Company: EPAM Systems
Company Description: Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. has leveraged its advanced software engineering heritage to become the foremost global digital transformation services provider – leading the industry in digital and physical product development and digital platform engineering services. Our globally deployed teams help make the future real for clients and communities around the world
Nomination Category: Thought Leadership Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Thought Leader of The Year - Business Services
 Nomination Title: Elaina Shekhter
- Which will you submit for this nomination, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated individual, OR written answers to the questions for this category? CHOOSE ONE:
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
Elaina Shekhter
SVP, CMO and Head of Strategy
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this first question: Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 198 words used.
In 2015, Elaina Shekhter became EPAM’s first CMO and Head of Strategy. Since then, the company has experienced tremendous growth and improvement in EPAM’s internal and external marketing activities. EPAM’s 2021 revenue demonstrates the continuation of EPAM’s +40% year-over-year growth with revenues of $3.8 billion. Prior to joining EPAM, Elaina held leadership roles with Carlson Companies, including Head of Retail and Entertainment for 24K. She was also a manager with EY Consulting, specializing in CRM and analytics engagements. Elaina holds a master’s degree in information systems and bachelor’s degrees in economic theory and political science from The American University. As Head of Strategy, Elaina has been instrumental in establishing new specializations in RPA & IA, Artificial Intelligence, and Metaverse. A sample of EPAM’s most recent acquisitions facilitated by Elaina are Emakina, a leading group of independent digital agencies, Optiva Media, a cutting-edge media and telecommunications leader, and S4N, a leading software development services firm in Latin America. Elaina established EPAM’s flagship ESG program, eKids, to support tech education for at-risk youth. As the first CMO of EPAM, Elaina has successfully served as a true bridge between EPAM’s engineering culture and the new facets of this fast-growing network.
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this second question: Outline the nominee's thought leadership achievements since 1 January 2020 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
In the past two years, Elaina has significantly scaled EPAM’s product marketing department to support a growing catalog of accelerators, products, and IP to support clients. Elaina engaged our SolutionsHub platform, an invaluable and efficient response to the pandemic, by making COVID-specific solutions available quickly including GENTL masks with open-source design and the award-winning COVID Resistance app, and partnered with UNICEF to provide anonymized contact tracing.
The Ukrainian war created new challenges to EPAM immediately after the upheaval of COVID. Elaina led initiatives to provide relief to 14,000+ EPAMers and their families, coordinating transportation, aid, housing, relocation services, and initiating the EPAM Ukraine Assistance Fund. Other efforts include launching EPAM’s eKids program to host a series of online camps and ongoing financial and emotional support. Elaina was instrumental in creating the EPAM Ukraine Assistance Fund supporting charitable aid organizations that provide directly to those involved in the situation across Ukraine.
With Elaina’s guidance, EPAM has navigated two major world upheavals while maintaining top-in-class customer service and ensuring the health and safety of our 63,000+ employees. She also guided EPAM as a founding member of the MACH Alliance, a non-profit cooperation to help enterprise organizations navigate the complex modern technology landscape. The alliance brings a joint marketing strategy to support the momentum for widespread adoption of cloud. She represents EPAM in its investment in the Go Philly Fund to support regional venture funding for seed and early-stage companies, including as a board member of recent EPAM seed investment, SigmaLedger.
- If you are providing written answers to the questions for this category, you must answer this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Elaina’s contributions to EPAM’s success are numerous, her deep understanding of the market, client demand and start-up, and creative leadership approach have had a direct influence on EPAM’s ability to continuously grow and pivot in today’s challenging environments. In 2020, Gartner’s named EPAM one of the two best-positioned IT services provides due to Elaina’s commitment to our product engineering heritage and superior proprietary systems.
Elaina on the importance of the MACH Alliance, “we see real pressure these days to adapt nearly every aspect of global business, and to do so faster and more efficiently than ever. These new demands call for an expanded set of choices that are enabled by modern architectures and capabilities brought together by the MACH Alliance.” Elaina understands the market trends and capabilities that customers are looking for and utilizes EPAM’s engineering skills across a variety of services to create new products.
The programs she established have allowed the company to quickly shift during the COVID pandemic and the recent war in Ukraine while ensuring employees and clients remain connected and engaged. She has been instrumental in setting up the programs that have direct impact on our ability to grow as an organization from a business perspective but also provide for the care of our people, setting EPAM up for future growth to act globally and impact locally. EPAM’s response to two major world crises relied on Elaina’s expertise in both marketing and technology and a humanitarian eye for our people and their lived realities.
- You have the option to reference here any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 151 words used.
2021 EPAM Earnings Report
MACH Alliance Premier: An overview of the MACH Alliance’s membership, priorities, talents, and next steps to energize the industry including a webinar with Elaina as a key speaker.
EPAM Ukraine Assistance Fund
Go Philly Fund
UNICEF Press Release / EPAM has partnered with UNICEF: EPAM’s partnership with UNICEF, using our technology to create a relationship with a key international organization at the center of addressing the global pandemic.
Community
COVID Response CSR: EPAM’s CSR program, through Elaina’s guidance, transitioned CSR funding to local COVID initiatives, thus far estimated to be at $1.2M in order to offer crisis support on the ground in the regions EPAM serves and works.
EPAM NEO: Currently the pilot program offers 6 4-month courses and has university instructors and EPAM employees teaching IT classes remotely throughout the nation for employees, prospects, students, and anyone interested in the field.
Best Places to Work Summary
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
