SPEAKER
Enthusiatic and Engaging
Dr. Sharmin Attaran is an award-winning professor, TEDx speaker, and sought-after voice on digital marketing, social media strategy, and the psychology of influence. Whether delivering high-energy keynotes, leading executive workshops, or joining expert panels, she brings research-backed insights, real-world experience, and an engaging style that moves audiences to action. From industry conferences to academic institutions, Sharmin helps audiences understand what drives digital behavior—and how to harness it for impact.
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TEDxURI
The Battle for Truth in a Viral World
In her TEDx talk, Dr. Sharmin Attaran explores how misinformation spreads faster than facts—and why our brains are wired to fall for it. Through vivid examples and research-backed insights, she reveals how algorithms amplify outrage and how psychological triggers hijack our attention. Sharmin offers three simple, powerful tools we can all use to slow down, think critically, and defend truth in the digital age.
Exciting Talks Coming Up
MDMC 2025
Why Some Campaigns Convert While Others Fall Flat: Behavioral Psychology in Digital Marketing
In this dynamic talk, Dr. Sharmin Attaran unpacks the psychology behind successful digital marketing campaigns. Drawing on principles like scarcity, reciprocity, and social proof, she reveals why some messages stick and others get scrolled past. With real-world examples from brands like Amazon and Spotify, attendees walk away with a framework for stacking behavioral cues across the customer journey—turning awareness into action.
Episode 87 – Coffee N.5 – How Understanding Consumer Behavior Can Grow Your Business with Sharmin Attaran
Episode Description
We are so excited to have marketing educator and Ph.D. graduate Sharmin Attaran on the Coffee N. 5 podcast today. Sharmin began studying economics at UCLA, but towards the end of her senior year, she started working as an advertising intern for Vitamin Water, which completely fascinated her and shifted the course of her career.
After confessing to her dad her newfound love for the advertising world, he suggested that she take her first marketing class: consumer behavior. Now she teaches that same area of expertise at Bryant University. She also graduated from Marketing and Entrepreneurship as part of a Ph.D. in the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Given the rapidly changing world we live in, Sharmin finds herself changing the topic of her lectures every year. However, she finds it important that her students know that marketing’s foundations are linked with the psychology and behavior of buyers. According to her, understanding consumer intent is key to a successful marketing strategy.
She also touches on the topic of digital marketing tools. Sharmin believes technologies like Google Ads have benefited small businesses and leveled the playing field. With the right online strategy, she says, anyone can grow their business and be competitive.
What you’ll learn:
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How did Sharmin get into marketing after studying economics?
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What is the importance of consumer behavior?
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Why should we be more careful about boosting a post on Facebook?
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How has digital marketing shifted the balance between large and small companies?
GSP012: The One About The Little Black Book of Social Media with Dr. Sharmin Attaran
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Episode Description
This little black book is much different than the one you might have had during your school years. This is the little black book of social media. You might have heard about it on…social media most likely! Today I have the honor and absolute pleasure to have the Co-Author of this little black book, Dr. Sharmin Attaran on the show.
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Here's an example of what we spoke about! Did you know that in some cases the order value coming from your social media traffic is 4 times greater than the average order? Think about that for a few seconds.
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I’m pretty sure you now have a pretty good idea of what we’ll be talking about so let’s go straight to it! It’s time to literally Get Social!
