Contributing as a volunteer gives an incredibly good feeling

HR Manager Marge Litvinova believes that people should collect moments, not things, because that is what truly makes you rich. Marge herself is probably immensely rich, as a co-founder of the Estonian HR Society and a tireless driver of the community, she has experienced countless emotional and gratitude-filled moments.

What do you do outside your main job?

For the past six years, I have been actively contributing to the Estonian HR community. In the spring of 2020, Estonia’s largest HR enthusiast, Helo Tamme, invited me to join a small group and together we created a LinkedIn group called “Estonian HR Managers.” The purpose of the group was to bring together people working in HR to provide a shared environment for asking questions and sharing important HR-related information. The LinkedIn group is still active today and has around 2,200 members.

An even more important milestone took place on 28 February 2022, when 14 top HR leaders in Estonia founded the Estonian HR Society, which has now grown into a community of more than 1,900 members. I have the honor of being one of the co-founders of the Estonian HR Society and I am also part of its five-member management board.

I have worked in HR for nearly 25 years, and in recent years I have felt a strong desire to give something back to society. When I took my first steps in the HR landscape, I missed having a space to share experiences and ask colleagues in the field for advice. The Estonian HR Society welcomes everyone interested in HR management: experienced professionals, those just taking their first steps, people whose roles partly include HR responsibilities, and anyone who is simply interested in the field. Importantly, joining the society and membership are free of charge.

What does being involved in the HR society give you?

Contributing as a volunteer simply gives an incredibly good feeling. I see that what we do is truly important and valuable. Through my involvement in the Estonian HR Society, I have met many amazing and inspiring people.

We also organize Estonia’s largest HR events, HR Expo and EHRS Summit, each attended by nearly 800 people. The energy surrounding these events is simply wonderful. Many participants have said that these events have the atmosphere of international festivals, so experiencing those positive emotions has been truly amazing.

How do these activities outside work influence your main job?

As a member of the Estonian HR Society’s management board, in addition to organizing large-scale events, I am also responsible for arranging monthly visits to Estonian organizations. Over the past 3.5 years, I have taken HR professionals to nearly 40 fascinating organizations. We have visited places such as Tallinn Prison, the Ministry of the Interior, as well as successful start-ups like Wise and Bolt.

The format of these visits includes an introduction to the host organization’s HR practices as well as a mini hackathon on a specific HR-related challenge. Thanks to these visits, I have gained best practices that we have implemented at Grant Thornton Baltic, as well as new ideas that we have further developed within our company. My perspective and knowledge base have expanded significantly, and I hear similar feedback from other HR colleagues.

^{Estonian HR Society visiting Ericsson}

Have you felt that activities outside work help you cope better during more challenging work periods?

I’m not sure whether there is a direct connection. During more complex and demanding periods, it can actually be quite challenging to balance time between personal life, the HR Society, and Grant Thornton. That is why we have organized the society’s activities in a way that the management board supports one another during more difficult times, and in addition to the board, many volunteers contribute to different projects.

What motivates you to continue even during busy times?

It’s simply in my nature. If I promise something, I see it through to the end. If there are moments when I cannot contribute, I am always honest about it. There is a saying: those who do a lot, achieve a lot. I also consider it very important to maintain balance in my mental and physical health, so fortunately there are not many moments when motivation drops. Every pleasant meeting with HR enthusiasts and every piece of positive feedback gives me renewed energy.

Have you learned something important about yourself through leading the HR society?

I used to think that I was very introverted, but it turns out that I am capable of building connections and networking even with complete strangers 🙂

If you had to say in one sentence why it is important to have something outside of work, what would you say?

One of my mottos is: collect moments, not things, because that is what truly makes you rich!

Through my involvement in the Estonian HR Society, I have met many amazing and inspiring people.

Helo Tamme, President of the Estonian HR Society

The main goal of the Estonian HR Society is to create a supportive and inspiring community for people interested in HR. Our community is open to all HR enthusiasts, and membership is deliberately completely free — we want to keep professional development and networking opportunities in HR accessible to everyone, regardless of role or experience.

The strength of our society lies in enthusiasm-driven contribution — meaning that people voluntarily give their time, energy, and knowledge because they truly believe in the impact and value of the community. Marge is a great example of this: she leads our highly popular H2H community events, organizes the HR Christmas party, and contributes as a member of the organizing team of Estonia’s largest HR events — HR Expo and EHRS Summit.

For Marge, enthusiasm-driven leadership means doing everything wholeheartedly. Not because she has to, but because she genuinely cares about people and the community. It is a sincere desire to give back, bring people together, and keep our community vibrant, supportive, and inspiring.

Agu Remmelg, Founder and CEO of Coursy.io

With the HR Society’s H2H meetings, if you delay your registration even slightly, all the spots are already taken. Clearly, this is no coincidence. Marge and her team have created a format where real people talk about real topics without unnecessary noise or empty talk.

For me, as an entrepreneur focused on the HR field, these meetings help me understand what is truly happening in organizations and where HR is heading. It is also a place where good ideas — and even better connections — are born. The energy of the women leading the HR Society is contagious — professional, warm, and determined. It is a pleasure to think along and contribute within such a network.

Inga Hundimägi, HR Manager at Forklift OÜ

The Estonian HR Society has been an important development environment for me, offering opportunities for learning, exchanging experiences, and building a professional network. The H2H community events have provided practical knowledge and valuable perspectives from other organizations’ experiences.

The larger events have brought inspiration, new ideas, and confidence to act as a more conscious and strategic HR partner. Marge is a dedicated volunteer whose big heart and enthusiasm bring value to events and inspire others to actively contribute to the community.

^{Estonian HR Society visiting Swedbank}

^{Photos: Estonian HR Society}

^{Hero banner: Estonian HR Societys team at the 2025 HR Expo}