Every agency talks the talk.
We walk the walk.

We developed an AI tool, super-powered by industry experts with decades of experience, that grades press releases for newsworthiness. See it for yourself.

award-winning PR agency

Our founder and ceo

Shama Hyder built Zen Media from a scrappy startup to an industry-leading agency.

She’s also distinguished herself as an international marketing luminary, delivered keynotes to packed houses in more than 20 countries, and written a couple of bestselling books. But it’s her nose for innovation that makes her the figure CMOs seek out to build brand reputation, increase market share and deliver bottom-line results.

As the acclaimed author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing (now in its 4th edition) and Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age, Shama is a key figure behind the growth of many recognized brands.

A 2x Best-Selling Author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing (4th Edition) & Momentum

“Millennial Master of the Universe” – FastCompany.com

Named a Top Voice in Marketing by LinkedIn for 4 Years in a Row

Top 30 under 30 Movers & Shakers in Marketing – Forbes

“The Zen Master of Marketing” – Entrepreneur Magazine

Winner of the Tech Titan Emerging CEO Award

One of the Top 30 under 30 Entrepreneurs – Inc Magazine

who we are

Happy. Hungry. Helpful. High-Performing.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is built into our foundation.

One of the only female- and minority-owned agencies in North America, CEO Shama Hyder places diversity of thought at the center of Zen Media’s strategy.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM OUR CEO:

Shama Hyder,
Founder & CEO of Zen Media

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe that I started Zen Media in 2009 as a one-person company. My belief that social media would usher in a brand new era of business and communication was unflappable. I had just completed my graduate thesis on Twitter—the “new social platform” had 2000 users. Today, it has 375 million users.

Social media has come a long way since, and so has Zen Media. Now we have employees, partners, and clients worldwide. We’ve won multiple accolades for our work, including being honored as a Top 100 company in North America by both the United Nations and The White House.

What I am most proud of though is our incredible team and the clients around the world who trust us with their brands and their voices. There is no greater gift.

I recently learned that only .1% (that’s right, POINT 1 percent) of advertising and marketing agencies are owned by women. As for agencies owned by women of color? There isn’t even enough data to pull together that stat.

As a Henry Crown Fellow, I am also committed to being more than just an effective leader. I strive every day to be the change I wish to see. I genuinely hope that as a steward of Zen Media, together we can leave the world a better place.

If you are considering working with us or for us, I hope you will join us in this mission. You will not find a more committed or caring team. I guarantee it.

OUR CULTURE

Zen Media’s 65-person team of marketing and PR specialists celebrates diversity in every context of their work—with the key always being diversity of thought. At Zen, everyone thinks, creates, and innovates in their own way, and when these many diverse perspectives and thought processes merge—amazing outcomes are inevitable.

We believe that diversity
is one of our greatest strengths

That’s why we’re proud to be a DBE, MBE, and SBE-certified company.

Our Commitment to DEI

At Zen Media, we are committed to being a merit-based, equal-opportunity organization.

We embrace each individual’s unique identity, talents, and perspectives. While we all have different beliefs, backgrounds, and opinions, we come together to drive creativity and success for our clients.

We are committed to open dialogues, respectful discourse, and creative problem-solving. We embrace neurodivergent skillsets, uniquely-abled perspectives, and the experiences of all of our employees, clients, vendors, and partners.

Here are just a few of the ways we walk our talk:
  • Zen Media encourages employees to get involved with charities that matter to them.
  • Zen Media’s unlimited PTO policy allows employees to celebrate holidays of their choice, take mental health days when needed, and otherwise use their best judgment to manage their time.
  • Zen Media’s work-from-anywhere policy makes it easier for employees—especially employees who are parents—to balance their home and work responsibilities.
  • Zen Media has a zero-tolerance policy for disrespect. We believe all human and animal life deserves respect.
  • Zen Media attracts candidates from all walks of life.
  • We post job openings on the websites of professional organizations for minorities and women.
  • We only work with recruiters who are trained in asking unbiased questions.
  • Our onboarding practices are tailored to meet the diverse needs of new hires around the world.
  • Our performance reviews include behavior that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • We prioritize doing business with suppliers who have strong DEI policies.
  • Under certain circumstances, e.g. COVID, we provide financial assistance to employees facing extraordinary hardships.

Charity, Volunteerism, and Giving Back

Our Commitment to Community

To support our employees’ passion for giving, Zen Media matches employee donations to nonprofit organizations. We also encourage our employees to volunteer, and support the causes closest to their hearts and their local communities—whether that’s raising funds for school supplies in underprivileged areas or supporting our four-legged friends.

Carbon-Neutral Pledge 2030

Our Commitment to Sustainability

What does it mean to be carbon neutral? It means doing our best work for our clients while reducing our emissions every single day.

While we are already a remotely distributed company, which significantly reduces our carbon footprint, we plan on achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. By accomplishing this, we will preserve the equivalent of two football fields of forest each year—natural green space that would otherwise have been removed. We will do this by continuously measuring and reducing our carbon emissions. We limit business travel, educate our employees on sustainable practices, and continuously work to improve our impact on the environment.

Let’s talk.

Our clients are smart, thoughtful, and forward-thinking.

Sound like you? Join them—and us!

Fill out the form to the right and get in touch.

We’re excited to hear from you.

Stay in the know.

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Interested in working at Zen?

Zen Media is dedicated to merit-based, equal opportunity employment. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

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