Shani Syphrett is an experienced marketing expert and brand strategist who has worked with Fortune 500 brands like McDonalds, Ford Motor Company, and Nike. She is the Head of Marketing & Brand at Beam, a venture-backed startup combining the power of retail with social impact.
As the founder of her own consulting firm, Jamila Studio, Shani works with small-yet-powerful creative teams to help them to tackle their dream projects. She also writes a Forbes column that covers the inspiring stories of women of color who are the leaders and innovators of today.
She curates a digital publication, #TheWhatsHerName, that covers branding and advertising from the perspective of women of color, and is the host of Chat & Chew, a monthly “power coffee date” peer mentoring network for trailblazing women of color in New York City.
Shani has taught classes in branding, business, and marketing for organizations including the Made in NY Media Center by IFP and New Woman Space. She also mentors a student-led marketing agency at Long Island University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
With an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and a graduate degree in interior architecture at the Boston Architectural College, Shani Syphrett has delved into many different industries over the course of her education and career, but has always come out on top.
“I stayed in corporate longer than I should have because I didn’t know there were other options. Then I went into entrepreneurship, and I wasn’t sure that completely fit either. I think I am now in a good balance of both, and I believe that sharing my story will give women more options,” she says. “I hope people see that they can truly craft the life they want for themselves and don’t have to sacrifice personal things or family time for success.”
To learn more about Shani Syphrett and her journey, listen to the latest Mind of a Mentor episode here:
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