Exclusive Interview with Shehzeen Rehman
Shehzeen Rehman’s journey is the kind that turns heads—and then makes you sit up and take notes. From climbing the corporate ladder in a top multinational to taking a leap of faith into blogging, she built an empire before the word “influencer” became a career. Over a decade later, she’s partnered with global brands, launched exclusive collections, and cultivated a community that values mindful living over mindless scrolling. Whether it’s her Substack bestseller or her #1 podcast, Shehzeen began blogging before it was cool and a buzzword. Synergyzer delves into the mind behind the magic.
Synergyzer: How did you begin your journey as a content creator, especially at a time when blogging was unheard of?
Shehzeen Rehman: I began writing at a very young age, I loved it so much, that I used to have my short stories and poems printed in children’s magazines. I’ve always had a love for writing and expression. When I wanted to pivot from my corporate career into doing something of my own, this was something that I naturally gravitated to. It was what felt like home, and it still feels like it.
Synergyzer: You started blogging at a time when it was a personal outlet rather than a business industry. With content creation now being heavily tied to marketing and branding, how do you balance authenticity with strategic growth?
Shehzeen Rehman: For me, authenticity and work were never separate. It’s not just for content creation but also how I led my corporate career. Authenticity is the soul of your work. It’s true, that authenticity is not mandatory, plenty of creators can have successful platforms without it, but that is for all industries. For me, it’s the magic formula. I share my life as is, I don’t embellish any details, and with all the partnerships that I receive, I create my storytelling around things in my life as they happen. I think there’s always space to do it in that manner if you want.
Synergyzer: Social media platforms are constantly changing their algorithms, forcing creators to adapt. Do you find yourself creating for the algorithm, or do you stick to your voice and let the audience find you?
Shehzeen Rehman: I often think about what true, timeless artisans of the world have done. When you look at their masterpieces, you see that they created for what their natural creative language was, what they deemed to be great – rather than to please anyone. Art speaks the artist’s mind; it doesn’t cater to algorithms. Creativity has to come from within and be expressed as it comes from you. The community building happens naturally, for whoever has the same set of values. I use that as inspiration to do my work the same way. I have to like it first, and then I’ll always find those who would appreciate it as much as I do.
Synergyzer: With new formats like short-form video, AI-generated content and shrinking attention spans, do you think long-form storytelling still has a place in digital media?
Shehzeen Rehman: Just like fresh food next to packaged ones at the supermarket, I believe long-form will always have its space. That space may shrink and be much smaller than short and rapid content – but it will continue to exist. It’s the brick-and-mortar stores in a world of online shopping. I launched my long-form newsletter on Substack at a time when short-form content was king. But soon enough, my newsletter became a bestseller on the platform. Substack now has hundreds of paid subscribers and is growing steadily. I believe that there will always be an audience for it, which may not ever be able to compete with the rest, but like with everything else in life, you can choose to not compete.
Synergyzer: AI tools are now generating everything from scripts to images. Do you see AI as a threat to creativity, or do you think it can enhance human-led content creation?
Shehzeen Rehman: I think AI is fabulous for outsourcing tasks that aren’t value-adding in some way, although, I feel admin work from time to time is required for your mind to breathe. But as long as we don’t take away our creative brainstorming and allow our talents to thrive within us, it can be an excellent tool. Like most things, it’s less about the tool and more about its usage.
Synergyzer: With the pressure to constantly create and stay relevant, burnout is a real challenge. How do you personally manage the demands of being a content creator while maintaining?
Shehzeen Rehman: One of my old managers had once told me that your schedule should always be 80% full. Because you’ll always need that extra 20% for firefighting, unexpected asks and general breathing space. This advice has stayed with me for two decades now. Managing a schedule and taking on work with an awareness of your capacity is critical. There have been times when I’ve scheduled myself without leaving space for creative pauses and it always dilutes my thinking so I’m extremely particular about maintaining my calendar in a way to manage this. I also don’t believe in posting every day, it is not necessary, I post only when I have something meaningful to say.
Synergyzer: Content creators now hold significant influence over audiences, sometimes even more than traditional media. How do you ensure that your influence is responsible and ethical?
Shehzeen Rehman: I try not to think about the pressures of how someone else will perceive my actions. I think the most important aspect is to live a responsible life, whether you’re online or offline. We’re all influencing someone in some way. I try and live my life in a way that I’m at peace with my intent, actions and behaviour. And then, I hope for the best.
Synergyzer: How do you approach brand partnerships in a way that stays true to your identity without feeling overly commercial?
Shehzeen Rehman: I always write my own scripts, when I receive a brand campaign then I ask for changes if it doesn’t align with who I am in real life. Some brands aren’t open to that, in that case, I let go of those partnerships. Some brands are generous with giving me complete autonomy and those are the collaborations I truly thrive in. I never create a life scenario for a campaign, but I always try to create around whatever is happening to me in real life.
Synergyzer: What’s something about being a content creator that no one warns you about, but you wish they did?
Shehzeen Rehman: I wish I knew that being a content creator will have incredible demands on my mental health, even if the audience is excellent. I think exposing yourself to a large audience on a daily basis drains your emotional resilience. If you’re not careful about how much time you spend online and how, it can have severe consequences on your overall health. There still isn’t enough research on the passive effect of social media and I hope we learn more soon.
