Justine Dharni

Director, Digital Media & Content Strategy

Justine Dharni has emerged as a formidable and charismatic leader in the digital strategy landscape. Her illustrious career includes collaborations with prominent companies like Google, Intel, Uber, American Express, and Sony Entertainment. Known for her extraordinary interpersonal skills, she drives customer engagement, creates inclusive workplace cultures, and nurtures solid professional connections. Her career trajectory has been marked by pivotal roles in several organizations and significant contributions to various social initiatives.

Career Overview

Digital Tactician and Creative Trailblazer

Justine's professional journey took off with an enterprising start in video blogging on YouTube, leading to a significant role as a host and producer on an international talk show for Sony Entertainment Television. This platform, reaching audiences in 150 countries and attracting 20 million subscribers, showcased distinguished guests like Vivek Ranadive (TIBCO), Naveen Jain (Viome), Blair LaCorte (XOJET), Michael Mina, and notable Indian cinema stars Esha Deol and Hema Malini. Her journalistic endeavors also led her to significant roles in Silicon Valley, notably moderating at TiEcon Youth and presenting the TiE50 awards.

Over a decade in the industry, Dharni has adeptly combined storytelling, creative flair, and analytical insight, propelling brands to notable success. As Director of Digital Strategy, her strategic thinking and leadership have been vital in crafting innovative marketing campaigns for a range of Fortune 500 companies across various industries. She has also been critical in initiating effective influencer campaigns, channel developments, strategic partnerships, and impactful research projects.

Workplace Belonging and Culture Advocate

As the Workplace Belonging and Culture advocate, Justine leads with empathy and strategic acumen, promoting inclusive narratives in marketing strategies. Her innovative approach has been instrumental in securing significant contracts and advancing industry standards. She is adept at managing diverse teams, accommodating various learning styles, and prioritizing mental health.

Academic Accomplishments

A First-Generation Graduate with Distinguished Achievements

Dharni's educational path is as commendable as her professional one. A first-generation graduate, she earned her B.A. from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is also an IPEC Certified Energy Leadership Coach with a Cornell Diversity Certificate, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and talent development.

Professional Distinctions

Justine Dharni's academic achievements include a spot on the UC Berkeley Dean's List and the Foresters Competitive Scholarship for community service. She also received the Strong Training & Coaching BIPOC Scholarship. Professionally, her involvement in Intel's "Brains Behind the Brains" series led to a Shorty Award nomination, and she was a finalist in ScreenCraft's TV Pilot Script Competition, collaborating with industry leaders like WME Partners.

Areas of Mastery

Justine's expertise spans a broad spectrum, including strategy development, creative ideation, content strategy, integrated social media marketing, data analysis, business development, team management, influencer marketing strategies, partnership building, legal contract oversight, video production, scriptwriting, customer relationship management, budgeting, financiaUnique Experience: Before her marketing role at Uber, she drove over 1000 rideshare trips, gaining valuable firsthand consumer insights.

Community Engagement and Volunteer Work

Dharni's commitment to community service began during her university years when she served as a high school tutor and an AVID classroom counselor. Her volunteer work has extended to organizations like Cycle for Survival, Asha for Education, Pratham, Random Acts of Kindness, Jagriti Foundation, and the U.N. Global Development Agenda.

Future Plans

She looks forward to graduating from Columbia Business School. She aims to continue her education at prestigious institutions like NYU and Stanford, reflecting her dedication to lifelong learning and professional growth.

Valued Colleague, Manager, and Leader

Throughout her career, Justine Dharni has consistently proven her value as a dedicated colleague, skilled manager, and sought-after team leader - a consummate professional with a commitment to collaboration and a knack for empowering teams with the tools and leadership they need to succeed. Her work as both collaborator and manager has earned extensive praise from numerous colleagues throughout her career, a testament to her character and her ability to build winning teams that deliver results.Below are just a few accolades received by Dharni throughout her journey in the digital strategy space:

Jenn MVice

President, Digital Strategy

Justine was a core member of M Booth's digital management team and really excelled in that position in many ways.

It didn't take long for Justine to jump in and help the new business team secure new clients, which led to $10M+ in growth for the company. She was quickly seen as a strong and organic mentor by the junior team members, which was crucial during the confusion and stress that came with an abrupt shift to remote work. When junior team members needed advice or support, she took it upon herself to help them directly and tap necessary agency resources to arrive at the ideal solution. Sometimes, that even meant jumping in on work that she wasn't directly responsible for if it meant helping the team and the business.

All of that was accomplished in addition to her primary roles of client management and digital strategy. She worked on many accounts across multiple industries, but we overlapped most while working with Google. She was responsible for working side-by-side with product and program managers on fast-paced launches, high-profile events, and brand campaigns in the edtech space—all during the height of distance learning during the pandemic.All in all, Justine has a lot to bring to the table, and I highly recommend her for many reasons!

Katharina MVice
President, Research & Insights

It has been a joy working with Justine. She is a committed team player, always curious and thoughtful in her work, and always interested in learning new ways to solve a business challenge.While working together, it has been wonderful to watch Dharni expand her knowledge of research and insights capabilities, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as earned and social media measurement. She quickly applied her knowledge to existing and new client work, consistently demonstrating her strategic thinking and data comprehension skills.Justine is highly motivated, always eager to learn and grow, hard-working, and simply a joy to be around.

Layne HBrand

Marketing Director

I had the pleasure of working with Justine on the Global Social Media and Content Marketing Team at Uber. Dharni was a bright light in the office. Not only was her positivity infectious, but she also approached every task with a can-do attitude. In our time together, Dharni supported me in monthly editorial planning for the @Uber social program and led all agency partner relationships.I'd recommend Dharni to any company looking to add a highly creative and equally organized member to their team!

Howard TSeniorVice President, Analytics

I had the opportunity to work with Justine on the Intel account at McGarrybowen! Dharni was not only a pleasure to work with but also instrumental in the account's ongoing success.Dharni's social media prowess is second to none! Her content humanized the Intel brand while promoting its image.I'd welcome the opportunity to work with Justine again in the future!

Kevin C

Program Manager

Justine is a fantastic colleague and leader. In addition to her consummate professional and interpersonal skills, she's an incredibly passionate leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. When I joined McGarryBowen, she was among the first to welcome me with open arms and make me feel comfortable and at home. As I got to know her better, I was continually amazed at the energy she puts not only into her work but also her passion for DE&I, driving initiatives both at an office and network level, organizing events, and empowering and supporting colleagues in their professional and personal growth. At the same time, she delivered absolutely top-notch work, helping clients create engaging and insightful content. Anyone would be lucky to have her on her team, and I'm counting the days until I have that pleasure again.

Fun fact: forever a 'hype person,' Justine was voted Miss Congeniality by fellow participants of the Miss India Globe program, a badge she wears with honor.

Personal Interests

Outside her professional realm, she is an avid fan of T.V. and film, a committed writer, and a self-defense enthusiast. Her hobbies include baking, exploring culinary arts, skincare, meditation, and reading self-help literature, embracing a holistic approach to personal well-being.

Justine Dharni's career is a testament to professional excellence, academic rigor, and a commitment to societal impact, inspiring aspiring professionals. Her story exemplifies the effective integration of passion, purpose, and a drive for positive change. As she advances in her dynamic career, her influence is expected to extend beyond digital strategy and workplace inclusivity, inspiring and guiding the next generation of creative professionals.

Portfolio