Our next episode of the Ask Dr. Renee Show airs LIVE on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at 6 pm PST/8 pm CST/9 pm EST. Our guest will be Shanti Das, The Hip Hop Professional, Press Rest Entertainment. Dr. Renee will chat with Shanti for the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes will be a Q&A with our audience, click the squares on the upper right-hand corner and then click Q&A.
For more than 20 years, Shanti Das has been a staple, a familiar face, a recognizable name, a landmark in the music industry.

But it didn’t happen overnight. Since graduating from Syracuse University in 1993, Shanti has worked tirelessly to learn the ins and outs of the music game and to make her mark on the industry, starting with her stint as a promotions assistant for Capitol Records and making a major leap into the role of National Promotions Director for LaFace Records followed by posts as Senior Director of Urban Marketing at Arista, VP/Sr VP at Columbia Records/Sony Music and Executive Vice President of Marketing at Universal Motown.

From those early days to now, this soft-spoken giant has broken many an artist, blazed many a trail, and paved many a road for fellow and future music executives.

Her moniker, “The Hip-Hop Professional,” only partially defines her career — one characterized by a wealth of expertise in an array of music genres, including hip hop, R&B, and pop.

With experience culled from years of working with the likes of Outkast, Usher, TLC, and countless others, Shanti has devoted her life to sharing what she’s learned and applying her skills in multiple ways.

From her critically acclaimed book, “The Hip-Hop Professional 2.0,” to her college tour, The College Chat Room, to the highly successful ATL Live on the Park (through her company Press Reset Entertainment), Shanti has become a household name to a whole new generation of artists, admirers, and aspiring music execs.

And although she still gets to flex her marketing muscle by consulting clients and staging live events, Shanti is most proud of her current work as a mentor and role model for those with dreams of succeeding in their respective careers – especially college students. The 5 For 5 Student Spotlight is displayed prominently on her website, www.thehiphopprofessional.com, and she has established scholarships and other means of financial assistance for students in need.
She’s also begun a series of Google Mentoring Chats and Lunches where she dispenses invaluable advice to those who participate.

Professing a deep love for business as well as hip-hop music and culture, Shanti says her goal is to ignite that same kind of passion in those that she mentors. She notes, “My mission is to become a global thought leader, inspiring the professional development of young adults.”

Among the many notable honors, awards, and acknowledgments Shanti has received are:
 

• 2014 “Book of the Year” Award from HBCUConnect.com
• 2014 “The Dream – Empowerment is S.E.X.Y.” Award
• 2014 Legendary Award for Community Service
• 2013 “Be Greater Atlanta Award” from the United Way and Atlanta Hawks Basketball Organization
• 2013 “Pink Samaritan” Award from AskAprilLove.com
• 2011 Sisters of Today & Tomorrow Empowerment Award

Throughout her career, Shanti Das has been all about information, education, and enlightenment — not just receiving it but giving it back in return. She says, “Ignorance doesn’t lie in not knowing. It lies in not attempting to learn!”