Irina Shames, MBA, is a multilingual Business Developer and Strategist who is on a mission to help businesses thrive. As a driven innovator and lifelong learner, she firmly believes in the infinite power of knowledge and its pivotal role in progress.

Originally from Uzbekistan, Irina lived in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States (New York & LA), but her work took her to many different corners of the world.

For the last two decades, Irina has spearheaded a multitude of revenue-driving business strategies, media sales, and start-up growth initiatives. Throughout her career, she has been integral to both domestic and international multiplatform revenue growth for multiple prominent global media companies, such as CNN, Viacom, Liongate, WPP, Kevin Hart’s digital platform, as well as took emerging startups to market.

Business development aside, Irina is equally passionate about educating. Presently, she serves as an Instructor for a Digital Media and Entrepreneurship course at UCLA. She also provides mentorship to numerous start-ups and is a Speaker at an array of events and conferences. During her free time, you can find her traveling across the globe and seeking new experiences, which ultimately fuel her love of all things media and business.