Our latest P.MAI pioneer is Shama Hyder, the digital marketing maven, web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and the award-winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group – a global online marketing and digital PR company. 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.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I was born in India, and moved to the US when I was 9. Being an immigrant, and having somewhat of an outsider’s perspective on my new home, shaped me tremendously as an individual and in time as an entrepreneur. Growing up, I was an avid reader and had an insatiable curiosity for the world around me. In time, this translated to exploring new realms…such as social media. I ended up doing my thesis on Twitter when it had a few thousand users, and believed in the power of social media long before it became more mainstream. This same curiosity and passion led me to starting my own company, The Marketing Zen Group, a leading social media and digital PR agency  I started it right out of college, and today we serve clients around the world - from Lithuania to Hong Kong. 

You’ve been a recipient of so many awards from Business Week, Forbes, LinkedIn and more. Can you tell us how you began your career and the steps you took to become such a marketing guru?
I’ve always been curious, passionate, and consider myself a lifelong student. I think in the world of marketing that type of attitude is crucial. Marketing in the digital age changes extremely fast, and I thrive on that challenge. My goal is to make sure that we are always being relevant to our clients. They count on us to keep up with the trends and to guide their campaigns, their departments, and their businesses.

What was the inspiration behind The Marketing Zen Group?
A combination of market demand and professional passion. We were one of the first social media agencies in the world. There was such a hunger around understanding social media, and that is an ongoing demand we look to meet everyday. When I wrote my first book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, I never expected that it would go on to a 4th edition or be used as a textbook to teach college courses on social media. It was one of the only books on the topic. In business, as is in life, so much is timing. 

What has been one of your biggest career challenges? How did you overcome it?
I believe our own mindset is often our biggest challenge. For me, it is in allowing myself to think bigger! I work on this every day. Life is short, why not have more audacious goals?

What’s next for your company?
I am very excited about 2017 and beyond. We are growing, and at the same time, we are very focused on continuing to be a leading social media agency.

What do you love most about your P.MAI bag?
It is my grown-up “Dora The Explorer” bag. It works in the boardroom without losing an ounce of style.

Finally, how do you carry on, beautifully?
By realizing that we all do the best we can, and none of us are getting out of here alive. Translation: life is too short not to be kind.

Our latest P.MAI pioneer is Shama Hyder, the digital marketing maven, web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and the award-winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group – a global online marketing and digital PR company. 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.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I was born in India, and moved to the US when I was 9. Being an immigrant, and having somewhat of an outsider’s perspective on my new home, shaped me tremendously as an individual and in time as an entrepreneur. Growing up, I was an avid reader and had an insatiable curiosity for the world around me. In time, this translated to exploring new realms…such as social media. I ended up doing my thesis on Twitter when it had a few thousand users, and believed in the power of social media long before it became more mainstream. This same curiosity and passion led me to starting my own company, The Marketing Zen Group, a leading social media and digital PR agency  I started it right out of college, and today we serve clients around the world - from Lithuania to Hong Kong. 

You’ve been a recipient of so many awards from Business Week, Forbes, LinkedIn and more. Can you tell us how you began your career and the steps you took to become such a marketing guru?
I’ve always been curious, passionate, and consider myself a lifelong student. I think in the world of marketing that type of attitude is crucial. Marketing in the digital age changes extremely fast, and I thrive on that challenge. My goal is to make sure that we are always being relevant to our clients. They count on us to keep up with the trends and to guide their campaigns, their departments, and their businesses.

What was the inspiration behind The Marketing Zen Group?
A combination of market demand and professional passion. We were one of the first social media agencies in the world. There was such a hunger around understanding social media, and that is an ongoing demand we look to meet everyday. When I wrote my first book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, I never expected that it would go on to a 4th edition or be used as a textbook to teach college courses on social media. It was one of the only books on the topic. In business, as is in life, so much is timing. 

What has been one of your biggest career challenges? How did you overcome it?
I believe our own mindset is often our biggest challenge. For me, it is in allowing myself to think bigger! I work on this every day. Life is short, why not have more audacious goals?

What’s next for your company?
I am very excited about 2017 and beyond. We are growing, and at the same time, we are very focused on continuing to be a leading social media agency.

What do you love most about your P.MAI bag?
It is my grown-up “Dora The Explorer” bag. It works in the boardroom without losing an ounce of style.

Finally, how do you carry on, beautifully?
By realizing that we all do the best we can, and none of us are getting out of here alive. Translation: life is too short not to be kind.