Eden Zeilo

Marketing Executive

New York, New York, United StatesSenior5-10 years

Open to New Opportunities

About

I am the product of two cultures, born in America to Eritrean parents. My parents divorced when I was one, and my grandmother moved from Eritrea to join my mother and me. Because my father was an avid reader and loved history, we frequented libraries and museums. My father never was satisfied with my childhood academic achievements. I frequently heard, “94%? What happened to the last 6%?” and “only stupid people make stupid mistakes.” The desire to make my father proud motivated me. As a high school senior, I decided to apply to MIT. This time, my father was not the one doubting me. My math teacher, who wrote my MIT letter of recommendation, said, “I don't think you'll get in. The last time someone from this school got in was three years ago.” After my acceptance, my teacher became my biggest supporter. My father was also pleased with me for the first time in my life. At MIT, I learned to problem solve in ways I did not know were possible. MIT challenges its students with problems they cannot solve individually, knowing that together solutions can be found. An infamous quote about MIT says it best -- “it's like drinking water out of a fire hose.” I learned to welcome challenge and not to be uncomfortable when solutions were not readily apparent. My innate mathematical ability led me to pursue a degree in operations research – the study of analytical methods to make better decisions in complex systems. I thrived there; in my favorite course, we made daily decisions to increase the profitability of a simulated factory. In the corporate world, consulting appeared to be the perfect fit. When corporations, the government, or individuals cannot solve their own problems, they hire consultants. The ability to problem solve made me successful on Booz Allen's modeling and simulation team. The problems I am solving are always at the forefront of my mind. I have figured out solutions to my clients' problems in the oddest places, ranging from my shower to the shoe department at Macy's. Dedication to my clients and determination to find a solution distinguished me, earning the respect of my colleagues. Clients, including a Lt. Colonel whose deadline we could not meet, requested that I present briefs. My manager was supportive, even when I asked for a raise after six months at the firm. Determined to earn a promotion within one year, an uncommon feat, I asked my mentor to help me position myself for a promotion since she was one of the youngest Lead Associates on my team. I thought she would understand my ambition. Unfortunately, her attitude was similar to my high school math teacher’s. My mentor told me how unlikely a promotion would be and that I thought too highly of myself. After three years in corporate America, I made the pivotal decision to apply to business school. While many advised me to cast a wide net, I had my sights set on only the top institutions. I even applied to the Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) program, which supports diverse candidates through the application process. Ultimately, though, I resolved to gain admission to my dream school—Harvard Business School (HBS)—on my own. At HBS, I honed my leadership skills and explored careers in technology, entrepreneurship, and fashion. Beyond the classroom, I traveled extensively, from nearby destinations like Miami and Cuba to far-flung places like Cambodia, Tanzania, and China. These experiences shaped me, deepened my global perspective, and forged lifelong friendships. After graduating, I began my post-HBS career at Samsung on the strategy team for the consumer business. It was a stepping stone toward my dream career in brand marketing. Two years later, I faced a defining choice: (1) transition internally to a product marketing role, (2) move to Google for a strategy position, or (3) take a leap into brand marketing at Sundial Brands, which had recently been acquired by Unilever. If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I don’t take the safest path. I joined Sundial Brands as Director of Global Brand Marketing, overseeing the Latin American business. The catch? I had never worked in Latin America, nor did I speak fluent Spanish. Yet, I thrived. Soon, my responsibilities expanded, and I managed SheaMoisture across Africa, Europe, Australia, and Canada. Later, I transitioned to the U.S. brand strategy and marketing team, where I spearheaded the relaunch of MADAM by Madam C.J. Walker. The campaign won the 2022 WWD Best Launch of the Year award—an achievement I remain incredibly proud of. Still, I was ready for a new challenge. A headhunter approached me about a VP of Global Integrated Marketing role at Black Opal, overseeing both the namesake brand and the highly anticipated relaunch of Fashion Fair. I seized the opportunity and relocated to Chicago, marking my first experience working on a prestige Sephora brand. The learning curve was steep, but the experience was invaluable. After a year, I decided to take a break—something I had never done before. I quit my job, traveled to Australia, celebrated my birthday in Cabo, consulted for SheaMoisture, and ultimately landed my next role as Head of Marketing at Sienna Naturals, a plant-based, high-performance haircare brand co-founded by Issa Rae and Hannah Diop. Back in 2018, I made a commitment: to support, uplift, and work with Black-owned and Black-founded brands. The events of 2020 only strengthened my resolve. I want to see us continue to grow, build, and close the racial wealth gap. The work isn’t always easy, but it’s deeply meaningful. And that’s what drives me forward. My goals also are foreign to and not well received by my family in Eritrea. No matter what I accomplish, during every conversation, my aunt in Eritrea asks, “when are you getting married?” While Eritrea has advanced economically and socially in the last decade, traditional values and beliefs remain. Questions about my marital status were so frequent that I asked my mother why so many of our relatives were fixated on it. She said, "so you can be happy." Having been born and raised in America, where women’s roles are ever-changing and expanding, the underpinning for my mother’s response and my aunt’s persistence escaped me. In recent conversations with a cousin in my generation, who lives in Eritrea, I finally understood that, in Eritrea, a woman’s happiness is inextricably intertwined with marriage. In Eritrea, unmarried women live with their parents, and are perceived as burdensome cast-offs by society. Owing to her beliefs, my aunt could not imagine how I could be happy and unmarried. Occasionally, I remind myself of how different, how very limited, my life and opportunities might have been, if not for my parents’ courage. Such thoughts are extraordinarily motivational. I strive to be my best and fullest self, for their sakes, for my sake, and most importantly for the sake of the world community to which each of us contributes. From the platform my parents provided, I became the first college graduate in my family, a triumph over my family’s and my culture’s oppressive, gender normative views of women. The diverse perspectives spawned by my Eritrean roots and American lifestyle are formative; they impact my approach to everything from personal and professional relationships to career goals. Between the cultural norms of Eritrean women and the lack of support in my academic and professional environments, I often have been told what I cannot achieve. Luckily, that only pushes me to dream even bigger and attending Cannes Lions is next on my list of “unachievable” goals.

Brands

Dove

Target

SheaMoisture

Black Opal

Madam

Walmart