Sheila Marmon has a passion for innovation and has launched new products and businesses in the digital media industry for over 20 years. As Founder + CEO of Mirror Digital, a technology-enabled digital media company, she helps Fortune 500 brands tap into the fastest-growing U.S. consumer base - the multicultural market. Sheila has executed over 500 digital programs in this space for clients including AT&T, Clinique, Comcast, Disney, General Motors, Macy’s, Netflix, Procter & Gamble, Universal Pictures and many other leading brands and advertising agencies.  

In addition to entrepreneurship, Sheila’s multi-faceted media career includes leadership roles in operations, new ventures, and finance at TimeWarner (now Warner Media), Morgan Stanley, and Essence Communications. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous industry and civic awards for digital innovation and diversity & inclusion. Outside of work, Sheila serves as a Board Director for organizations including A Better Chance and the American Advertising Federation.

Sheila holds a B.A. from Princeton University, cum laude and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Steven F. Heuer.

Q: What inspired you to found Mirror Digital and what were the main challenges you faced?

As a junior media executive at a major corporation, I was working on an array of exciting product launches. My work was primarily focused on the areas of digital innovation OR multicultural markets. I decided to marry these two passions and focus on how innovation in media could help leading brands reach people of color on digital media platforms; hence, Mirror Digital was born.

Q: Did you start the venture alone?

I started my first company with a partner - we were co-founders who each owned 50% of the business. I learned so much during our two years of working together - most importantly never do a 50/50 partnership because there is no way to make decisions if you don’t see eye to eye. My ex-partner and I had very different visions for where we wanted to take the business and ultimately decided our objectives weren’t aligned so we parted ways. Mirror Digital is my second business, and I launched this company alone. After having already run a company, I was confident in my ability to go it alone. I have a solid management team who works with me so I am not making all the decision by myself, but I am the sole founder.‍

Q: What's your business model, and how have you grown your revenue?

‍Mirror Digital is a multicultural digital media company that helps Fortune 500 brands and their agencies connect with multicultural communities. We reach over 30 million Asian, Black, and Latinx consumers each month. Our business is driven by advertising revenue - we run media programs across websites, mobile apps, social media, and other emerging digital media platforms. Some of our largest clients include Amazon, AT&T, Comcast, Disney, Ford, General Motors, and many others.