How the ECDMA Global Awards Are Rewriting the Script for Digital Recognition

An exclusive interview with Eugene Mischenko, President of the E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Association (ECDMA), by Sam Johnson for BizzBuzz | May 2025

n an industry saturated with flash campaigns, buzzword-laden pitch decks, and automated LinkedIn applause, genuine professional recognition can be surprisingly hard to come by. That's why the recent ECDMA Global Awards 2025 caused such a stir—not just for their sleek presentation or wide reach, but for something much rarer: integrity. With more than 350 entries from across the globe and a judging process that took itself as seriously as the work it sought to recognize, the inaugural edition of the Awards signaled something new and needed.

We spoke with Eugene Mischenko, founder of the E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Association and the driving force behind this initiative, to understand why he believes the way we reward excellence in e-commerce and marketing needs to change—and how the ECDMA Global Awards are setting a new standard for the industry.

Eugene, congratulations on the launch. The response has been overwhelming. What made you believe now was the right time to create the ECDMA Global Awards?

Eugene Mischenko: Thank you. Honestly, it’s been building for years. The more I consulted, judged other programs, and worked with teams, the more I saw a gap. We have brilliant professionals running growth models, lifecycle campaigns, automation systems, multi-country launches—and they’re often invisible outside of their internal meetings. I wanted to create a platform where recognition wasn’t just for show—it was earned through substance. That’s what the ECDMA Global Awards are about: quality of thinking, consistency of execution, and relevance of impact.

You’ve organized other awards before, including the Armenia Digital Awards. How did this edition differ in terms of participation and tone?

Eugene: The Armenia Digital Awards in 2024 gave us important lessons—it was a strong regional effort, but participation leaned more toward corporate communications teams and brand-led projects. With the ECDMA Global Awards, we saw a big shift: the majority of entries came directly from professionals themselves. And not just from major agencies or high-profile CMOs, but from independent consultants, technical marketers, retention strategists, even educators. It created a much richer picture of where the real innovation is happening.

That shift must have influenced how the jury was structured. Can you tell us more about the evaluation process?

Eugene: Absolutely. One of the most important things we did was build our own scoring and judging platform. We didn’t outsource the process, and we didn’t just rely on symbolic jury participation. Every application was reviewed by at least 10 independent judges. Conflicts of interest were disclosed and enforced. Judges were selected based on expertise in each category, not visibility or title. And crucially, we didn’t rank applicants against each other. If three entries deserved Gold based on the scoring rubric, they all got Gold. This wasn’t a contest for scarcity—it was a benchmark for quality.

You introduced an Express Judging track too. Was that in response to a market demand?

Eugene: Exactly. Some professionals—especially startups, consultants, and educators—needed feedback or results more quickly for internal planning or external visibility. So, we created the Express Judging option, which allows participants to receive their results within 15 business days. It’s not a shortcut; it’s the same process, just accelerated. And I think it reflects the agility that digital professionals operate with today.

You’ve judged and received many awards yourself—TITAN, Noble Business, Cynopsis, and others. What did you take from those experiences into this?

Eugene: Those experiences taught me how much difference structure makes. A good award process doesn’t just celebrate—it educates, documents, validates. At ECDMA, we brought those values into our system. We didn’t want to create another glossy pageant. We built a professional benchmark.

What insights did the Awards reveal about the state of the digital marketing and e-commerce industry?

Eugene: One big takeaway was how much innovation is being driven by small teams or even individuals. We had one submission from a two-person startup that built a martech tool now used by 50,000 users globally. Another entry came from a regional content strategist who increased retention by 30% using a localized lifecycle framework. The quality of execution was incredibly high—but so was the clarity of thinking. These weren’t just smart ideas—they were scalable, thoughtful systems.

What were some patterns you noticed among the top entries?

Eugene: The best work came from people solving real constraints. Budget limits. Resource shortages. Localization challenges. And they weren’t just improvising—they were architecting resilient systems. There was also clarity. Not just "we did this and it worked"—but why it worked, how it was tested, and what would be done differently next time. It wasn’t trend-following. It was grounded design.

Many applicants were individuals. That’s unusual.

Eugene: Yes, and we’re proud of that. We had submissions from one-person teams, freelancers, and subject-matter experts who usually don’t get recognized unless their name is buried in a corporate release. For us, that’s the core of what needed to change. Recognition shouldn’t be a luxury available only to the well-branded.

Let’s step back for a second. You also founded ECDMA—the Association. How does the Awards fit into its broader mission?

Eugene: ECDMA was built to elevate standards in e-commerce and digital marketing. Not just in training or community—but in legitimacy. The Awards are one part of that ecosystem. They give us a chance to shine a light on who is doing transformational work—and not just big names, but small, sharp operators. It complements our education tracks, membership tiers, and research agenda.

How has the industry reacted to the first edition? Any feedback that stood out to you?

Eugene: The feedback was deeply encouraging. A number of participants told us it was the first time they felt truly seen for their work. Several jury members also shared how impressed they were by the depth and clarity of submissions. And we’ve had associations, accelerators, and HR leads reach out asking how they can integrate our benchmarks into their internal development frameworks. That tells me we’re not just recognizing excellence—we’re helping define it.

What role do you see awards like this playing in career advancement?

Eugene: A significant one. Many of our participants use their recognition as validation in performance reviews, investment decks, or hiring processes. In fields where output is often invisible outside of KPIs and dashboards, a well-structured award serves as independent proof of impact. That’s incredibly valuable.

What’s your stance on commercial influence in awards ecosystems? Some awards are criticized for pay-to-win models.

Eugene: We’re strongly against it. Our model is transparent: an entry fee covers administration, tech infrastructure, jury coordination, and reporting. That’s it. There are no paid placements, no VIP packages, no tiered exposure. Everyone is judged on equal footing. If we ever lose that credibility, the whole premise collapses.

Some say there are too many awards out there. What makes ECDMA different?

Eugene: They’re not wrong—there are a lot. But we didn’t enter this space to duplicate. We wanted to correct. We’re professional-first, outcome-driven, and open to everyone who can prove impact. We’re not afraid to say no. And we don’t chase sponsors at the expense of independence. That sets us apart.

What kind of support do winners receive after the award?

Eugene: Beyond visibility, we offer editorial features, speaker invitations, and networking introductions. We also plan to launch an alumni platform next year to connect winners with future collaborators, jury members, and growth advisors. Recognition should be the beginning of something, not the end.

What are you most proud of about this first edition?

Eugene: That we pulled it off with integrity. That we didn’t compromise. And that so many incredible professionals trusted us with their stories. In our first year, we saw real impact—and that’s more than I could’ve hoped for.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering entering next year, what would it be?

Eugene: Don’t overthink the packaging. Just tell us the truth. What was the challenge? What did you do? What happened? If you’ve worked with discipline, curiosity, and a clear goal—you already have a compelling story. And please, don’t rely on ChatGPT or any generic AI to write it for you. Use your mind and your words—it makes a difference and it makes sense.

Where do you see ECDMA in five years?

Eugene: As the gold standard for credibility in digital recognition. I want the name ECDMA to carry weight in boardrooms, classrooms, and pitch rooms. Not because we market it hard, but because we’ve earned it—by staying rigorous, fair, and human-centered.