Her Story
About Shalimar
I've been in my field for over 10 years now. I'm currently self-employed and work as a marketing strategist for several different industries - I've been doing this since 2024, about two and a half years. I've worked with a fintech company outside of Africa, a luxury jewelry line on the luxury fashion end of things, and a healthcare agency. Whenever any artist or creative needs any kind of marketing strategy, I help them. My day usually involves vetting out clients and projects that I feel like I would enjoy, rather than just picking up anything. I have consultations, do a lot of market research, and then create presentations and come up with strategies. I find the creative side of things most enjoyable - you learn all the data and the insight, and then it's like, well, what do we do to market your brand? Finding that creative side of creating the strategy is what I enjoy the most. The biggest challenge is marketing myself and getting people to trust that I can give them the best strategies, because the company hasn't been around for so long - gaining that trust is the biggest challenge so far.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shalimar
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my daughter. I'm a single mom, and it's really just wanting to make my daughter proud, and for her to have a role model of watching another woman just going out there and making things happen for herself. There are challenges, but because we have challenges doesn't mean we stop - we continue to move forward. When I know that I'm helping to make someone's life better, it does everything for me. That's the spark that keeps me going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't give up. That's really it. Don't give up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For me, I would say find a mentor. Be intentional on what you really want to do, and find a mentor. Don't be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor. And don't give up.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Absolutely, transparency and honesty. I think in such a capitalistic environment, a lot of times people just care about the money and what's the profit here, and they tend to hide the truth just to get money. I feel like, in the long run, you will still eventually have to pay for that. So just be transparent and be honest, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.
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