Shama Hyder joins TIME100 Creators list

TIME named business strategist and AI authority Shama Hyder to the 2026 TIME100 Creators list in the Leaders category. The recognition spotlights her work helping leaders translate rapid technological change into business action as she scales her new advisory firm, Roster & Co.

Why it matters: - TIME’s recognition puts Hyder among 100 influential digital voices shaping how audiences understand technology, leadership, and business change. - The honor reinforces the growing demand for executives who can translate AI into practical growth strategies.

What happened: - TIME named Shama Hyder to the second-annual 2026 TIME100 Creators list. - Hyder was placed in the Leaders category. - The full list appears in the July 27, 2026 issue of TIME. - The issue is available on newsstands Friday, July 17, and online at TIME’s 100 Creators page. - Hyder’s profile is available at TIME’s profile of Shama Hyder.

The details: - Hyder is a business strategist and AI authority focused on helping leaders separate signals from noise and turn AI into growth. - Hyder wrote her master’s thesis on Twitter when the platform had fewer than 2,000 users. - Hyder founded Zen Media in 2008 at age 22 as one of the earliest remote-first companies in the United States. - Over 17 years, Zen Media grew from $1,500 into a globally recognized B2B marketing and PR agency serving Fortune 500 clients. - Hyder sold Zen Media in 2025. - Hyder built her audience through two bestselling books and more than 500 keynotes across 26 countries. - Hyder is now co-founder and CEO of Roster & Co., an executive advisory she launched with Nick Tran, formerly Global Head of Marketing for TikTok. - Roster & Co. helps companies close the Change-Response Gap between how quickly technology changes and how quickly organizations act. - Hyder created the Six Signals framework, a methodology designed to help leaders spot change earlier, interpret what matters, and act with strategic urgency. - Hyder publishes the Hyder Index, a monthly measure of the Change-Response Gap across 15 industries. - Hyder also serves as Applied AI Evangelist for Wispr Flow. - Hyder is a Professor of Practice at Link School of Business. - Hyder’s course, Communication in the Age of AI, begins this fall. - Hyder’s next books are Miami Masala from Regalo Press and Six Signals from Simon & Schuster.

Between the lines: - TIME’s category framing suggests the publication values creators who influence business thinking, not just social media reach. - Hyder’s career path shows a shift from agency founder to AI-focused advisor, mirroring broader demand for practical AI leadership. - Hyder’s emphasis on human behavior as the signal reflects a market where companies are still struggling to match technological speed with organizational action.

What's next: - Hyder’s profile will appear in the July 27, 2026 issue of TIME and on TIME’s website. - Hyder’s course on AI communication begins this fall at Link School of Business. - Her forthcoming books, Miami Masala and Six Signals, are expected to extend her audience beyond speaking and advisory work. - Roster & Co. will continue positioning itself around executive AI fluency and the Change-Response Gap.

The bottom line: - TIME is elevating Hyder as a leader helping executives make sense of AI faster and act on it sooner.