Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryam Davani Hosseini.
Hi Maryam Davani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started nearly 20 years ago when I went to school for strategic design management in New York City at Parsons. While there I learned business from a creative perspective and jumped straight into fashion. I worked for a few fashion houses in PR and production, then made my way to branding and strategy. I explored strategy from nearly every perspective for the next 15 years- working for agencies, brands, entertainment companies, freelancing, and even ultimately owning my own consulting business. Throughout this journey, I always had a curiosity and love for creativity, staying close in my strategy work, honoring it and just loving the creative process. So much so that in the last two years, I jumped into owning my own creative portfolio rather than focusing on one strategy- working at a gallery, curating, and even producing my own art through floral design, amongst other gigs that keep me creatively fulfilled.
Today I call myself a multi-hyphenate- part creative, part strategy, with so much in between.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not- as a millennial, I have encountered more than a recession, a pandemic, a tech bubble bursting, and let’s say multiple personal financial crises. I have been laid off, fired, and walked away from amazing opportunities, and often in the moment it felt unbelievably scary. But getting used to the unexpected and being open to redirection is what led me to a new chapter after New York, in Miami, and even recently redirecting from strategy to the gallery world and floral design.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Maamzies Inc is my cultural strategy incubator. It’s the space where how I see the world and the solutions it needs collide. It’s both strategy and creative action:
Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 businesses, and startups worldwide. My time working with big-box brands and incubators paved the way for me to catalyze purpose-driven work. Over time, I’ve established a consulting practice that prioritizes culturally relevant insights and perspectives in business- something that is often lost in big ponds or not within reach for “small fish”. When working for others, I am most proud to say that I prioritize entrepreneurs seeking support and structure, and I genuinely love bringing their ideas to fruition.
I most recently worked as the point of contact for Stanek Gallery’s second location, helping establish it in Miami. As a founding member and advisor for Commissioner, I help Miami’s collaborative approach to supporting artists stay earnest and constantly innovative. I developed my own floral practice as both a brand and a cultural experiment. I create floral designs as a way to refuel the feminine energy I lost to the corporate world.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am a first-generation Iranian-American and was born and raised in a very small town- Lexington, Kentucky. And no, there were definitely not a lot of Iranians there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Maamzies.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/maamzies
