Iona University Alumna Leads Media Innovation at General Motors
Shenan Reed ’97
Iona University alumna Shenan Reed ’97 recently joined General Motors as the first Global Chief Media Officer, where she is responsible for shaping the company's global media strategy and leading a team focused on advancing media practices.
“I’ve spent my career building teams of experts that work together across their capabilities and are passionate about delivering great consumer experiences in media,” Reed said. “In truth, I have always found myself being open to new opportunities and being willing to explore what’s next.”
Her impressive background includes a notable tenure as senior vice president and head of media at L’Oréal, where she played a key role in enhancing consumer engagement for the USA brands. Her insights and expertise in digital media and advertising have been recognized in top industry publications and through her presentations at major industry conferences.
The longtime Westchester County resident’s career is also marked by her previous role in founding Morpheus Media, a digital marketing agency renowned for its work with luxury, fashion and retail clients. Her previous positions include leading media solutions at Publicis and driving digital practices at Wavemaker. Throughout her career journey, Reed has worked with notable clients including The New York Times, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., to name a few.
Reed emphasizes the importance of adaptability and continuous growth, saying, “I didn’t meticulously plan my career path but remained open to opportunities and focused on developing expertise in each role.” Her advice to aspiring professionals is to embrace challenges with a “yes, and” attitude, stretching beyond comfort zones while excelling in familiar tasks.
Reed earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Fine Arts from Iona in 1997. Having spent 18 years leading up to her time as a student as a musical theatre actress, Reed was an active member of the Iona Players and part of the dance community.
As a first-generation college graduate, Reed hopes that by sharing her story with students, she can help inspire them to finish their degree and “see the world as an endless playground of opportunities.”
Reed will speak with Iona students as part of the University’s “View from the C-Suite” series on October 8, 2024, in the LaPenta School of Business. She joins an impressive roster of past speakers and c-suite alumni from top companies such as Visa; Heineken USA; UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits; Le Creuset Americas; Citrin Cooperman; Bloomberg; and Steve Madden.
For more on her appointment, read the full announcement here.