Impact in Perspective

Starting Point

I’m Hamza; welcome to my story.

In the sections that follow, you’ll see how my path has wound through different countries, industries, and challenges. When I look back at my professional journey, I see it in four distinct phases—each one shaping me, stretching me, and expanding my view of the world.

Along the way, I’ve picked up a few lessons on leadership, innovation, and—most importantly—how to make an impact that lasts. This is going to be a journey across borders, industries, and eras; let’s go!

The Formative Years: A Worldview in the Making

Morocco, France, U.S.A., Netherlands.

I was born and raised in Morocco, a place at the intersection of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. With three languages under my belt (Arabic, French, and English) and a natural curiosity about how people think, my horizons began expanding long before I even stepped foot on an airplane.

From the bustling streets of Casablanca to sunny Nice, I found myself drawn to new cultures and experiences, each teaching me something different. In France, I studied business, honing my skills before moving to the U.S. (Charleston, South Carolina) to complete my degree with honors. But my real turning point came when I won a scholarship to Tilburg University, one of the top business schools in the Netherlands, to pursue a Master’s in International Business. The Netherlands gave me more than just a world-class education—it taught me the importance of community, resilience, and yes, how to ride a bike in the rain without flinching. That’s a life skill.

Each of these places shaped me, not just as a person but as a leader. Moving across countries, adapting to new cultures, and collaborating with people from all walks of life helped me develop the empathy, adaptability, and global mindset that have become central to my leadership style. I learned how to lead by genuinely understanding people, whether in the classroom or the boardroom.

The Digital Revolution: Florida’s Fast Lane

Miami, FL

I couldn’t have picked a better time to jump into digital marketing. The world was going through the mobile and social revolution, and I was right in the middle of it—Miami, a city that was changing as quickly as the digital landscape itself.

Picture this: a fast-paced multicultural hub where you could switch from English to Spanish in the same sentence and a digital industry where trends were moving just as fast. Miami became my playground for growth and experimentation. I joined Zimmerman Advertising (Omnicom) as employee number two in the digital department, scaling the team to $10 million in revenue within our first year. That’s right, from two to ten—both in people and revenue.

But that was just the start. At M8, as head of digital for all owned and paid activations, I led a cross-functional, cross-border team of 40+ across the U.S., Mexico, and Argentina. Whether it was SEO, SEM, social, or video, we were driving results for some of the world’s largest brands. And did I mention that my team won multiple awards for Best Multicultural Marketing Campaign for our work with General Mills? That was a defining moment—working alongside brilliant minds from all walks of life and proving that when you bring diverse perspectives to the table, the results are extraordinary.

Here’s what Miami taught me: It’s not about keeping up with change—it’s about being ahead of it. And if you can do that with an amazing team spread across continents, well, you’re in a pretty good spot.

Marketing in Tech: Scaling Success from Chicago to Seattle

Chicago, IL & Seattle, WA

After cutting my teeth in the fast lane of digital marketing, it was time to take things to the next level—leading marketing teams at the intersection of technology and innovation. This part of my career was defined by transformation, both in the companies I worked for and the teams I led.

It started in Chicago, where I joined Cars.com as Director of Product Marketing. Chicago, a city where the Cubs would finally break their curse, was the perfect backdrop for helping Cars.com's national business segment break its own revenue ceiling. Under my leadership, we not only grew revenue by 19% annually, but two of my direct reports went on to win Employee of the Year awards—back-to-back. Not bad for a team that had started off being underestimated.

Next, I moved to the Pacific Northwest and took on exec leadership duties at CDK Global in Seattle. Here, I continued driving product marketing strategies that helped the company innovate in the automotive tech space. We seamlessly launched the next generation of websites, digital tools, and services to 9K automotive retailers, generating close to $500MM in revenue. And Seattle? Well, it’s known for its rain, sure, but in my time there, we were bringing new ideas to life—helping drive innovation in the automotive tech space. Rain or shine, the work was always about transforming an industry, and that’s the kind of opportunity in which I thrive.

Through it all, these cities—and these companies—taught me one thing: leadership isn’t about your job title, it’s about how you empower the people around you to thrive. And when you do that, incredible things happen.

Bringing It All Together: Impact with Purpose

Toronto, ON & beyond

Now, let’s talk impact—the kind that changes businesses, and more importantly, people’s lives. After years of scaling teams and building revenue in tech, I shifted my focus to projects with deeper social impact. Enter Riipen, a Canadian company that helps students gain real-world experience through internships and work-integrated learning. In my role as VP of Marketing, we grew the small business and nonprofit self-serve customers, expanded revenue, and launched a program delivering over 6,000 micro internships—70% of which were from equity-seeking groups. All this, while living in one of the most diverse cities in the world, Toronto.

Toronto has a way of embracing purpose, and it’s here where I decided to found Scale Up NEXT, my consulting practice that helps mission-driven organizations scale their impact. From supporting startups, scaleups, and social ventures to working with large brands that want to make a difference, my focus has shifted from just driving growth to driving growth that matters.

Every era in my career has led me to this moment, bringing together everything I’ve learned about leadership, marketing, and impact. And this era? It’s all about giving back and using my skills to help companies do more than just turn a profit—it’s about helping them leave a legacy.

Point of Experience

Founder + Fractional CMO | Scale Up NEXT | Toronto, ON | 2022 - Present

Vice President of Marketing | Riipen | Toronto, ON | 2021 - 2022

Principal, Marketing & Digital Strategy | Good Founders | Seattle, WA | 2017 - 2021

Vice President of Product Marketing | CDK Global | Seattle, WA | 2016 - 2017

Sr. Director of Product Marketing | Cars.com | Chicago, IL | 2013 - 2016

Director / Head of Digital Marketing | M8 // Denstu | Miami, FL | 2009 - 2013

Digital Media Supervisor | Zimmerman // Omnicom | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 2008 - 2009

Media Planner & Buyer | Ifthen Agency | Miami, FL | 2007 - 2008

Market Research Analyst | Taylor Nelson Sofres | Casablanca, Morocco | 2005 - 2006

Point of Learning

Master of Science (M.S.) – International Business

Universiteit van Tilburg | Tilburg, The Netherlands | 2007

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Business Administration & Marketing

College of Charleston | Charleston, SC | 2004

Business Administration Dual Campus Program

Euro American Institute of Technology | Nice, France | 1999 -2002

Baccalauréat Sciences Expérimentales

Groupe Scolaire Anfa | Casablanca, Morocco | 1999

Ready to Make an Impact?

Whether you’re looking to drive business growth, shape the next generation of leaders, or create lasting social change, we can make it happen together. Let’s discuss how we can turn challenges into opportunities and make a meaningful difference.