With An Ever-Present Pulse On Cool Shelby Meade Takes Us On Her Career Journey

I first met Shelby at a Surfrider Foundation event in Montauk, the summer of 2016. It was my first glimpse of meeting some of the dream athletes you grew up watching, like Keala Kennelly, for example. And that’s the thing with Shelby… she is always in the company of Doers as she is one herself. But aside from her roster of athlete clients, she is also a passionate music lover - which is, after all, where it all started for her.

As people have said before, “Shelby’s reputation precedes itself.” Whether it be the East Coast’s music scene or the West Coast’s surf culture she’s been in the biz for over two decades and knows her sh*t. Her love of music with a focus on fashion, hotels, action sports and environmentalism cultivates her inimitable talent of connecting creatives.

With that, I’m so grateful that she took the time to chat with us. We are so excited for the future of connection with the world slowly regrouping and we know Shelby will be behind the best of the stories to come.

Can you tell us about yourself? What is your background and where are you from?

“I am a product of music-loving parents who taught their children all the value of working hard while having fun doing it. I was raised in Grosse Pointe Michigan on the edge of Detroit on Motown, Detroit rock and roll. I found punk rock and 80’s Brittish New wave and was sent out into the world at 17 to Boston. New York City followed 4 years later. California happened in December 2000. I became a global nomad and live in many places wherever I am working.”

How did you get into the PR industry? Was it something you had always wanted to pursue?

“I started working in the music business while in college in Boston. WFNX and The Boston Phoenix lead to MCA Records part time job as a distribution assistant. I was quickly given the Marketing assistant job as well. In the blink of and eye promoted to promotions assistant. I was 20 years old and throwing album release parties for Elton John and mailing albums out to all the radio stations in the market. Typing weekly radio reports my boss would dictate over the phone to me never having taken a typing class. I was eventually saved and moved to New York City by the legendary radio promotions genius Michael Williams. Taught me everything needed to make things happen. Michael got promoted again and wanted me to move to LA with him. I just got my footing in NYC and made the hard choice to stay without my mentor. An opening came up in Publicity as a coordinator and I took it. The rest is history.”

You’ve worked extensively with very notable brands and the coolest bands of all time – How did you make the move to start your agency, Hello Shelby?

“It was a forced hand. I had one month to start my agency. You learn a lot about business from experiences where you are caught off guard by someone you trust. It was a crazy start and endless hours with client work. I had the California sunshine and the ocean to balance it all out. Took strength and grace to navigate through it all.”

What are some big lessons you’ve learned from your experiences as a business owner that you would tell your younger self?

“I wish I would have taken accounting and some basic law classes in College. We know how to hustle and work and make things happen. The back end of the business is just as important. Getting paid, getting paid well and being paid timely is essential. Everyone wants to be the boss and not managed. They don’t see all the hard work that goes into running the business and the staff.”

In addition to your work in Marketing and Public Relations, you also serve on the board of notable foundations like Surfrider, what have you found to be your biggest calling?

“My superpower is connecting people to do good work together Motivating people and brands to do better for us and the planet. I love my work with Surfrider and going to DC and trying to change policy. I make change. I don’t complain about issues without figuring out ways to make positive progress. If you don’t like it then be a part of making it better at a local, state or national level. Retweeting and posting is not going to solve our issues.”

Like many hustlers, you juggle many projects with your work, how do you manage to keep everything organized and stay on top of your work?

“I am a virgo. I get it done and off my list so i can go have fun and get outside. I also am lucky to have an amazing executive director unicorn India who is such a boss and keeps me in check as I spin the globe.”

What would you say your proudest moment has been in your career and what do you hope to accomplish in the future?

”I have too many proud moments with every single client I have worked with over my career. It’s not just number one records, olympic gold medals and world titles but the smaller kinder moments where we were able to change lives, educate people to be kinder to the planet and smile because they looked great and or felt good.

The future is more “funraising” and getting people to be more inclusive and open and take care of each other and this planet.