About
Built from experience. Designed for the future of HR.
HR Academy was born from a simple belief: learning HR should go beyond theory—and evolve with the world of work. After more than 20 years of working with people, businesses and growing teams, our founders understood what aspiring HR professionals truly need: practical knowledge, personal guidance and the confidence to handle real workplace situations. Our programmes combine hands-on practice, human insight and modern technology. We prepare HR professionals not only for today's challenges, but also for a future shaped by AI—where technology enhances the work, while empathy, ethics and human judgement remain essential.
Meet the founders
Two Perspectives. One Shared Goal.
HR Academy is a place created to help people discover their potential and build meaningful, future-ready careers in HR. Maya and Gergana bring together business expertise, psychology, international experience and a human approach to learning in the age of AI.
Founder
Maya Nikolich, PhD
Founder, CEO and passionate advocate for people's potential
With more than 20 years of experience in recruitment, HR and staff outsourcing, Maya has built businesses, teams and careers across international markets. She is the Founder and CEO of Astrea Recruitment, Astrea Staffing and Simplico. Combining deep business experience with her background in psychology, Maya founded HR Academy with one clear belief: knowledge creates real value when it is transformed into confidence, practical skills and opportunities for growth. Her mission is to prepare HR professionals who understand people, think like business partners and have the courage to shape better workplaces.
Founder
Gergana Koshutanska
HR practitioner, lifelong learner and believer in the human side of business
Gergana's professional journey was shaped in Germany and enriched by an international perspective on people, learning and workplace culture. She believes that exceptional HR begins with curiosity—the willingness to listen, understand and see the potential in others. Through HR Academy, she brings psychology, human behaviour and real-life experience together to help future HR professionals grow with confidence, empathy and purpose.
Our trainers
Our trainers are practitioners who bring experience from across HR, recruitment, people development and related fields. Each cohort is led by a different combination of experts, creating a fresh mix of perspectives, practical knowledge and professional experience every time. This makes every HR Academy cohort a distinct learning experience.
Fields our trainers come from
Human resources
Senior HR practitioners
HR managers and business partners who run people functions today.
Recruitment
Talent acquisition leads
Recruiters who hire for companies across industries every week.
People development
Learning and coaching experts
Certified coaches and L&D specialists focused on how people grow at work.
Labour law
Legal and compliance advisers
Specialists who handle employment documentation and regulation in practice.
People analytics and AI
HR data and technology experts
Practitioners applying data and AI tools to real HR decisions.
Leadership
Senior business leaders
Executives who have led teams through growth, change and restructuring.
Why no fixed trainer list
Every HR Academy cohort brings together a different combination of practitioners and experts. We choose trainers based on the needs of each programme and cohort. That is why we do not publish a fixed trainer list — the people you learn from are part of what makes each cohort unique.