Shama Hyder — Founder & CEO, Zen Media
Shama talks to TheNextGag about meeting Barack Obama, what’s wrong with agencies and why she believes in Linkedin.
Shama Hyder is the Founder & CEO of Zen Media, a new media communications firm, in the USA.
Known as the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by Fast Company, Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age.
She is the bestselling author of the Zen of Social Media Marketing (4th edition), Momentum; and an acclaimed international keynote speaker who has been invited to share the speaking stage with the world’s top leaders, including President Obama and the Dalai Lama.
A trusted media expert and sought-after TV personality, Shama has frequently appeared on Fox Business, CBS, CW33 and Fox News. As a thought leader, she’s been featured in many major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Inc Magazine and Forbes.
As the CEO of the award-winning Marketing Zen Group, she’s led the organization through explosive growth, averaging 400% growth annually since its start in 2009. Under her leadership, the company has grown to include clients that range from publicly held, Fortune 500 companies to privately held small businesses and non-profit organizations across the globe. As a result of her success, Shama has been the recipient of the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO award. She was also named one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneurs under 25” by Business Week in 2009 and one of the “Top 30 under 30” Entrepreneurs in America by Inc magazine in 2015. In addition, Shama has been honored at the White House and the United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in North America.
Beyond her roles as a media personality, international speaker, and CEO, she also serves as a mentor to the next generation of entrepreneurs. She is passionate about empowering youth and works closely with the Young Entrepreneur Council in fostering youth entrepreneurship around the world.
She was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of Movers and Shakers.
THENEXTGAG: HAVE YOU ALREADY THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE ?
SHAMA HYDER: I think about this often, and I am less concerned with how I am remembered and more focused on making sure I live a life I can look back and be proud of, and that to me means kindness, compassion, loving my family, and serving the community at large.
TNG: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT DOING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ?
SH: I am passionate about the topics I speak on. I love sharing that passion and knowledge with a greater audience. It feels fulfilling when I see the audience truly transfixed and their attention is such a gift in itself! It’s such a rare thing in today’s world.
TNG: ARE YOU PLANNING TO WRITE ANOTHER BOOK ?
SH: I am planning on writing hopefully many more books! The Zen of Social Media Marketing (4th edition) and Momentum have both been so well received, and I am hoping I can continue to serve my readers.
TNG: WHY DO YOU FEEL THAT GIVING BACK IS SO IMPORTANT ?
SH: From a strictly selfish perspective, it’s deeply satisfying to have a sense of purpose. From a broader perspective, it makes the world go around. I genuinely believe to whom much is given, much is expected.
TNG: YOU’VE MET PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE DALAI LAMA. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET NEXT ?
SH: I’d love to meet Oprah and the Aga Khan. Both have impacted the world in such a positive way, and that’s a beautiful thing.
TNG: WHAT KIND OF CLIENTS DO YOU SERVICE AT ZEN MEDIA ?
SH: We work with an array of clients in terms of industry and approach! We work with VC funded tech start-ups and enterprise level companies. What our clients have in common across the board is that they understand that marketing in the digital age takes a dramatically different approach. They are innovative and positive and excited about what the future holds.
We don’t have loyalty to any platform or technology except for our clients.
TNG: WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND THE ANTI-AGENCY APPROACH FOR ADVERTISERS ?
SH: Agencies traditionally have had various loyalties. It hasn’t been a platform agnostic approach which puts the client first. Not all agencies have, of course, done this, but enough have to give the agency a bad rep. This is also why I see Zen Media as a consultancy first and foremost. We don’t have loyalty to any platform or technology except for our clients. We direct them based on where they are most likely to see results.
TNG: AFTER BOOKS, WEB TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTARY, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LAUNCH YOUR PODCAST ?
SH: No set date for a podcast. I am excited about videos, and building up that platform on LinkedIn. I currently have half a million subscribers and an astoundingly high rate on engagement on LinkedIn.
TNG: WHAT HAS BEEN THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS ?
SH: It’s the ultimate old fashioned recipe. Hard work and the right timing. I don’t dismiss the hand of fate!
TNG: ANY FAVORITE QUOTE ?
SH: Be graceful in your lows and grateful for your highs.
Shama Hyder
Founder & CEO
Linkedin | Twitter | Website | Amazon
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