About Justine Dharni

A luminary in the digital strategy arena, Justine Dharni's has established herself as a pivotal figure with her vibrant approach and extensive expertise. Her distinguished career encompasses collaborations with industry giants such as Google, Intel, Uber, American Express, and Sony Entertainment. Celebrated for her innate ability to connect with people, she excels in driving customer engagement, cultivating a positive workplace culture, and forging strong relationships with peers and clients. Her journey includes influential roles in numerous agencies and a profound impact on various philanthropic initiatives.

Career Overview

Digital Connoisseur and Creative Trailblazer

Justine began her career with an innovative leap into video blogging on YouTube. This venture swiftly propelled her to a prominent position as a host and producer on an international talk show broadcasted on Sony Entertainment Television, reaching viewers in 150 countries and amassing 20 million subscribers. The show featured illustrious guests such as Vivek Ranadive (TIBCO), Naveen Jain (Viome), Blair LaCorte (XOJET), Michael Mina, and famed Indian cinema stars Esha Deol and Hema Malini. Her foray into journalism led her to significant roles at Silicon Valley events, including moderating TiEcon Youth and presenting at the TiE50 awards.

Boasting over 13 years of experience, Dharni seamlessly combines storytelling, creative innovation, and analytical thinking, lifting brands to unprecedented success. As a Director of Digital Strategy, her insightful strategy and leadership prowess have been instrumental in launching transformative marketing initiatives for various Fortune 500 companies across multiple sectors. Her contributions are notable in influencer marketing, strategic channel development, partnerships, and impactful research endeavors.

Workplace Belonging and Culture advocate

Serving as the Workplace Belonging and Culture advocate, Justine brings empathy and insight to her role, championing inclusive narratives within marketing. Her distinctive approach has led to securing significant contracts and establishing new benchmarks in the industry. Her skill in managing diverse teams is exemplary, as she navigates various learning preferences and prioritizes mental wellness.

Academic Excellence

A Trailblazer with Notable Educational Achievements

Justine's academic path is as impressive as her professional trajectory. A first-generation college graduate, she holds a 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 lifelong learning and talent development.

Professional Recognition

Justine Dharni's academic prowess is marked by her inclusion on the UC Berkeley Dean's List and the Foresters Competitive Scholarship for community involvement. She also received the Strong Training & Coaching BIPOC Scholarship. Her professional accomplishments include contributing to Intel's "Brains Behind the Brains" series, earning a Shorty Award nomination, being a finalist in ScreenCraft's TV Pilot Script Competition, and engaging with industry leaders such as WME Partners.

Areas of Expertise

Dharni's expertise is extensive, covering areas such as strategy formulation, creative brainstorming, content strategy, multi-platform social media marketing, data analysis, business development, team leadership, influencer marketing strategies, partnerships, legal matters, video production, scriptwriting, customer relationship management, budgeting, financial modeling, generative A.I. applications, and insightful research.

Fun Fact: Before her position at Uber's marketing division, she completed over 1000 rides as a driver, garnering invaluable insights directly from consumers.

Charitable Activities and Volunteering

Dedicated to community engagement, she has been actively involved in volunteer work since her university days, serving as a high school tutor and an AVID classroom counselor. Her philanthropic efforts extend to organizations like Cycle for Survival, Asha for Education, Pratham, Random Acts of Kindness, Jagriti Foundation, and the U.N. Global Development Agenda.

Future Endeavors

Justine eagerly anticipates her upcoming graduation from Columbia Business School. She plans to further her education at esteemed institutions such as NYU and Stanford, reflecting her commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth.

Valued Colleague, Manager and Leader

Throughout her career, Justine 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 Justine throughout her journey in the digital strategy space:

Jenn M

Vice 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 Dharni to jump in and help the new business team secure new clients leading 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 on top of her primary role 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 would highly recommend her for so many reasons!"

Katharina M

Vice President, Research & Insights

"It has been such a joy working with Dharni. She is a committed team player, ever-curious and thoughtful in her work and always interested in learning about new ways to solve a business challenge at hand.

While working together, it has been wonderful to watch Justine 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.

She is highly motivated, always eager to learn and grow, hard working and simply a joy to be around."

Layne H

Brand Marketing Director

"I had the pleasure of working with Justine on the Global Social Media and Content Marketing Team at Uber. She was a bright light in the office-not only was her positivity infectious, but she approached every single task with a can-do attitude. In our time together, she supported me in monthly editorial planning for the @Uber social program, as well as led all agency partner relationships.

I'd recommend Justine to any company looking to add a highly creative and equally organized member to their team!"

Howard T

Senior Vice President, Analytics

"I had the opportunity to work with Justine on the Intel account at mcgarrybowen! Not only was Dharni a pleasure to work with, she was instrumental in the ongoing success of the account.

Her social media prowess is second to none! Her social media content humanized the Intel brand while promoted the Intel brand image.

I'd welcome the opportunity to work with Dharni again in the future!"

Kevin C

Program Manager

"Justine is an amazing 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 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 Life and Passions

Outside of her professional pursuits, she is a keen analyst of television and film, a devoted writer, and a self-defense aficionado. Her interests include baking, creative cooking, skincare, meditation, and immersing herself in self-help literature, embodying a comprehensive approach to personal wellness.

Justine Dharni's journey is a compelling mix of professional accomplishment, academic commitment, and a sincere dedication to societal impact. Serving as an inspiration to aspiring professionals, her story exemplifies the powerful combination of passion, purpose, and a commitment to creating positive change. As she continues her dynamic career path, her influence is expected to extend beyond digital strategy and workplace inclusivity, aiming to forge a lasting legacy for future creative talents.