ANNA BARABANOVA
Riga,Latvia
Summary
Throughout my career, colleagues - from company founders and senior executives to operational teams - have often referred to me as 'the person who understands us.' This trust has been built over more than 15 years of advising leaders and organizations through periods of growth, crisis, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic transformation. My experience spans diverse and fast-evolving sectors, including information technology, industrial automation, edtech, real estate, and education across the EU, the USA, and the CIS. My engineering background and Executive MBA fuel a data-driven approach to HR business partnering: I proactively spot business trends, present actionable People insights to leadership (including officer-level meetings), and lead cross-functional initiatives that close talent gaps, boost engagement, and ensure EU compliance - always balancing strategic vision with hands-on support in multicultural teams.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
6028
6028
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Project Manager / HR Business Partner
ISG Systems
Riga
09.2023 - 12.2025
- Strategic advisor for EU and USA teams: Communicate business trends to inform Management Team.
- Lead talent acquisition and C&B design via market analysis to close gaps.
- Drive L&D (needs assessment, planning, evaluation); led ISO9001 HR processes.
- Visa and migration support ensuring EU compliance; People insights for business dev.
- Global industrial automation
Part-time HR Manager & Organizational Consultant
LetMeSpeak
Remote
07.2022 - 08.2023
- HR strategy, structure transformation for 35% growth in IT team.
- Talent processes (recruitment, onboarding, performance appraisal) + engagement coaching.
- Cross-functional alignment enhancing skills and culture.
- Edtech/Web3, 4 countries
Human Resources Director
SIA PROKS
Riga
04.2021 - 08.2023
- Built HR from scratch: Policies (recruitment, performance appraisal, L&D), branding, intercultural comms.
- Performance systems (360, competencies, mentoring); data-tracked to targets.
- Engagement initiatives (events and traditions); updates to multicultural leaders.
- Wholesale: Latvia/Poland/Belgium
HR Director & Advisor to Founder
Exupery International School
11.2018 - 08.2020
- Board advisor: Org structure, engagement in transformation; optimization presentations.
- Full HR (recruitment, performance, L&D, payroll, compliance); workforce planning.
- Stakeholder negotiations/data reporting for goal alignment.
- IB World School
HR Director
School 'LETOVO'
Moscow
12.2016 - 12.2017
- Built HR team and strategy: International recruitment, remuneration, grading, performance, L&D.
- IB Boarding School
HR Director, VP Org Development, Management Board Member
ZAO Knight Frank
Moscow
05.2011 - 11.2016
- Trusted board, HQ partner: Developed HR strategy; delivered metrics and efficiency reports to finance and global HR; adapted processes to diverse business lines.
- Led full HR scope (recruitment, T&D, assessments, analytics, C&B, budgeting, engagement, teambuilding); collaborated with worldwide HR branches.
- Designed market-benchmarked compensation for brokers + long-term incentives for TOP managers; implemented psychometrics (SLG Thomas), internships (local and global).
- Drove talent management, retention, coaching for key performers; tuned high-performance recruitment, onboarding program for newcomers and managers.
- Strengthened corporate culture for collaboration and cross-selling; represented at HR conferences, media for employer branding.
- Led major change projects: Marketing and PR relaunch (traditional to agency, CRM model); restructured Retail Dept to global TOP-3 (increased portfolio share, profitability).
- Global real estate consulting, 400+ staff Russia/CIS
Education
Executive MBA -
Baltic International Academy
Riga, LatviaCoach / Org Development Consultant -
Coach Institute
St. PetersburgMaster of Science - Robotics & Hydraulic Drives
Moscow Aviation Institute
Skills
- Business partnering and advisory
- Talent acquisition and workforce planning
- Performance management and rewards
- Employee engagement and culture
- Learning and development strategies
- Data analysis and reporting
- Project management and compliance
- Stakeholder negotiation and influence
- Data-driven decision-making
- Team coaching
Certification
Project Management, Risk, GMP, OSHA Safety, Pharma Validation
Languages
English: C1 (Fluent)
Russian: Native
Latvian: B1
French: A2
Timeline
Project Manager / HR Business Partner
ISG Systems
09.2023 - 12.2025
Part-time HR Manager & Organizational Consultant
LetMeSpeak
07.2022 - 08.2023
Human Resources Director
SIA PROKS
04.2021 - 08.2023
HR Director & Advisor to Founder
Exupery International School
11.2018 - 08.2020
HR Director
School 'LETOVO'
12.2016 - 12.2017
HR Director, VP Org Development, Management Board Member
ZAO Knight Frank
05.2011 - 11.2016
Executive MBA -
Baltic International Academy
Coach / Org Development Consultant -
Coach Institute
Master of Science - Robotics & Hydraulic Drives
Moscow Aviation Institute