A dynamic marketing professional with nearly 14 years of experience, Shirin leads global marketing initiatives in the B2B technology sector, driving strategic and comprehensive campaigns across multiple product lines. With extensive experience at leading technology firms, she excels in orchestrating impactful marketing programs that enhance brand presence and business growth worldwide.
In a conversation with Women Entrepreneurs Review, Shirin talks about various facets of women in leadership and how they drive transformative change across industries. Sharing first-hand experiences at her current organization, Detroit Engineered Products (DEP), she makes a strong case for building diverse teams and they bring along valuable insight and unique perspectives. Shining a light on the persisting challenges that women leaders face, Shirin also talks about integrating gender diversity into DEP’s global marketing strategy.
For more insights from WER’s conversation with Shirin Hameed, read the article below.
In today’s rapidly evolving engineering market, how are women leaders redefining leadership styles to drive agile marketing while balancing technical complexity and emotional intelligence?
Women are rewriting the leadership playbook, and frankly, it’s about time. In a world obsessed with speed and metrics, women are bringing empathy, intuition, and adaptability. Over the years, I’ve seen female leaders bridge the gap between deeply technical minds and creative agility. It’s no longer about soft skills versus hard data anymore, it’s about knowing when to lean into either. This shift moves us beyond asking “what does this product do?” to asking “how will this make someone feel?” That changes everything.
Emotional intelligence is no longer a bonus - it's a strategy. This redefinition isn't about mimicking traditional models; it’s about staying true to one’s values and building marketing strategies rooted in authenticity and strategic intent. That kind of leadership isn’t just agile, it’s transformative.
With data-driven marketing transforming strategies, how have you led your team to innovate while ensuring diverse perspectives, especially women’s voices, influence critical decisions at DEP?
I must say, I love data. I have seen data evolve over the last decade, and it’s amazing what you can do with data. But really, I love outcomes even more. And that’s what my team and I strive towards.
Here’s the thing- data and algorithms can tell you what’s happening, and how but they’ll never really tell you why people care. That’s where diverse voices, especially women, come in.
At DEP, I encourage the team to ask better questions before pulling up dashboards. We've set up monthly “voice of the world” sessions where we pause the spreadsheets and talk: What do we feel the market needs? Who’s being left out of this story? I champion an inclusive environment where bold ideas and nuanced insights are welcome, especially from those closest to the customer experience. Innovation thrives when we fuse data with diverse thought. We measure impact, not just engagement.
In your experience, what unique leadership challenges do women face in tech-driven engineering sectors, and how have you converted those into opportunities for organizational growth?
Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is being the “only” woman in the room is still a reality in many technical spaces. And yes, it can be exhausting. You're balancing expertise, expectations, and often, the weight of representation. Thankfully, that’s shifting. At DEP, we’ve worked hard to change that narrative. Women now lead in both strategic and technical domains, and we’re proud to have strong female representation at the highest levels. The real transformation happens when we stop asking women to fit into outdated systems—and instead, reshape those systems to reflect the leadership we value today: empathetic, agile, and focused on real outcomes.
How do you integrate cross-cultural and gender diversity into your global marketing strategy to foster inclusive leadership and enhance brand authenticity across regions?
Authentic global marketing starts with understanding and not assuming. At DEP, we don’t blindly believe in a cookie cutter approach, or a one size fits all marketing strategy. What this means is we don’t replicate strategies across markets; we co-create with local teams who understand and are connected with their local markets and customers and deeply. We treat every region like its own story with its own voice, tempo, and soul. Gender diversity, particularly, brings multidimensional thinking to global challenges. We consciously build teams that reflect regional nuances—gender, language, and social norms included. This inclusivity not only boosts creative execution and deepens brand credibility.
Can you share an example where your leadership directly influenced DEP’s market positioning through empowering female talent and driving a culture of resilience in a male-dominated industry?
One of my favourite moments was during the rollout of our technology demonstrator, an electric two-wheeler with a new lightweight, swappable battery. In early discussions, someone jokingly said, “It’s so light, even she could lift it,” referring to a young female engineer on our team. That young woman engineer was used to demonstrate the product during the launch and with press around. We built the entire narrative around accessibility, resilience, and ease of use—featuring her swapping the battery effortlessly in everyday settings. I was quite pleased with that outcome.
MESSAGE TO ASPIRING WOMEN LEADERS
I would say- don’t wait to be ready. As long as you keep learning, you’re ready enough. I spent too many years preparing, perfecting, and second-guessing, only to realize that the biggest growth happens in the messy, mid-leap moments. In tech marketing especially, things move fast, data shifts constantly, and complexity is the norm. But resilience, authenticity, and continuous learning will always keep you grounded. Surround yourself with people who energize your vision, challenge your comfort zone, and hold you accountable. And once you start to rise, bring others with you. Take as many chances as you are lucky to get, challenge yourself, and stay true to yourself. Don’t dilute your voice to fit in, instead use it to stand out.
