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MacBook Air beside gold-colored study lamp and spiral books
Arnel Hasanovic
Career

How She Got There: Shama Hyder, CEO of the Marketing Zen Group

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Name: Shama Hyder
Age: 26
Job Title: CEO of The Marketing Zen Group           
College/Major: University of Texas at Austin, Communications           
Website: www.MarketingZen.com and www.Shama.Tv
Twitter Handle: @Shama
 
Her Campus: What does your current job entail?
Shama Hyder: There is no such thing as a typical day. I see myself as the CVO of the company—Chief Value Officer. My job is to find ways to add value for our clients, our internal team at the Marketing Zen Group, and our greater community and audience at large. To this end, I focus my time on education, content creation, and innovation. I travel extensively presenting keynotes and workshops across the world on topics such as social media, entrepreneurship, and technology. When I am in Dallas, I am usually in the studios taping my segments on business and technology for the media.
 
HC: What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
SH: I never had an entry-level job. When I graduated from my masters program in 2008, no one was ready to hire me. They didn’t think that social media would play a big role in business in the future. So, I started my own company, The Marketing Zen Group. I haven’t looked back since.
 
HC: What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry or business when you first started out that you know now?
SH: Objectivity in any business is very important. We grow up having a certain perspective, and then by default imagine that everyone shares that particular perspective. One thing that I’ve learned is that you must be willing to step back from any person or situation to make an accurate assessment.

HC: Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
SH: Too many to list! I believe everyone has something they can teach you.
 
HC: What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
SH: Here are a few words of wisdom that inspire me:

  • My philosophy on life: “When you get to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.” – Edward Teller
  • My philosophy on the future of education: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” ~ Alvin Toffler

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HC: What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
SH: Not listening to the market sooner. We started the Marketing Zen Group as a social media consulting company, but our clients were telling us that they wanted implementation as well. They wanted soup to nuts. It took me a while to truly listen and give them that because it seemed risky. To do more, you need a much bigger staff. Today, we are a full service online marketing company with 30 people that serve as a one-stop shop for our clients around the world. I wish I’d made the decision sooner!
 
HC: What is the best part of your job?
SH: Knowing that we support the livelihood of so many people. Not just our employees, but our clients. They trust us with the marketing of the business, and count on us to deliver. I like the fact that what we do has such a huge impact on so many people.

HC: What do you look for when hiring someone?
SH: I look for three major things: a positive and passionate attitude (no fire, they don’t pass go), competency (can they actually do the job?), and past longevity. Candidates who have shown that they can stick to whatever they do for a while is always a great sign. If I see multiple jobs within a short period of time, that’s a red light.  I like to see candidates who show loyalty in whatever they choose to pursue.

HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations? 

  1. Find a way to create value for your target audience.
  2. Listen to what your marketplace really wants. Then, deliver that.
  3. Making giving back a part of whatever you do. It pays in both direct and indirect ways.

 
Co-Founded by Natalie MacNeil and Scott Gerber, Y.E.C. Women is an initiative of the Young Entrepreneur Council (Y.E.C.), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The Y.E.C promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment and underemployment and provides its members with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.
 

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Gennifer Delman
Gennifer is the Branded Content Specialist for Her Campus Media. In her role, she manages all sponsored content across platforms including editorial, social, and newsletters. As one of HC's first-ever writers, she previously wrote about career, college life, and more as a national writer during her time at Hofstra University. She also helped launch the How She Got There section, where she interviewed inspiring women in various industries. She lives in New York City.