Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age, a web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and the award-winning CEO of Zen Media—a global marketing firm. She has aptly been dubbed the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by FastCompany.com. Shama has also been honored at both the White House and The United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the country. Under her leadership, Zen Media has grown to serve clients around the world from Fortune 500 to non-profits. Shama is also the bestselling author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing, now in its 4th edition and Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age. As a result of her success, Shama has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO award. Learn more about Shama on her website, shamahyder.com.
February 15, 2018
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R&S
Your current netflix addiction:
Shama
Archer! Originally on FX, I love the wry sense of humor in this cartoon about the world’s greatest spy.
R&S
Something you never see going out of style is:
Shama
Compassion for others is something I hope that never goes out of style. It’s the sexiest quality in a person.
View Shama's Essentials
R&S
What do you love most about your work:
Shama
My favorite thing about my work is the number of truly awesome people I get to meet around the world. I can honestly say that we have some of the most amazing clients at Zen Media. They are creative, smart, and we consistently get to co-create some of the best marketing campaigns.
R&S
The skill or sport you’re dying to learn:
Shama
I’d love to learn to ride a motorcycle! The Motorcycle Industry Council has some great events, and I am hoping I can catch one soon to finally learn.
R&S
If you weren't a CEO, you'd be a:
Shama
If I wasn’t the CEO of a marketing firm, I’d be a history professor! I am such a nerd and I love to teach.
R&S
Your motto in life:
Shama
Be graceful in your lows and grateful for the highs!
R&S
Your last great read and why you enjoyed it:
Shama
Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Business Relationships by Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh. It’s a great book by two of the best connectors in the business. It explains how traditional networking for the sake of networking is just a bad idea and how to build authentic win-win relationships in the digital age.
R&S
You decompress each day by:
Shama
My favorite way to decompress is to enjoy a cup of hot tea while being surrounded by my two lovely dogs—Snoopy and Teddy. No matter what happens, dogs are great for bringing you into the present moment!
R&S
What is the best gift you’ve ever received:
Shama
We helped a client set a record breaking retail season, so they sent me a huge gift basket with the most touching note of gratitude. It was the note that was truly the best gift.
R&S
What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now:
Shama
I am most excited about our recent rebrand to Zen Media now. We are going to be serving clients in a more comprehensive way than ever before by helping them gain more visibility and market share in the digital age. This is absolutely one of the most exciting times in history to grow a brand, and to be at the center of it all is a thrilling ride.
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