AbstractResearch purpose. Social networks have become an integral part of life, making social media one of the most significant advertising platforms, which, according to many experts and scientists, is one of the most effective brand communication techniques. According to Google’s data (Think with Google, 2018), before the purchase, shoppers like to address real people, which they think could be trusted. Branding with influencers is a new way of promoting products and services. It has also recently been a much sought research topic both in terms of studying the brand communication and the influencer phenomenon. This comparative study explores the involvement of influencers in brand communication. The aim of the research is to analyse the involvement of Latvian and Cypriot influencers in brand communication, its features in theoretical and practical aspects.Design/Methodology/Approach. The research methods used were content analysis of Latvian and Cypriot influencer accounts, comparative analysis, literature analysis and graphical method.Findings. Within the theoretical framework of the study, a review of literature has been carried out on influencers’ involvement in brand communication, with particular focus on research in Cyprus and Latvia, as well as influencer typologies, communication features and current aspects of the research. The practical part of the research explores the demographic portrait of the Cypriot and Latvian influencers, the most important features of brand communication, paying particular attention to the principles of choosing influencers’ social networking platforms and brand communication labels in their communication – hashtags (#Reklāma, #Ad, #Sadarbība, #Paidpartnership, #Apmaksātasadarbība), as well as tendencies and regularities in their use or non-use.Originality/Value/Practical implications. The results of the study can be used by brand communication researchers, as well as by marketing and public relations professionals, to identify the key features of communication of influencers, including in comparative terms, and to select optimal tactics for collaboration with influencers.

The performed scientific studies show that proper and skilful use of modern technologies can contribute to significant development of companies. Growth of technologies occurs rapidly, and the electronic environment continuously develops and improves along with it. The electronic environment now already offers companies practically all necessary marketing and communication tools for ensuring company development by creating competitive advantages; nevertheless, not all companies can employ the opportunities rendered by the e- environment, in order to increase company competitiveness and productivity. (Ščeulovs, Gaile-Sarkane 2014). The aim of the paper is to study and compare the enterprises communication in e-environment in two countries – Latvia and Kazakhstan. Study material – 130 enterprises of Latvia, 100 enterprises of Kazakhstan; method – survey. The study was conducted within the Erasmus+ project ‘Mobility between programme and partner countries (KA107)’. Using previous researches and scientific studies, as well as survey of enterprises representatives in Latvia and Kazakhstan, in this paper, the authors a) give an overview of the main trends of enterprise communication in e-environment and b) compare the experience of the two countries.

Music education system in Latvia consists of state, municipal and private education institutions that provide vocation-oriented, vocational secondary and higher education programs. Industrial and field policy is prepared by the Ministry of Culture, its' implementation is coordinated and managed by the Latvian National Cultural Centre. But the leadership and development of institutions of the vocational music education in Latvia is a responsibility of the music school leaders. The main object for the research is the development trends of management of the institutions of vocational music education. The aim of the article is to study and analyse the development trends of management of the institutions of vocational music education in Latvia in last five years and in current situation. Using analysis of scientific literature, statistics and normative documents, as well as interviews, in this article authors gives an overview of the main development trends of vocational music education system in Latvia and analyses interview results pointing out the advantages of the management strategies and problems in the institutions of vocational music education in Latvia.

In recent years’ childlessness as a workplace inclusion issue has developed from a taboo topic into an important awareness subject, especially being childless not by choice. This issue has become challenging for employers and leaders not only in business organisations but also in educational institutions. That includes such aspects as to be prepared with how to support employees within different struggle of life and to be aware of discussion and conversation topics. The article presents the systematic literature review on subject of emotional intelligence as an attribute of effective leadership which can be increased into higher education institutions. The aim of the study is to explore main findings of emotional intelligence in the context of effective leadership for supporting childless employees in higher education institutions. Since the context of childlessness and emotional intelligence has not been previously studied, author of this article decided to use the systematic review method including publications which were published in respectable databases(EbscoHost, Scopus, Science Direct, Emerald Publishing, Elsevier, Sage Journals)during the past ten years. The authors' review has helped to identify some of the main findings about models and dimensions of emotional intelligence, importance of emotional intelligence as an attribute of effective leadership in organisations and higher education institutions. Conclusions include future recommendations for higher education institutions and development of leaders and employees about emotional intelligence aspects and future research perspectives about terminology of childlessness and childlessness aspects at workplace. Most important conclusions highlight the necessity to improve work-life programs and policies of organisations including childlessness aspects as a workplace inclusion issue; the importance to study relationship between emotional intelligence of higher education institutions leaders and childlessness aspects in higher education institutions. The significance of the results is due to the fact that this is a completely new topic in management science in Latvia and future research should be carried out.