Maya is extending its AI-first strategy beyond digital financial services, applying artificial intelligence and data-driven tools to recruitment, employer branding, onboarding, and employee engagement.
The company says its approach is focused on reducing friction and improving decisions rather than replacing human judgment. The strategy earned Maya seven recognitions at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Great Employers, covering recruitment, employer branding, onboarding, employee engagement, and people leadership.
AI-assisted recruitment keeps human decisions in the loop
Maya uses AI-assisted search to identify candidates based on relevant skills and experience, while AI-supported outreach helps recruiters create more personalized conversations with potential hires.
Despite the increased use of automation, hiring decisions remain with recruiters and business leaders. The setup allows AI to support the recruitment process without removing human accountability from one of the most consequential stages of the employee lifecycle.
“For us, being AI-first is not about replacing human judgment. It is about using technology to remove friction, make better decisions and help people focus on work that creates value,” said Carla G. Lanza, Chief People Officer of Maya.
Maya redesigns the employee journey
The company’s AI-first approach also extends to how candidates and employees experience Maya before and after joining the organization.
Its employer-branding initiatives provide prospective employees with clearer information about roles, expectations, and career opportunities. Once hired, employees receive structured support from preboarding through integration into the company.
Maya also uses employee engagement initiatives to connect its workforce with customers, recognition programs, wellbeing initiatives, and the company’s broader purpose.
Workforce initiatives earn seven Stevie Awards
Maya’s efforts received recognition across several categories at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Great Employers.
The company received a Silver Stevie Award for Experience-Driven Employer Branding, along with Bronze awards for Scaling High-Quality Hiring with Embedded AI, Engineering Engagement that Creates a BOLDER Culture, and Designing a Purpose-Driven, End-to-End Onboarding Experience at Scale. Lanza also received a Silver Stevie Award for Chief Human Resources Officer of the Year.
Other Maya employees recognized include Andrea Agatha Pascual, Employee Engagement Manager, who received the Gold Stevie Award for Employee Engagement Professional of the Year, and Rose Ann Belangoy, Senior Lead for Payroll, who received a Bronze Stevie Award for Benefits or Payroll Professional of the Year.
More than 160 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process. The Employer of the Year categories also incorporated more than 178,000 public votes alongside ratings from professional judges.
AI now spans more of Maya’s operations
Maya’s workforce initiatives build on its broader adoption of AI across its financial services business.
The company says AI is embedded in areas including customer acquisition, personalization, customer service, credit, fraud prevention, operations, and talent management.
That makes the company’s HR strategy part of a wider effort to integrate AI across its operations while maintaining governance and human oversight. For Maya, the focus is on using AI to make processes more efficient while keeping accountability, security, and responsible use at the center.
