HSE GSB Students win at the All-Russian Youth Strategic Communications Competition “INTEGRAF”
Nineteen top teams from cities including Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Kirov, Saratov, and Voronezh advanced to the final round. The finalists presented solutions to real-life case studies provided by leading companies such as Avito, Odnoklassniki (VK), Health&Nutrition, and Arnest UniRus.
The competition focused on four strategic communications tracks, each reflecting current industry challenges. Four track winners were selected—one per category—alongside recipients of special prizes: New PR Calling and the overall Grand Prix.
Third-year students Elizaveta Romanova and Anastasia Mikhailova from the HSE Graduate School of Business, enrolled in the Marketing and Market Analytics program, won in the Social Communications track as part of team Resonance. Their project was recognized by the jury for its depth, originality, and practical relevance.
Elizaveta Romanova, team captain:
“I really enjoyed participating in the competition. It was a great opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills I’ve gained over the past three years, gain hands-on experience in developing communication strategies, and deepen my understanding of the advertising industry.”
Anastasia Mikhailova, HSE GSB student:
“INTEGRAF was a great opportunity to showcase our abilities. Winning this competition is a symbol of our persistence, creativity, and ability to combine various approaches through in-depth analysis and the solid foundation we’ve built at HSE.”
The competition provides talented students from across Russia with a chance to work on real cases, receive feedback from industry experts, and connect with potential employers.
Vasily Leksin, ESG Product Lead at Avito:
“The teams approached the cases creatively and came up with many exciting and, most importantly, viable ideas. Huge thanks to the organizers for such a well-structured event with incredibly strong teams.”
The jury praised the students' analytical approaches, strategic thinking, and ability to defend their ideas convincingly.
Alexandra Shmeleva, Executive Director of INTEGRAF:
“It’s truly inspiring to see teams coming from so many cities, driven by such strong motivation. The competition continues to grow, with more participants each year. I’m glad to hear from both participants and jury members that INTEGRAF is genuinely valuable and worth continuing. We’re already looking forward to the next season!”