Shana shihab
Kollam, Kerala
Summary
Experienced communications professional with proven track record of eight years in conceptualising and implementing IEC campaigns and social impact programmes. Skilled in designing impactful projects, crafting compelling narratives and marketing materials, writing persuasive press releases, developing engaging newsletters, and consolidating reports to align with organisational goals. Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder management, strategic project implementation, and risk mitigation. Worked across diverse sectors including government (state and central), corporate, research-based think tanks and civil society organisations.
Overview
1
1
Certification
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Programme Manager
Citizen Digital Foundation
11.2024 - 12.2025
- Successfully delivered multiple iterations of the Good Tech Campaign, engaging over 2,000 children in four months. Applied creative engagement strategies to maximise reach and programme outcomes, oversaw people management, and managed other logistics.
- Conceptualised and led the CDF STEM Femme Fellowship for upskilling 30 women from diverse backgrounds. Designed programme structure and oversaw end-to-end delivery, budgeting, and resource allocation, enabling 6 women to start or scale online ventures, and 4 to enter employment.
Communication and Media Officer
IIT Palakkad
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Crafted compelling press releases to promote institute events, faculty achievements, student accomplishments, and research initiatives.
- Secured over 200 media mentions in print and 25 news stories in electronic media in a short period of time.
- Managed and curated content across the institute's website and social media handles, consistently applying branding guidelines to create a cohesive online presence.
- Designed communication collateral such as brochures, posters, and flyers for various programs and occasions, effectively communicating the institute's message and values. Maintained comprehensive records of media coverage and metrics to assess the impact of public relations efforts.
- Launched newsletter, Sahyadri TechXpress, for disseminating organisation updates across its stakeholders
Programme Lead, Business and Communications
VentureVillage Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Developed a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and Communication Plan for VentureVillage.
- Oversaw marketing communications to launch and generate leads, as well as conversions, for programmes associated with the University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education, Finland.
- Managed digital outreach, including social media, and significantly boosted VentureVillage's LinkedIn page as the primary outreach platform, resulting in a 300% increase in the follower base.
- Strategised email campaigns. Introduced the concept of an email course in the newsletter, leading to an increase in the opening rate of the newsletters.
Senior Project Associate
Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR)
07.2019 - 08.2020
- Collaborated to Conceptualize, & publicize over 50 in-house and partnership events like Vikasarth, Conversation series, Webinars, Book Launches, Quarterly Lectures.
- Developed a social media engagement strategy for the projects America with Kerala, Global Policy School etc.
- Lead third phase of America With Kerala, a Disaster Management awareness programme held in association with US Consulate General, Chennai. The Integrated Communications Campaign for this project earned close to 75k engagements on Facebook, 20k on LinkedIn, over 70 media mentions, and 20k video views.
- Invited to moderate a panel discussion on 'Each for Equal' by the Kerala Startup Mission and the World Trade Centre, Kochi. Networked and interfaced with research institutions, think tanks like the Centre for Policy Research, national and international universities, and other prospective stakeholders for joint research and resource sharing.
Programme Manager Public Relations & Documentation
ASAP KERALA
04.2017 - 06.2019
- Organized and participated in 30+ district/state/national-level events and campaigns to enhance the organization's visibility.
- Engaged in formulating marketing strategies for the rebranding of ASAP and the Summer Skill Skool programmes in 2018.
- Consolidated and prepared various reports, including monthly activity reports, quarterly progress reports, and annual reports, to be shared with higher authorities in the government and ADB.
- Created various marketing collateral, such as brochures and flyers, for ASAP and Community Skill Parks (CSP).
- Prepared press releases and secured media citations for the organisation. Developed, edited, designed, and published the in-house newsletter, "Skilletts."
- Developed a branding strategy for ASAP-She Skills in 2019. Collaborated with Kerala Shuchitwa Mission to establish a communication channel for implementing the green protocol through pre-campaigning and awareness programmes during the Kerala State Youth Festival 2018.
Education
MBA in Development Management
Azim Premji University
Bangalore2026
PG Diploma in English Journalism
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Kottayam2016
B.Tech
T K M College of Engineering
Kollam2014
Skills
- Campaign design: Content strategy, digital outreach, and audience engagement
- Visualisation: Canva, MIRO (Mind mapping)
- Workspace: Notion and Affine
- CRM systems: Mailchimp, HubSpot
- Content creation
- Event planning
Publications
- When Mobile Phones Babysit and Parents Scroll Away: Recommendations from the mother of a digital native
(https://citizendigitalfoundation.org/blog/when-mobile-phones-babysit-and-parents-scroll-away/)
- Is triple talaq boon to men and bane to Muslim women? - Dynamite news, dated 1 June 2016. https://www.dynamitenews.com/story/ dn-is-triple-talaq-a-boon-to-men-and- bane-to-muslim-women
- Elections in south: liquor to gold, they have it on their platter - Dynamite news, dated 13 May 2016. http://dynamitenews.com/news/detail/ elections-in-south-liquor-to-gold-voters- have-it-on-their-platter.html Haunted by versatility, Cover story, Fashion zone, February edition 2016.
Certification
- Digiperform Certified Online Marketing Practitioner, DCOMP-Certification on Digital Marketing
- Fundamentals of Project Management authorized by Google Bootcamp course on 'Social Media for Social Good Leveraging LinkedIn to build Relationships with CSR professionals and other stake holders.
- Course on SEO fundamentals from Semrush.com
References
- Jaikiran K P, Former Associate Professor of Geology, University College, TVM (Former Head, Curriculum and Public Relations Divisions, ASAP). Contact: 9447043494
Timeline
Programme Manager
Citizen Digital Foundation
11.2024 - 12.2025
Communication and Media Officer
IIT Palakkad
04.2023 - 04.2024
Programme Lead, Business and Communications
VentureVillage Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd
03.2022 - 03.2023
Senior Project Associate
Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR)
07.2019 - 08.2020
Programme Manager Public Relations & Documentation
ASAP KERALA
04.2017 - 06.2019
MBA in Development Management
Azim Premji University
PG Diploma in English Journalism
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
B.Tech
T K M College of Engineering