Shama Hyder
Applied AI & Growth Strategy Speaker | 2026 TIME100 Creator | Author of Seven Signals
Book Shama NowIndustries:
Best for:
- Executive leadership audiences on AI adoption
- Sales and B2B marketing conferences
- Women in industry and women's leadership events
- Fortune 500 corporate closing keynotes
- Digital marketing and brand strategy audiences
Shama Hyder
Applied AI & Growth Strategy Speaker | 2026 TIME100 Creator | Author of Seven Signals
Speaker Videos & Media
Unlocking AI-Powered Customer Experience | 15-Minute Masterclass w/ Shama Hyder (HFA Keynote 2025)
Generational Selling: How to Win with Gen Z and Alpha Customers
How Shama Personalizes Content for Each Audience
How to Compete and Grow with AI
New Rules of Influence: How to Accelerate Innovation and Growth
Shama on Fox Business with Cavuto
Available Speaking Programs
Seven Signals: How to See First, Decide Fast, and Act on What Matters Most
The New Rules of Influence: How to Become Undeniable in the Age of AI
AI in Action: Practical AI for Smarter Work, Better Customers, and Real Growth
The Customer Has Already Changed: How to Win When AI Resets Expectations
Rewired: A Hands-On AI Workshop for Your Team (keynote add-on)
About Shama Hyder
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. Her forthcoming book, Seven Signals: How to See First, Decide Fast, and Act on What Matters Most (Simon & Schuster, 2027), 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 has spent her career spotting market opportunities before they became obvious. She was among the first 2,000 users on Twitter and launched an agency after 18 firms told her social media was a "fad." Starting with $1,500, she scaled Zen Media into a multimillion-dollar B2B consultancy serving Fortune 500 brands before exiting. Her bestselling book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, helped shape the industry she pioneered.
Named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category, Shama brings an operator's perspective to the stage. She has delivered more than 500 keynotes across 26 countries for organizations including NASA, Yale, Microsoft, Chase, Disney, Marriott, Toyota, Amazon, Mastercard, and Bloomberg.
Shama is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a Professor at the Link School of Business, where she teaches AI, and an Applied AI Ambassador for Wispr Flow. She was also named one of the "Top 100 Entrepreneurs in North America" by the White House and United Nations.
Areas of Expertise
Testimonials
"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
Executive Director, PIMA
"Shama Hyder spoke at our 2024 Women in Industry Conference on the topic of AI. Her session was engaging, interactive and had lots of tangible takeaways for our attendees. She is wonderful to work with and rated very highly on our post-event survey. 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
"I've 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. She has a rare gift for taking complex ideas and making them feel clear, urgent, and genuinely actionable for everyone in the room."
Pariti Sutaria
Event Manager, AD
"A 10 out of a 10. 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! She had such insightful and practical takeaways. We couldn't have asked for more."
Carol Ann Seney
Director, Events, Business Advisory Services, U.S. + Canada, Marriott
"Shama has this rare ability to make you feel both energized and clear-headed at the same time. She showed our audience how to spot timing windows that give them a massive competitive advantage. She makes the future feel actionable and the present feel calm."
Wesley Williams
CMO, GoHighLevel
"Shama covered great tips and advice on how to build your brand in a digital age. She gave our team members practical examples, tools, and techniques they can put into action right now. Her delivery, message, and tips were highly praised across our organization through the executive level as well as across our business partner groups."
Amy Lashlee
Toyota North America
"We were honored to have Shama grace our stage at the Inc GrowCo Conference. Her session was one of the highest rated of the conference. In fact, one of our attendees called it 'by far the most informative session of the conference!'"
Eric Schurenberg
President and Editor-in-Chief, Inc. Media
"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 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. She's a joy to work with and we highly recommend her."
Paul Stankevich
Market Strategist / Researcher, Kellogg's
Awards & Recognition
TIME100 Creators (Leaders category)
TIME • 2026
Henry Crown Fellow
Aspen Institute
Four-time LinkedIn Top Voice
Top 100 Entrepreneurs in North America
The White House and United Nations
Books & Publications
Seven Signals: How to See First, Decide Fast, and Act on What Matters Most
Simon & Schuster
Forthcoming 2027
Applied AI Business Playbook
Momentum
2016
The Zen of Social Media Marketing
BenBella
2010
Book Shama Hyder for Your Next Event
Transform your event with insights on AI and applied ai
Frequently Asked Questions About Booking Shama Hyder
Is Shama Hyder a good fit for closing keynote slots?
Yes, based on client feedback. A past client (PIMA) described her as "THE BEST Closing Speaker," and another client noted her session was engaging, interactive, and delivered tangible takeaways for attendees.
What makes Shama Hyder different from other AI speakers?
She speaks as an operator. Shama founded Zen Media with $1,500, scaled it into a multimillion-dollar B2B consultancy serving Fortune 500 brands, and exited. She is now CEO of Hyder Ground and a Professor at the Link School of Business, where she teaches AI. She was named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list, and her keynotes use her Strategic Urgency discipline to turn AI and market shifts into concrete business decisions.
What is Shama Hyder best known for?
She is known for Strategic Urgency, the discipline of seeing market shifts early and acting while the window is still open, which is the subject of her forthcoming book Seven Signals (Simon & Schuster, 2027). She has delivered more than 500 keynotes across 26 countries for organizations such as NASA, Yale, Microsoft, Chase, Toyota, Mastercard, and Disney, and wrote the bestseller The Zen of Social Media Marketing.
Does Shama Hyder offer workshops or emcee services?
Yes. Rewired is a hands-on AI workshop offered as a half-day or full-day add-on to a keynote, for up to 20 participants. She also works as a conference emcee and executive panel moderator for one- to three-day programs, in person or virtual.
What is Shama Hyder's speaking fee?
Shama Hyder's speaking fee is typically $25,000 to $30,000. Final pricing depends on the event's location, date, format (in-person or virtual), and specific requirements. Contact Speak About AI for an exact quote for your event.
What topics does Shama Hyder speak about?
Shama Hyder speaks about Applied AI, Strategic Urgency, Customer Experience, Influence & Trust in the Age of AI, and Growth Strategy. Each keynote is customized to the audience and event.
What kinds of audiences does Shama Hyder speak to?
Shama Hyder regularly speaks to audiences in Sales, Technology, Manufacturing, and Financial Services, and adapts each talk for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Is Shama Hyder available for virtual events?
Yes. Shama Hyder is available for in-person keynotes as well as virtual presentations and webinars for distributed audiences.
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