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            Shama Hyder Kabani

Posted by Derek

My wife refused to get on Facebook. She absolutely refused. I tried to explain that the website was a great way to interact with current and long-lost friends. Our close friends even started a Facebook group that urged her to sign up.  At last check, “Veronica Must Join FB” was up to 43 members. I’m sure there would have been a lot more, but many of our friends had just given up. I had lost all hope… until a UT College of Communication alumnus came to the rescue. Well, kind of.

I introduced my wife, Veronica, to Shama Hyder Kabani at her book signing here in Austin. Shama earned an undergraduate and graduate degree in Communication Studies from the College of Communication. She’s the author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Create Buzz and, Increase Revenue. She unveiled the book during SXSW here in Austin.

In 2009, BusinessWeek honored Shama as one of the Top 25 under 25 entrepreneurs in North America. That’s right, Shama is only 24 years old and already has been recognized as one of the ten most influential women in social media. Way to go, Shama! Her company, The Marketing Zen Group, is a full-service online marketing firm dedicated to providing strategy and implementation services for businesses looking to fully leverage the internet. You can learn more about Shama and buy her book at www.marketingzen.com.

Oh, back to my wife, Veronica. That’s her below getting her book signed by Shama. On the way home from Shama’s book signing, my significant other said, “I’m going to join Facebook!” Just then, the tower turned burnt orange, Haley’s comet flew over Austin and Bevo did the moonwalk. Me?  I just chuckled and under my breath said, “Finally!”