On April 6, 2026, the Fast-Forward 2026 conference dedicated to the future of business leadership, took place in Yerevan. The event was jointly organized by the Banks.am portal of Mediamax Media Company and Boyden Armenia.The primary aim of Fast-Forward is to create a platform and a conducive environment where business representatives can freely discuss sensitive issues related to leadership, management, and development. The conference partners included Wilco Wealth Management, SIL Insurance, Alfa-Pharm and the European Campus of the University of York. The event partner of the conference was Skill Event Marketing.“Rather than complaining, create a supportive environment”Ara Tadevosyan, Director of Mediamax Media CompanyIn 2024 and 2025, Mediamax Media Company organized the Robust Armenia 25 and Robust Armenia 26 conferences, focusing on sustainable development (this year’s Robust Armenia conference will take place on April 22.) We saw a clear need for platforms where business community representatives can openly discuss key issues without unnecessary “protocol.”While preparing the press release for Fast-Forward 2026, we realized that this year is symbolic: the Banks.am portal marks its 20th anniversary, while Boyden celebrates its 80th. Together – 100 (laughs-auth.) Ara Tadevosyan Image by: Mediamax In our work, we often observe that businesses are not always ready for open dialogue with the media. Rather than complaining about this, we chose to create an environment where all parties feel like partners, and where open discussion serves everyone’s interests.We are grateful to our conference partners. We intentionally use the term “partner” instead of “sponsor,” as this initiative is built on a genuine spirit of collaboration. It is especially valuable for us that four organizations – Wilco, SIL Insurance, Alfa-Pharm, and the European Campus of the University of York – placed their trust in us. Equally important is the diversity of sectors represented, including an academic institution, which highlights the broad relevance of the topics discussed.We plan to make this conference an annual event in collaboration with Boyden Armenia. From the outset, our goal is to set a high standard and consistently work toward maintaining it. In addition to the main conference, we are also considering organizing smaller events throughout the year.“Armenian businesses have a structured DNA”Sevada Baghdyan, Partner, Head of the Armenian and Georgian Offices at BoydenI am deeply grateful to Mediamax for partnering with us to organize this leadership-focused conference. Through many years of executive search consulting, we have arrived at an important insight: Armenian businesses – regardless of their age – already possess a distinct “gene,” DNA or a model. While this model may require refinement and increased efficiency, it cannot simply be disregarded. Sevada Baghdyan Image by: Mediamax If we attempt to radically transform Armenia’s governance model overnight by replacing it with imported international practices, we will inevitably encounter serious challenges. A more effective approach is to take existing structures into account, focus on their gradual improvement, and develop a balanced “symbiosis” between Armenian governance and international best practices. Sevada Baghdyan Image by: Mediamax At the conclusion of his remarks, Sevada Baghdyan presented the results of a study examining directors of 200 large taxpayer companies in Armenia. A more detailed analysis of this research will be published in a separate article soon.Read also:Independent directors, conflict of interests and evolution“Succession in Armenian Business” – open and frank discussionYana ShakhramanyanPhotos by David Ghahramanyan Tweet Views 7004