GLENDALE, California — On May 3, HR Lab Los Angeles — a human resources consulting and workforce development firm founded by American University of Armenia (AUA) alumna and ChangeMaker Anna Bakunts (MBA ’11) — held its fifth anniversary event at Hero House in Glendale, California. Titled “The Alchemy Voyage,” the event celebrated the progress made to date and outlined the company’s vision moving forward. Through expert panel discussions, inspiring speakers, and musical performances by Zepyur Band, the gathering showcased the impact of an AUA graduate leading transformational change.
The event featured a live auction, with all proceeds going toward supporting HR Lab’s hands-on internship program for AUA students. The collaboration between HR Lab and AUA’s Bachelor of Arts in Business program was launched in 2020 with the goal of equipping AUA’s aspiring business professionals with practical experience in the human resources consulting industry, working alongside HR Lab’s team of experts on real-world projects. Through this initiative, Bakunts is committed to nurturing the next generation of Armenian business leaders by complementing their academic knowledge, ultimately helping them transition seamlessly into successful careers. Bakunts shared her inspiring message: “One piece of advice I would give to all students — both current and future AUA students — is to make sure that you spend time on education: actually spend time learning and growing, always and continuously. You can never know enough, so explore, have a wandering mind, and never be afraid to ask questions!”
In her remarks, Gaiane Khachatrian, the University’s vice president of development, congratulated HR Lab for their five years of accomplishments and Bakunts’ commitment to her alma mater. She addressed the guests, saying, “Those of you who don’t know much about AUA, let me simply start by saying that our University prepares graduates like Anna Bakunts who go on to become successful entrepreneurs, inspiring leaders, and true changemakers, no matter where they are.” She then highlighted how AUA prepares the workforce in Armenia and partners with corporations like Service Titan, Sada Systems, Siemens, NVIDIA, VMWare, and others who have established a presence in the country and created invaluable internship and employment opportunities for AUA students and alumni. Khachatryan also emphasized the contributions of diaspora community members and foundations that have supported AUA throughout the years.
Another highlight of the event was the number of AUA alumni in attendance, among them Anahit Nersisyan (MBA ’11), who moderated one of the panel discussions and helped organize the event. Nersisyan is the co-founder of Unity Production, an events company based in Armenia, as well as a senior project manager at the AOByte software development company in Armenia. “My first day at AUA was really difficult,” she recalled. “Our dean came and told us that if we didn’t like it, we should drop it and that it was going to be hard to study. And you know what? She was right. But I don’t regret any second I spent with my classmates, the instructors, or my textbooks. I changed my minor from marketing to management and finance. In the end, I understood that everything I did was shaping me and giving me all the skills that I still apply today in my professional life.”
The panel discussions featured industry experts who shared insights on emerging trends in workforce development, the evolving role of education, and the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence presents for the future of human resource management and skills development.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. AUA’s Office of Development stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.
