25 HR Cases, 200 Participants, and New Employer Branding Standards: Highlights from the First HUMANRISE Awards in Kazakhstan
On June 4, 2026, Almaty hosted the first HUMANRISE Case Conference and Awards — a new professional platform recognizing outstanding projects in human capital management, employer branding, and corporate culture across Central Asia and the Caucasus.
The event was organized by Smart Solutions as part of Eclectic Talents Group.
The conference brought together around 200 participants, including CEOs, HR Directors, HR professionals, employer branding experts, marketers, and media representatives. Attendees explored modern approaches to talent management, corporate culture development, HR digitalization, employee learning, and engagement.
The conference was opened by Tetyana Skachko, CEO of Smart Solutions in Central Asia and the Caucasus. She shared the company’s expertise in the HR services market and highlighted the importance of a systematic approach to employer branding as one of the key drivers of sustainable business growth.
“Investing in an employer brand means investing in business resilience. A strong employer brand helps attract and retain top talent, increase employee engagement, and strengthen corporate culture. Today, employer branding is an essential part of the business strategy of successful organizations,” – said Tetyana Skachko.
Smart Solutions consistently supports the development of the regional HR community. Since 2024, the company has organized more than 20 business breakfasts, 15 webinars, and online conferences dedicated to labor market trends, changes in employment legislation, leadership, and employer branding.
One of the key highlights of the conference was the panel discussion “Corporate Culture as a Strategy: How Companies Build an Environment Where People Choose to Stay,” moderated by Tetyana Skachko. The session brought together leaders of international companies and prominent HR professionals from across the region, who shared practical insights into building strong corporate cultures and retaining talent.
A distinctive feature of HUMANRISE was its highly practical format: all nominees presented their projects directly to the professional jury and the HR community. In total, 25 projects were showcased across categories dedicated to corporate culture, learning and development, digital HR solutions, wellbeing initiatives, and internal communications.
A special recognition from Smart Solutions — the “Strategic HR Partner’s Choice Award” — was presented to Efes Kazakhstan for its One Idea University project, which demonstrated an innovative approach to employee development and corporate learning.
The first HUMANRISE Awards marked an important milestone in the development of the HR community across Central Asia and the Caucasus, creating a new platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of best practices in employer branding.
For Smart Solutions, participation in HUMANRISE reflects the company’s mission to help businesses build strong teams, develop leadership capabilities, and implement modern approaches to human capital management. As an international company with Ukrainian roots, Smart Solutions has been supporting organizations for more than 17 years in talent acquisition, HR consulting, outsourcing, and employer brand development.
Today, Smart Solutions operates across eight international markets, combining local expertise with global HR practices. The company actively invests in the development of professional communities, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange among HR leaders, business executives, and industry experts.
We believe that the future of competitive organizations depends not only on business performance but also on their ability to create environments where people can realize their full potential.
