Maryam Banikarim, a chief marketing officer who has led a number of global businesses through sweeping transformations and top line growth, is known for her passion for local community and purpose driven leadership which drew her to Nextdoor, the neighborhood platform, where Banikarim currently leads Marketing, Communications, Community and Global. Most recently, she repositioned Nextdoor as a purpose driven brand for all neighbors leading to one of the most successful SPAC announcements to date, taking the bold step of listing as “KIND.”

Prior to Nextdoor, Banikarim was global chief marketing officer of Hyatt, Gannett, NBCUniversal, and Univision. Banikarim is widely regarded as a bold leader who took on disruption and championed purpose. In each role, she innovatively applied a wide array of marketing tools to move her organization forward, creating value while inspiring employees, customers, and a range of stakeholders. Banikarim helped transform Hyatt into the most preferred hospitality brand, driving loyalty and community among high-end travelers. With a portfolio of 13 global brand experiences, she elevated the organization by mobilizing colleagues, launching brands and businesses, reimagining loyalty, and establishing unprecedented partnerships.

Banikarim currently serves on the board of One Spa World, the Samsung Retail Advisory Board, and as chairman emeritus for Reporters without Borders. She is an advisor to Brand 50, Strawberry Frog, and Cove Hill Partners. She is a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council, [email protected] Advisory Board and Adweek’s Women Trailblazers. At the height of the pandemic, Banikarim co-founded a grassroots movement, NYCNext, to revitalize New York City and support the city’s artist community. This volunteer organization has garnered national attention with their New York State of Mind campaign resulting in over two billion impressions from appearances on CBS Sunday Morning and the NY Times and was recognized by FastCompany as a Brand That Matters.

A graduate of Barnard College, Columbia Business School, and Columbia’s School of International Affairs, Banikarim has been widely recognized for her achievements. These include The New York Post’s “50 Most Powerful Women in NYC,” Fast Company’s “Top 10 Disruptors,” and Advertising Age’s “Women to Watch.” In 2021 she was Columbia Business School’s commencement speaker and, in 2019, she was awarded the Columbia Alumni medal⎯the highest honor given by the Columbia Alumni Association.

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