Conference Keynote Speaker

Shama Hyder — Conference Speaker for AI, Growth Strategy & Customer Experience

Shama Hyder built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company. She advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase and has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA.

Shama Hyder speaking at a conference

2026

TIME100 Creators — Leaders

17 Years

Led Zen Media

EMAAR + SEMA

Keynotes

3 Books

Published Author

Why Conference Planners Book Shama Hyder

Founder and Operator Experience

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

Shama has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA

Her keynote work includes engagements for EMAAR and SEMA.

2026 TIME100 Creators — Leaders

Shama was named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category and is a Professor at Link School of Business.

Every Talk Is Customized

Shama does not deliver the same talk at every conference. Her team works with you ahead of the event to understand your audience, your theme, and the specific outcomes you need the keynote to drive. Your attendees get a session that feels like it was built for them — because it was.

Practical, Not Performative

Conference audiences are discerning. They can tell when a speaker is recycling material and when they're getting something real. Shama is known for giving attendees frameworks they use on Monday morning — not motivational quotes that fade by the time they're back at their desks.

Conference Keynote Topics

Every keynote is available in 25, 45, and 60-minute formats and is customized to your specific conference audience. Select the talk that best fits your event theme and audience needs.

AI in Action: Practical Tools You Can Use Monday Morning for Real ROI

For conference audiences ready to move beyond AI hype to real competitive advantage

Many executives struggle to turn AI experiments into measurable value. This keynote introduces the 3-P Model—People, Process, and Personalization—to help teams identify practical opportunities.

She walks through the AI Evolution (Assistant to Partner to Operator) and shows what the shift looks like in practice — when AI moves from a tool your team uses occasionally to a system that works alongside them every day. Your audience leaves with a clear 90-day implementation framework and the confidence to lead AI adoption in their organizations.

This keynote is designed for technology, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare conferences, as well as leadership audiences seeking practical application.

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Six Signals: How to See First, Decide Fast, and Act on What Matters

For conference audiences navigating rapid market change, disruption, or strategic pivots

Markets are moving faster than planning cycles. The signals that reveal where opportunities are forming are available to everyone — but most leaders are looking in the wrong places or waiting too long to act.

This keynote introduces Shama's Strategic Urgency framework: See, Interpret, Act. She walks your audience through six signal types that reveal hidden growth opportunities (Customer, Talent, Tailwinds, Money, Culture, and Disruption), a six-question framework to determine which signals warrant action, and the three execution patterns that determine whether a moment becomes a market advantage or a missed opportunity.

Your conference audience leaves with a decision-making framework they can apply to their organizations the same week. The talk works equally well as an opening keynote (setting the strategic tone for the conference) or a closing keynote (sending attendees home with a concrete framework for what comes next).

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The New Rules of Influence: How to Become Undeniable in the Age of AI

For leaders and teams building trust, visibility, and authority in the age of AI

AI makes competence easier to copy. This keynote shows leaders and teams how to build durable influence through trust, visibility, and authority.

The program is designed for sales, leadership, professional services, brand, and visibility audiences.

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The Customer Has Already Changed: How to Win When AI Resets Expectations

For conferences focused on growth, customer experience, or relationship-driven business

Brands that build genuine relationships at scale may be better positioned as customer expectations change.

This keynote helps teams use personalization, AI, and customer-journey insight to reduce friction, make touchpoints feel more human, and strengthen customer trust.

The keynote is especially powerful for conferences in financial services, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and any industry where long-term customer relationships drive revenue.

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Conference Programs

Topics and formats for your audience

Explore keynote themes, industry programs, workshops, and stage roles that can be tailored to your conference.

See Shama in Action

Watch a recent conference keynote. See how Shama engages the room, delivers practical frameworks, and leaves audiences with something they can act on immediately.

Watch Shama in Action

How she tailors every keynote.

What Conference Organizers Say

Shama was the highlight of our event as the closing keynote speaker! She understood our audience and delivered great value. Not only that, she's smart, clearly spoken, professional, funny, and easy to work with. Highly recommended!

Pete Cappa, Event Producer, Prudential

Shama was incredible to work with! Her commitment to our event, streamlining her presentation to ensure it was appropriate for our audience and providing fresh and innovative ideas to our group was so impactful!

Carol Ann Seney, Director of Events, Marriott

Conference Types Shama Speaks At

Association Annual Conferences
Corporate Leadership Summits
National Sales Conferences
CEO & C-Suite Forums
Technology Conferences
Women's Leadership Events
Industry Trade Shows
International Business Conferences
Financial Services Conferences
Healthcare & Life Sciences Events
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conferences
Real Estate & Investment Forums

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics does Shama Hyder speak on at conferences?

Shama's current keynote topics are Six Signals, The New Rules of Influence, AI in Action, and The Customer Has Already Changed. Every keynote is customized to the audience, industry, and event goals.

What types of conferences does Shama Hyder speak at?

Shama speaks at industry association annual conferences, corporate leadership summits, national sales conferences, CEO and C-suite forums, technology conferences, women's leadership events, and international business conferences.

How does Shama customize her conference keynote?

Every keynote is tailored to your audience. Shama's team conducts a pre-event briefing to understand your attendees' roles, the challenges they're navigating, your event theme, and the specific outcomes you want the keynote to drive. The examples, case studies, and frameworks are adjusted to fit your industry and audience.

How long are Shama's conference keynotes?

Conference keynotes are available in 25-minute, 45-minute, and 60-minute formats. Shama is also available as a conference emcee or moderator for multi-session events, and offers half-day and full-day workshop formats.

Has Shama Hyder spoken internationally?

Yes. Shama has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA.

How do I book Shama Hyder for a conference?

Submit the booking form or contact Shama's team with the event date, location, audience, and preferred format to check current availability.

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