“Now is the time to double down on your story” I Shez Mehra, creative entrepreneur and DJ

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Dec 9, 2024

Shez Mehra, a creative entrepreneur and DJ known for leading The 194 Group and partnering with Raina Music, dives into the transformative power of sound in storytelling. He shares his journey from DJing to crafting emotional connections through brand narratives. Explorations include how music affects crowd dynamics, personal anecdotes showcasing sound's impact, and his belief that authentic storytelling is crucial for B2B success. Shez emphasizes the need for emotional depth in narratives, making a strong case for how sound can elevate brand experiences.

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ADVICE

DJing as Psychology

DJing involves understanding crowd psychology and anticipating their needs.
It's about creating a reciprocal exchange of energy through music selection.

ANECDOTE

From DJ to Entrepreneur

Shez started a successful DJ business in university by applying guerilla marketing techniques.
This experience showed him the malleability and potential of DJing as a tool.

INSIGHT

Humanizing B2B

B2B marketing should focus on the human element and emotional connection.
Personal stories build trust and resonate with decision-makers, regardless of industry.

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This is a special episode of the show. I’ve partnered with Intuit Mailchimp as part of a limited series called B2B Storytelling Stars. You can watch as I coach 3 marketers and experts on group calls and 1:1s, helping them craft their premises, messages, and stories. Get all 6 videos plus a storytelling template, free and ungated, at https://jayacunzo.com/stars

To cap off the series, each storyteller will appear on How Stories Happen for their very own episode, featuring the story we began developing behind the scenes together.

Kicking things off is Shez Mehra, one of the world’s foremost experts in sound and music used by brands to create memorable, cohesive experiences. He leads The 194 Group and has worked with Nike, Sephora, Google, Ford, Microsoft, and others. He’s also a partner in the software company Raina Music, which helps retail and hospitality brands with their music experiences.

Shez shares a moving story of the power of music, talks about his lifelong obsession with music and sound (and what we can learn from his years as a DJ crafting his sets), and together, we dissect the pieces of his signature story to get more specific, to pivot from a personal story to a relevant message to clients, and to stick the landing of a story well-told.

WATCH THE SERIES: STORYTELLING STARS

For all 6 videos (3 group coaching calls and 3 one-on-ones), plus a free template associated with each (no forms required), visit https://jayacunzo.com/stars

RESOURCES:

Connect with Shez on X, Linkedin, and Instagram

Subscribe to my newsletter at jayacunzo.com

Join the Creator Kitchen membership

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Bluesky

This episode was produced by Ilana Nevins

Cover art designed by Blake Ink

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ABOUT JAY:

I help business leaders become stronger speakers and storytellers. The goal isn’t to get in front of your audience. The goal is to ensure they care. While others agonize over reach, your ability to resonate helps you compete on the influence of your ideas, not the volume of your marketing.

With my clients, I help clarify + differentiate their message, craft their thinking and expertise into a distinct premise and IP they own, and develop signature speeches and stories to influence, inspire, and drive results.

After starting at brands like Google and HubSpot, I’ve helped organizations like Mailchimp, Salesforce, Wistia, and GoDaddy, plus dozens of individual authors, founders, execs, consultants, and creators with their storytelling and public speaking.

I live in the Boston area with my family as a proud Yankees and Knicks fan (yes, I’m in enemy territory). In the 60 seconds per week I’m not creating stuff for work or making my kids laugh, I like to shoot hoops, sip nice bourbons, cook with my wife, and daydream about telling stories like my storytelling hero, Anthony Bourdain. Say hi via jayacunzo.com

JOIN MY PUBLIC SPEAKING ACCELERATOR:
Enrollment is now open for my 8-week virtual program, with personalized 1:1 support and group coaching calls, along with video lessons, video reviews of your speech, and more.

Reserve your spot. Space is limited. Visit jayacunzo.com/signaturetalk — the next cohort starts September 8.