,000 in 2023 to $1.3 million in 2024, with a projected increase to $1.5 million in 2025. This 30% growth trajectory, fueled by the U.S. expansion, solidifies his status as a premier expert in building scalable, sustainable, and globally integrated business models.

“True business scaling is not just about increasing volume; it is about the structural readiness of a system to replicate excellence across borders. By integrating advanced digital tracking and 'white-glove' service standards from Kazakhstan to the United States, we have proven that a well-architected business model knows no boundaries. Our goal is to continue building bridges between markets, ensuring that efficiency and reliability remain the global language of logistics.”

Performance Marketing Consultant · Kazakhstan

I am a performance marketing specialist focused on building scalable, data-driven customer acquisition systems for businesses operating in highly competitive markets. Over the past year, I developed and implemented a full-funnel marketing system for a beauty salon in Dubai, one of the most competitive premium service markets globally. The system integrated Meta Ads, WhatsApp-based conversion flows, and CRM analytics to track and optimize the entire customer journey from lead generation to revenue. As a result, the project generated over 765,000 AED in revenue (approximately $208,000 USD), with more than 1,600 completed customer conversions, while maintaining a stable cost per result in the range of $3.7–$5. What makes this achievement stand out is not only the scale of the results, but also the structured system behind them. Instead of relying on isolated advertising campaigns, I built an integrated acquisition framework that ensured consistent lead flow, predictable performance, and measurable business growth. The strategy included direct-response advertising, high-converting landing pages, messaging-based communication through WhatsApp, and structured media planning with budget forecasting, KPI planning, and ongoing optimization, significantly improving both conversion rates and lead quality. This approach enabled the business to scale sustainably while maintaining efficiency in a premium, highly competitive market environment. In addition to client results, my expertise is supported by international recognition, including Titan Business Awards (Gold Winner, Marketer of the Year), Vega Digital Awards (Silver Winner, Marketing Effectiveness), judging experience in international award programs, published research, and Meta professional certifications. Supporting Achievements and Recognition Titan Business Awards - Gold Winner, Marketer of the Year Vega Digital Awards - Silver Winner, Marketing Effectiveness Industry Judge at international award programs Published research in American Impact Review Meta Certified: Media Buying Professional Meta Certified: AI and Performance Marketing Specialist Professional membership in international marketing associations

Nanimai.tech · United States

As HR Director and Co-founder of Nanimai.tech I build and scale the HR function as a strategic driver of business growth in a fast-growing HR Tech startup transforming hiring through AI. At Nanimai.tech, I built the HR function from the ground up, designing the organizational structure, role architecture, and hiring processes aligned with business and product priorities. Within a year, the team nearly doubled in size, while significantly improving hiring speed and candidate quality. I introduced structured HR systems, including offer frameworks and performance review processes for the tech team, increasing transparency, accountability, and employee development. Beyond HR operations, I actively contribute to product and business development. I participated in shaping our AI-driven hiring solution, including a patented approach to candidate evaluation, strengthening the company’s competitive positioning in the HR Tech market. In 2025, Nanimai.tech successfully closed a pre-seed round and secured three government grants in Russia, validating both the product and the team’s strategic direction. In parallel, I am the Founder of Target4HR https://target4hr.com/en, a consulting and executive search practice focused on building leadership teams and improving HR efficiency. This dual perspective allows me to combine internal HR leadership with external market expertise. My professional expertise is recognized at both industry and international levels. I am the winner of the People Awards TOP 2024 in the nomination “HR Expert of the Year”. I also contribute to the development of the HR profession as: Co-author of the book “HR Business Partner” Author of the educational program “HR Director: HR Department Management – 2025” Jury member of international and national awards, including Globee Awards, Employee Wellbeing Award, and Young Entrepreneur of Russia I am also a member of the Association of Recruitment Consultants (AKPP) and have prior experience in a leading tech company (ex-Avito), which shapes my data-driven and business-oriented HR approach. Beyond HR, I actively contribute to business growth: spoke at an industry conference with 2000+ attendees, generating a pipeline of ~1200 potential clients support sales and client communication as an HR expert, strengthening trust in the product My approach positions HR as a strategic business function - directly impacting company growth, product quality, and market success through people, processes, and innovation.

Founder & CEO Havvo Express LLC

Kamalbek Jurayev was recognized as Logistics Executive of the Year for building one of the most operationally effective cross-border logistics platforms connecting the United States with Central Asia, Europe, and East Asia. Since founding Havvo Express in 2021, he has scaled the company from a single Brooklyn office to a multi-state U.S. infrastructure with operational hubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and a flagship warehouse in Delaware, supported by international offices and teams in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Under his leadership, Havvo Express has served more than 50,000 customers, processed over 800,000 shipments, and now exports approximately 1,000 metric tons of e-commerce and commercial cargo annually from the United States alone. In 2025, the company reached approximately $5 million in annual revenue, with active corridors covering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, and Hong Kong. His most distinctive contribution to the industry is the design of a consolidation-based international logistics model that integrates e-commerce aggregation, U.S. warehouse infrastructure, and direct airline cargo agreements into a single end-to-end system. By transforming individual online purchases into bulk international shipments, the model addresses a long-standing structural gap in the U.S.–Central Asia trade corridor, where conventional courier pricing had previously made cross-border e-commerce economically inaccessible. Today, Havvo Express serves both individual consumers and major commercial clients including DSN Group, Bioline, and KazVitamin. Beyond Havvo Express, Kamalbek serves as CEO of Abu Sahiy Cargo, leading further expansion of international shipping routes and cross-border logistics partnerships. His career spans more than two decades of leadership in international trade, beginning with international non-ferrous metals operations supplying Baltic and European markets, followed by pharmaceutical logistics across Central Asia and Europe.

“This award reflects more than one launch and more than one year of work. It is twenty years in international trade, relocations between countries, things lost and rebuilt. For me, logistics has always been about access — making sure a customer in Osh, Almaty, or Tashkent can receive the same goods as a buyer in New York, at a fair price. Havvo Express is the infrastructure that closes a gap the large global carriers ignored for decades. I am grateful to the team, partners, and clients who believed in this model when it was still an idea on paper.”

For pioneering the integration of AI-driven solutions within international compliance and cross-border logistics. Over the period of 2022–2024, Zhunis has redefined the standards of debt recovery and sanction monitoring by leveraging digital transformation. His work through the Compliance & Recovery Hub has provided the global business community with a sophisticated framework for navigating high-risk environments, ensuring operational continuity through innovative automated systems and peer-reviewed legal methodologies.

“The future of global trade lies at the intersection of legal precision and technological agility. By harnessing AI, we aren't just automating processes; we are building a more transparent, resilient, and compliant global economy. This award is a testament to our commitment to turning complex international challenges into seamless digital solutions.”

Achievement Nikita Simakov is a product leader with over seven years of experience in consumer and B2B2C products. He has held senior roles at Yandex, Avito, and Sidekick Browser, which was acquired by Perplexity. Most recently he led commerce at Whitelark.io, a payment orchestration platform, where he designed a full GTM strategy in one month and saved the sales team over $50,000 through AI-driven execution. As CRO and CPO at Gentlyx, an AI entertainment startup, Nikita scaled the product to more than one million monthly active users within four months of launch and crossed $50,000 in revenue. He built the entire operations and execution layer from scratch and managed a team of twenty-plus people across support, KYC/AML, and metrics. At Sidekick Browser, where he served as CPO ahead of the acquisition by Perplexity, he tripled daily active users over ten months, lifted activation by 15%, and grew revenue by roughly 300% through monetization and pricing experiments. He onboarded over two hundred teams in under three months and managed a thirty-person cross-functional team shipping weekly. At Yandex, Nikita led international LegalTech product development, secured five design-partner pre-sales, and reached $20,000 ARR in early commercialization. Earlier, he launched two mini-apps inside the Yandex SuperApp that reached one million daily active users, designed three new search scenarios for SERP and Yandex Alice that grew ad revenue by around 8%, and ran over a hundred A/B tests backed by deep customer discovery. Before product, he worked as a management consultant at PwC, leading workstreams in top Russian banks on operating-model redesign for compliance and regulatory reporting. Outside his executive roles, Nikita contributes to Reforge with publications on product-market fit and strategy, co-created Heycard (a fintech app for spending crypto via bank card), and advises Hyperspace, an AI marketplace platform. His work has reached enterprise and government clients, from Samruk-Kazyna and the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan to the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation.

“People call it product intuition. For me it's pattern recognition built on hundreds of interviews and a lot of failed experiments. At Sidekick we tripled DAU in ten months because we shipped weekly and stopped overthinking. At Gentlyx we hit 1M MAU in four months the same way — move fast, fix what's broken, repeat. This award means a lot because BIBA recognizes results over titles. Thanks to the community for that.”

Saltanat Bekturganova is an internationally recognized expert in airline sales, international route development, and premium customer service. Her professional career encompasses positions within the Emirates Group, including Arabian Adventures and Emirates Airlines, as well as roles with leading international premium hospitality brands in the UAE. Operating in multinational corporate environments, Saltanat has consistently driven sustainable revenue growth, strengthened global brand positioning, and delivered performance that regularly exceeded KPI targets. In 2024, Saltanat contributed to the commercial integration and launch support for Emirates' new routes in Asia, including Da Nang, Siem Reap, and Shenzhen. In 2023, she was named winner of the international Alliance Top Award in the Business & Economy category, in the Strategic Growth Expert nomination. In 2025, she was honored as a laureate of the BIBA Global Award in the "Innovation Leader of the Year" category, recognizing her strategic contribution to the development of the international aviation industry.

“Success in the global aviation industry transcends the simple act of connecting two points on a map; it requires the creation of a sustainable ecosystem where commercial strategy and cultural intelligence converge. My professional focus remains on developing scalable sales models that anticipate market shifts and transform new destinations into profitable long-term assets. To me, international route development is the art of synchronizing operational excellence with the ever-evolving needs of the global traveler.”

Vegberry Middle East Farm Management and Operation L.L.C · USA

Architect of the Fresh & UltraFresh transformation in retail, now driving international AgriTech innovation. She redefined industry competition — shifting it from price-driven dynamics to ecosystem-based value creation powered by strategic partnerships and digital technologies.

“The era of transactional retail is over. We have reached a point of no return where competition is no longer based on price, but on the strength of the ecosystems we build. Success today belongs to those who can replace the 'buyer-supplier' dictate with deep strategic integration—from blockchain-backed transparency to AI-driven demand precision.”