Ladies We Love: Shama Kabani, CEO and TV Personality

She was so confident in the power of social media, she did her Masters thesis on the subject of Twitter. She stepped off the stage and approached 18 major consulting firms with the notion that social media would be more than a trend, only to be rejected 18 times. And then, she leapt. CEO of leading global digital firm, The Marketing Zen Group, Shama Kabani, tells me how she did it in this week’s edition of Ladies We Love.

When the Marketing Zen Group was launched two and a half years ago, only 2,000 companies used Twitter. Today? Over 175 million do. Shama was spot on with her assessment, and now she’s a global expert on all things social media, helping organizations develop and enhance their communication strategies through these powerful and influential online vehicles. 
  
Molly: Welcome to Glass Heel, Shama! I’m thrilled to have the chance to pick your brain. So me about your organization and your leadership role within it.
Shama: I am the Founder and CEO of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing and PR firm. As the Founder, I see my role as the Chief Value Officer. My job is to add value for our three main groups – our clients, our internal team, and our audience at large (blog readers, newsletter subscribers, social media followers, etc.). Every day, I strategize and implement ways to grow our company by adding value to what we are doing. 
 
Molly: What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Shama: Taurus. Texan. Tenacious. (I love that she said Texan!)
 
Molly: Here’s one of our favorite things to ask our Ladies… what did you want to be when you grew up?
Shama: A teacher, a journalist, and a cop!
 
Molly: Ok, so you've just left the office on a weeknight. Where are you headed? Shama: Home! I usually leave work at 7:30 or 8 pm. I head home, and have dinner with my husband. If we eat out, it is usually sushi!
 
Molly: You’re an inspiration for so many women, but I’m guessing you’ve got inspiration too. Who’s on that list?
Shama: People who give back to the world. Selflessness is a highly admirable quality.
 
Molly: Name one place on Earth you've never been to - and vow to go at least once. Shama: Costa Rica! Not too exotic, but I’d love to visit at least once!
 
Molly: Who would play you in your made-for-TV movie?
Shama: Jennifer Love Hewitt - I’ve always enjoyed the characters she plays.
 
Molly: We’ve got a lot of ladies in Glass Heel who are currently looking for a job, or looking for a new challenge. If someone’s interested in getting into your industry, tell us what key qualities you’d be looking for in a candidate? Shama: Aside from competency and attitude, I look for loyalty. Does a candidate look like they can stick around or do they have six jobs listed within the last 12 months? I believe loyalty is an important quality in any candidate.
 
Molly: As one of our Ladies We Love, we know you’ve got the inside track on up and coming (or established) women in the workforce. What female business owner or leader should we have on our radar?
Shama: Donna Fenn, Author of Upstarts and Alpha Dogs. She does a lot to support youth entrepreneurship!
 
Molly: If there was one thing you want to be remembered for - what would it be? Shama: As cliché as it sounds…I want to be remembered for leaving the world in a better place than I found it. This is what motivated me to start my TV segment, Socially Sound, which airs every week on the CW Network Dallas 33. I interview CEOs who are profitable and socially responsible. The segment is a success because people on all sides of the business equation care....executives, employees, customers and investors -- since no matter our role we are bound together by humanity.
Interested in learning more about Shama Kabani? Start by following her on Twitter!