Shama Hyder
Meet Shama

Meet Shama.

Shama Hyder is a keynote speaker, author, Professor at the Link School of Business, and a 2026 TIME100 Creators honoree in the Leaders category.

Shama Hyder
As Seen On
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Origin Story

I've always been early.
That's the point.

Shama Hyder

Shama Hyder built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company.

She is the author of The Applied AI Business Playbook, Momentum, and The Zen of Social Media Marketing.

In 2026, Shama was named to the TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category.

She advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase.

She has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA on Applied AI, business growth, and customer experience.

Shama is a Professor at the Link School of Business.

Founder Story
The Twitter ThesisThe Zen Story
Mission

Helping leaders spot opportunities and turn them into tailwinds.

Many leaders face faster market shifts, changing customer expectations, and uncertainty about AI. The challenge is separating relevant signals from noise and deciding which opportunities merit attention.

A useful framework can help teams review evidence, compare options, and decide what to test without treating every new development as an emergency.

Shama's work focuses on practical ways to evaluate changes in customer behavior, AI capabilities, and competitive conditions.

Her keynotes and advisory work address Applied AI, customer experience, and business growth through concrete questions, decision criteria, and next steps.

Growth is a combination of direction and timing. I teach both.

What I Actually Do

I don't give speeches about the future.
I give your team a growth playbook for right now.

01
Keynotes

Practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Framework-driven keynotes on Applied AI, business growth, and customer experience, adapted to the audience and event context.

Explore Keynotes
02
Rewired — Hands-On AI Workshops

Not a lecture. A build day.

Participants bring their laptops and a real workflow, then build practical AI tools tailored to their work, with guidance they can continue using after the workshop.

Learn About Rewired
03
Advisory & Executive Briefings

Frameworks meet your context.

For leadership teams that want to evaluate growth opportunities and discuss practical systems for pursuing the most relevant ones in their business context.

Work With Shama
Credentials & Experience

Shama's Credentials and Experience.

Shama Hyder on stage
2026 TIME100 Creator
Named to the TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category.
Founder of Zen Media
Built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company.
Author
Author of The Applied AI Business Playbook, Momentum, and The Zen of Social Media Marketing.
Professor
Link School of Business.
Strategic Advisor
Advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase.
Keynote Speaker
Delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA.
Shama Hyder at a panel event
Career Timeline

Every wave, early.

17 years
Zen Media

Built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company.

Books
Author

Published The Applied AI Business Playbook, Momentum, and The Zen of Social Media Marketing.

Keynotes
Speaking

Delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA.

Advisory
Leadership

Advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase.

2026
TIME100 Creators

Named to the TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category.

Today
Education

Serves as a Professor at the Link School of Business.

Ready to create tailwinds
for your organization?

Explore keynote topics on Applied AI, customer experience, and business growth, then share your event goals, audience, and preferred format.

Check Availability View Keynote Topics

Event Planning Resources

AI keynote speaker →Marketing keynote speaker →Business keynote speaker →Speaker bio and credentials →Testimonials and audience proof →Check availability →

Event Planning Resources

Speaker bio and credentials →Audience feedback →Books and frameworks →Request a keynote proposal →

FAQ

About Shama Hyder

Who is Shama Hyder?

Shama Hyder is a keynote speaker, author, 2026 TIME100 Creators honoree, and founder who built and sold Zen Media after 17 years.

Why do organizations book Shama?

They book her for practical frameworks on Applied AI, growth strategy, customer experience, and strategic urgency that leaders can use immediately after the event.

What makes her perspective different?

Shama has operated through major digital shifts, advised global brands, built a company through those shifts, and translates that experience into practical decision frameworks.

Where has Shama spoken?

Shama has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA and advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase.