The international CatalyX Champions Series Awards concluded on April,30, celebrating visionaries who are reshaping the business landscape through innovation and excellence. This year’s competition attracted a record number of applicants from diverse sectors, highlighting the growing importance of transformative leadership in today’s rapidly evolving global economy.
A BEACON FOR EXCELLENCE
The CatalyX Champions Series Awards has established itself as a premier forum for recognizing exceptional talent and fostering cross-industry collaboration. Operating under the motto “Only for Champions!”, the competition employs a multi-stage selection process designed to identify professionals who not only excel in their fields but actively transform industry standards.
“What makes this competition unique is our focus on long-term impact rather than just immediate achievements,” explained the event organizers. “We seek champions who are creating the future of their industries through innovation, strategic thinking, and bold leadership.”
REDEFINING WORKPLACE CULTURE AND WELLBEING
A notable trend across this year’s competition was the growing recognition of human-centered approaches in business. As organizations worldwide face increased complexity and pressure, innovative leaders are finding that focusing on people – their wellbeing, engagement, and development – creates substantial business value.
This intersection of employee wellbeing and organizational performance was exemplified by Olena Derkach, recipient of the HR Leader award at this year’s ceremony. As a dual-certified professional holding both CPHR (Canada) and SHRM-SCP (United States) credentials, Derkach has spent over 11 years working to transform workplace culture through evidence-based approaches to employee wellbeing.
“Receiving this recognition validates what many forward-thinking organizations are beginning to understand – mental health is not separate from workplace productivity, it’s fundamental to it,” Derkach commented following the ceremony.
As Founder of People First HR Services LLC and HR Manager at Trailblazers Life Choices Inc., Derkach developed an effective workplace wellbeing methodology based on the STEP framework (Strategy, Training, Engagement, Prevention). She built upon this established strategy to create a comprehensive approach for embedding mental health considerations into organizational policy. Her implementation aligns leadership commitment with targeted training, employee engagement initiatives, and preventative mental health measures.
Derkach’s application of this methodology across various companies has yielded impressive results, demonstrating how prioritizing employee mental health directly translates to improved organizational performance. Companies adopting her approach have reported significant reductions in turnover rates, decreased burnout, and enhanced team resilience during challenging periods.
Derkach’s expertise extends beyond implementation to thought leadership. In 2025, she served as a jury member for the international “Cases & Faces” Business Award, where she evaluated entrepreneurs and HR achievements with a particular focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations.
Her contributions to the HR field earned her the prestigious Order of Queen Anne “Honor of the Motherland” in 2024, recognizing her outstanding achievements in human resources management and workplace mental health integration.
DRIVING INNOVATION ACROSS SECTORS
The CatalyX Champions Series Awards featured two main categories: Pioneer Award and Achievement Award, with winners representing diverse industries from technology and finance to healthcare and sustainability.
Among other outstanding winners were Jishnu Amrit Patil, who received the Best Innovator award for his revolutionary quality control protocols in mechanical engineering, and Dmytro Balan, recognized as Leader of Online Platform for his AI-powered PPC automation platform ThinkAd and educational program Amazon Masters.
Each champion demonstrated exceptional expertise in their field and the ability to establish new standards. The complete list of winners across all categories is available on the official website of the competition.
A COMMUNITY OF VISIONARIES
Winners of the CatalyX Champions Series Awards gain more than recognition – they join an exclusive community of innovators with access to investment networks, strategic partnerships, and ongoing mentorship opportunities.
“The true value of this competition extends far beyond the ceremony,” noted the organizers. “We’re building a global ecosystem where champions can collaborate, share insights, and accelerate their impact.”
The organizers have announced plans to expand the competition’s reach in the coming year, introducing regional preliminary rounds across different continents and adding new specialized categories.
Complete information about the competition and profiles of all champions can be found at
https://www.catalyxventures.com/catalyx-champions-series-2025
