Shama Hyder is a keynote speaker on AI, business transformation, and customer experience. She is CEO of Hyder Ground and was named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category.

Shama Hyder's forthcoming book, Six Signals, will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2027. The keynote based on the book teaches leaders how to see market shifts early, interpret what matters, and act while the window is still open.

2026 TIME100 Creator | Exited Founder | Author | Professor, Link School of Business

Shama Hyder Speaker Kit

Shama Hyder helps leaders spot the business opportunities created by AI and shifting market forces before they become obvious, and use them to make smarter strategy decisions, redesign work and customer experiences, and grow. Her keynotes give audiences a practical discipline she calls Strategic Urgency: how to spot the signals that matter, interpret what they mean for your organization, and act while the window is still open.

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Biography

Shama Hyder is CEO of Hyder Ground, which builds and backs businesses that turn emerging technology into growth, operating in the window after something becomes possible and before it becomes obvious.

Its work begins with one question: What will people do differently now that this technology exists? Her forthcoming book, Six Signals, turns that operating thesis into a discipline any leader can practice: Strategic Urgency, the ability to see market shifts early, interpret what they mean for your organization, and act while the window is still open.

Shama built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company. That experience shapes how she speaks about emerging technology, growth, and the decisions leaders face during periods of change.

Named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category, Shama brings an operator's perspective to the stage. She has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA and advises leaders at Microsoft, Adobe, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase. She is a Professor at the Link School of Business. Six Signals arrives from Simon & Schuster in 2027.

Why book Shama

A Front-Row View of What Comes Next

As CEO of Hyder Ground, Shama builds and backs businesses in the window after something becomes possible and before it becomes obvious.

A Battle-Tested Operator's Perspective

Shama built and led Zen Media for 17 years before selling the company, giving her firsthand experience navigating major shifts in technology and business.

Original Thinking Built for Action

Shama’s Six Signals framework helps leaders build Strategic Urgency: the ability to see shifts early, interpret what matters, and act while the window is still open.

Recognized Authority and Real-World Reach

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

Keynote Experience

Shama has delivered keynotes for EMAAR and SEMA.

Keynote topics

All four keynotes deliver one thesis from different entry points: AI and changing human behavior are reshaping your customers, and the advantage goes to organizations that see it, interpret it, and act while the window is open.

Keynote 01 · The flagship

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

Based on Shama's forthcoming book Six Signals (Simon & Schuster, 2027), this keynote gives leaders a practical framework for recognizing the shifts that matter and acting before the market forces the response. Stop chasing trends. Start reading signals.

Perfect for: Leadership, growth, innovation, strategy, and transformation events, and any organization that needs to channel urgency into its next growth opportunity.

Keynote 02

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

AI has made competence cheap. This keynote shows business audiences how to become visible for the right things, trusted before they walk into the room, and top of mind when the decision gets made.

Perfect for: Leadership development programs, sales kickoffs, professional services firms, and women's leadership events.

Keynote 03

AI in Action: Practical AI for Smarter Work, Better Customers, and Real Growth

Based on Shama's Applied AI Playbook, this keynote gives audiences the 3-P Model of People, Process, and Personalization plus a practical 90-day applied AI test they can start running Monday morning.

Perfect for: Organizations that are done talking about AI and ready to implement it. Ideal for leadership teams, annual kickoffs, and conferences where attendees need to leave with a playbook they can execute this quarter.

Keynote 04

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

AI has reset what companies can deliver, and in doing so it has reset what customers expect: instant responses, personalized experiences, and the feeling that they matter to you.

Perfect for: Customer experience, marketing, sales, retail, service, and industry conferences, and any team whose customers' expectations are rising faster than their processes.

Workshop add-on & emcee options

Rewired: A Hands-On AI Workshop for Your Team

Offered as a follow-on to a keynote, Rewired is a hands-on workshop built around participants' real workflows, with guided implementation and practical guardrails.

Emcee & Executive Panel Moderator

Beyond keynotes, Shama serves as a conference emcee and executive panel moderator for single-day and multi-day programs, including Faena Rose and the Microsoft Partner Summit.

Fees

Share the event date, audience, location, format, and goals to receive current availability and a proposal from Shama's team.

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Testimonials & praise

“I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of speakers, and I can say without hesitation that Shama is the best in the business. Her speaking style, stage presence, and content are simply unmatched.”
— Pariti Sutaria
Event Manager at AD

“We heard nothing but fantastic things from attendees about your keynote. It was a perfect way to close out the content on such a high note! Shama was THE BEST Closing Speaker.”
— Ann Dieleman
PIMA Executive Director

“Shama is a true pro. She gave the keynote at our agency kick-off event this year exceeding our already high expectations with a fully tailored address coupled with her team player attitude.”
— Paul Stankevich
Market Strategist / Researcher, Kellogg's

“Shama was the highlight of our event as the closing keynote speaker! She understood our audience and delivered great value.”
— Pete Cappa
Event Producer, Prudential

“Her session was engaging, interactive and had lots of tangible takeaways for our attendees. If you are looking for a speaker who will make AI learning fun and approachable, book Shama today!”
— AnnaMarie Kendall
Marketing and Communication Manager, MHEDA

“She has this rare ability to make you feel both energized and clear-headed at the same time. If you want a speaker who will genuinely shift how your audience thinks, book Shama.”
— Wesley Williams
CMO, GoHighLevel

“Her commitment to our event, streamlining her presentation to ensure it was appropriate for our audience — we could not have asked for more.”
— Carol Ann Seney
Director of Events, U.S. + Canada for Marriott

Selected keynote and advisory experience

EMAARSEMAMicrosoftAdobeSalesforceJPMorgan Chase

Media, videos & books

Books

Six Signals — Simon & Schuster, 2027

Applied AI Business Playbook

Momentum

The Zen of Social Media Marketing

View books →

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