Maryam Banikarim

Host, The Messy Parts Podcast & Co-Founder, The Longest Table

Maryam Banikarim

Host, The Messy Parts Podcast & Co-Founder, The Longest Table

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Biography

Maryam Banikarim is the host of The Messy Parts, a podcast that pulls back the curtain on what "making it" actually looks like. Drawing from her own journey through the messy reality behind success, Maryam creates a space for honest conversations about the struggles, pivots, and hard-won victories that shape extraordinary careers.

As a seasoned C-suite executive with over 25 years of experience, Maryam has driven growth and transformation for global organizations including Fortune Media, Nextdoor, Hyatt, Gannett, NBCUniversal, and Univision. Most recently, she revitalized Fortune's Most Powerful Women and Brainstorm Tech communities. Known for blending strategy, creativity, and operational execution, she combines strategic vision with a leadership style that values collaboration and authentic relationships.

Maryam is a sought-after speaker who captured national attention with her TED talk: "Life's an obstacle course - here's how to navigate it." In 2023, she led the award-winning WE ❤️ NYC campaign for The Partnership for New York City, re-energizing the city in the wake of the pandemic.

Her passion for community building led her to co-found NYCNext, which became known for producing pop-up performances including "A Moment for Broadway," and an Emmy-winning video version of Billy Joel's New York State of Mind.” Today, she focuses on The Longest Table, a free-to-all potluck movement that connects neighbors, builds community and spreads joy across the country.

Through MaryamB, her strategic consulting practice, Maryam helps organizations with convening and events, positioning and communications, community building, and breakthrough creative - bringing the same authentic, no-BS approach she uses on The Messy Parts.

Maryam has delivered keynote speeches for Pfizer, Disney, The Points of Light Foundation, Ally Financial, Cognizant, and Ciena, and was the commencement speaker at Columbia Business School. Her achievements have been recognized as one of Fast Company's "Top 10 Disruptors," New York Post's "50 Most Powerful Women in NYC," and Advertising Age's "Women to Watch."

Banikarim holds degrees from Barnard College, Columbia Business School, and Columbia's School of International Affairs. She resides in New York City with her family and dog, Charlie.

Speaker Videos

Finding Your Why

The Longest Table: Chelsea 2024

Creating Impact Through Community & Live Events with Maryam Banikarim, Fortune

Life’s an Obstacle Course — Here’s How To Navigate It | Maryam Banikarim | TED

Building The Longest Table for Neighborhood Communities ft. Maryam Banikarim, Co-founder of NYCNext

Beyond Business: Maryam Banikarim's Mission for a Better World

Maryam Banikarim's Hot Takes on New York, Career, and Community in 2023

The Recovering CMO Purpose Driven Change Agent

Chase Your Ideas Sometimes it's the Journey

The Longest Table The Table Can Always Get Longer

NYCNext: Why does Maryam Love New York

Go For It! And Other Advice for Young Marketers

We ♡ NYC

Simply Doing

The Genie's Out of the Bottle with Remote Work

Maryam's Hot Take on HBOMax vs. Max

Interview with Forbes

Columbia Business School Graduation 2021 Distinguished Speaker Remarks

Life is a Series of Choices

Great Marketing Begins with Purpose | Salesforce

Chaos & Curiosity

Make a Difference Day With Maryam Banikarim

You Have to Care About the Customer Experience

Communities Built on Connections

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Speech Topics

Leadership Through the Lens of Purpose

In her presentation "Building an Organization Through the Lens of Purpose," Maryam Banikarim explores the growing importance of purpose-driven organizations in inspiring employee commitment and customer engagement. She emphasizes that it's not just about what an organization makes, but what it stands for, and how leadership embeds this belief into its operations. By sharing case studies from companies such as Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, and Gannett, Maryam provides actionable steps for building an organization through the lens of purpose, leading to outperformance in the market. The presentation offers a compelling and energizing purpose-driven playbook that can be applied to any brand in any industry.

The Future of Corporate Culture & Customer Experience: Community is the New Cool

In her talk "Community is the New Cool," Maryam delves into the concept of community and its growing significance for companies aiming to connect with today's consumers. She discusses how modern brands are increasingly seeking to engage their most loyal customers and build "sticky" communities, providing valuable insights through best-in-class examples and case studies. The talk explores the role of companies in supporting and connecting with their communities, emphasizing the potential for business growth along the way. Maryam also offers a guide on how to create a successful community marketing strategy, highlighting the importance of identifying brand topics, developing effective community marketing strategies, and engaging in active customer conversations.

Life is an Obstacle Course: A Story of Perseverance & Community

In this compelling talk, the speaker shares her personal journey of navigating life's unexpected challenges, from the Iranian revolution to the sudden loss of her father and the global pandemic. She explores the concept of viewing life's hurdles not as obstacles, but as an obstacle course, a series of tests that can be overcome with determination, resilience, and a sense of community. The speaker's experiences serve as a testament to the power of perseverance and the potential for adversity to be transformed into opportunity. This talk is a must-watch for anyone seeking inspiration on how to turn life's challenges into stepping stones towards success.

Embracing the Unexpected: Finding Joy & Purpose in Life's Journey

Maryam Banikarim shared a personal and insightful journey reflecting on her experiences, from her childhood in Iran to her professional career, and the valuable lessons she has learned along the way. Maryam's narrative is interwoven with practical tips for finding meaning, community, and joy. She emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself, taking action, and embracing the journey of self-discovery. Through her engaging storytelling, Maryam offers a compelling and relatable perspective on navigating life's challenges and finding purpose. Her journey serves as a source of motivation for those navigating their own paths and seeking to cultivate a sense of community, purpose, and joy in their personal and professional lives.

Testimonials

"Thank you for sharing your story with us. We left empowered, inspired and ready to take action on our careers. We had many attendees share how much they loved your keynote, how it affected them, and they were going to action on it right away! Beyond amazing! Such a beautiful and inspiring journey. Loved the can-do, try and try again approach to find joy and meaningful use of your gifts. Maryam is an amazing speaker! I FELT her presentation. She told such a compelling, impactful & passionate story to illustrate how important clarity is for leaders. I am so glad to have had the chance to hear her speak. Brava! Certainly, earned her standing ovation.”

- Linkage

“Thank you for speaking at this year’s virtual CBS graduation for the Class of 2021. Your thoughtful and inspiring remarks resonated with those watching, and I know they enjoyed hearing your personal stories and key takeaways after graduation.”

- Columbia Business School

"You were amazing. Truly. You really customized your presentation to make it perfect for our audience. Thank you so much..."

- Cognizant

"You were the highlight of the day. So many compliments on your behalf came flooding in - you left a big fan base here. Thank you for the awesome inspiration and guidance. People are obsessed with you (in a good way)."

- Cienas Global

"Maryam's knowledge and energy combined with her sense of humor and creativity truly delights an audience and makes them excited to listen and learn. It's always a treat to hear her speak. I always learn something new."

- Advertising Week

"Maryam was a huge hit! Her candor, passion and honesty shines through and several participants told me she was one of the highlights of their experience."

- Northwestern Uiversity

"With wit and humor, Maryam's speaking style connects with audiences in a conversational manner. Her experience in disruption and reinvention allows her to speak on topics that both guide and inspire."

- TED

"Maryam has the experience and style that engages her audience. Her authenticity, combined with her deep content, and empathy for our work brought out some great discussion. My team cannot wait to have Maryam back."

- Walmart

"Maryam Banikarim is an engaging and vibrant speaker who was able to immediately establish a connection with the audience during her remarks. Her energy, sense of humor, and remarkable background made for a fascinating presentation on the work-life equation that kept the audience absorbed and led to a lively Q&A afterwards from many who wanted to hear more. Maryam’s candor and genuine desire to foster dialogue and support around women facing career transitions set her apart as a speaker and allowed for a truly valuable and high-impact event."

- Columbia Business School Women’s Circle Reception

“Maryam's keynote presentation at our International Women's Day event last year was nothing short of phenomenal. As a speaker, she possesses a rare ability to captivate and inspire. Maryam not only delivered an impactful message but also provided the audience with actionable tips on clarifying their goals. The overall feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive, underscoring Maryam's exceptional skill in leaving a lasting and empowering impression on our audience."

- Disney | International Women’s Day

“Thank you again for making our first MENARA Summit a resounding success. The feedback has been absolutely overwhelming, and we could not have done it without you! One of our leaders said to me “we need more people like her coming to speak to us.”

- Pfizer

“With wit and humor, Maryam’s speaking style connects with audiences in a conversational manner. Her experience in disruption and reinvention allows her to speak on topics that both guide and inspire.”

- She Runs It