In an era where AI is often touted as a cure-all and sustainability is reduced to a buzzword, Salman Shahid stands apart—a leader who builds eco-friendly packaging solutions by day and mentors the next generation of entrepreneurs by night.
The veteran CMO of DevBatch and a key figure in the packaging industry doesn’t just preach innovation; he lives it, often in ways that defy conventional playbooks.
“I never set out to be a visionary,” Salman says, sipping karak chai in his Lahore office. “I just wanted to solve problems without losing my soul.” This unpretentious ethos has fueled his career, proving that profit and purpose aren’t mutually exclusive but symbiotic.
From Lahore’s Bazaars to Global Boardrooms
Salman’s story begins in the labyrinthine markets of Lahore, where his father ran a small textile shop. “He’d haggle ruthlessly with suppliers, then gift fabric to families who couldn’t afford it,” he recalls. “Business isn’t transactional—it’s relational.”
That lesson became his compass. As a teen, he sold handmade cricket bats to classmates, negotiating prices between math class and lunch breaks. “I wasn’t top of my class, but I aced understanding people,” he admits.
Salman’s academic journey was anything but conventional. While pursuing an M.Phil in Market Research, his professors dismissed his thesis on AI-driven customer personalization as “idealistic folly.”
Refusing to back down, he refined his vision—a vision that now powers digital marketing campaigns for leading brands like OXO Packaging, The Customize Boxes, Noah Resources, and Healthire through DevBatch.
As CMO, his strategic innovations have reshaped how these brands engage customers, a testament to his foresight. Today, his 2023 Global Packaging Innovator of the Year award hangs in DevBatch’s lobby—a quiet but powerful nod to the impact of his once-dismissed ideas.
DevBatch: Where AI Gets a Heartbeat
When Salman joined DevBatch as CMO, the pandemic had decimated small businesses. While competitors peddled generic SaaS tools, he asked a radical question: “Can AI heal, not just sell?”
The answer was AI-driven marketing campaigns that boosted client ROI by manifolds. DevBatch’s AI now flags tone-deaf messaging using empathy metrics—a first in the industry.
“Tech without empathy is noise,” Salman insists. His “grill sessions” are legendary: every campaign must solve a real problem, resonate with users, and embed “soul” into code.
OXO Packaging: A Silent Revolution in Sustainability
Under Salman’s leadership at DevBatch, OXO Packaging has undergone a digital and sustainable transformation.
As a client of DevBatch, OXO Packaging leveraged Salman’s expertise in AI-driven market strategies and cutting-edge technology to pioneer eco-friendly packaging solutions—reducing waste by 30% and setting new industry standards. This innovation earned Salman the title of 2023 Global Packaging Innovator of the Year.
Today, OXO Packaging ships over 500,000 units monthly, powered by AI-optimized supply chains designed under Salman’s strategic direction to minimize waste and maximize efficiency.
“They said it was impossible. I said, ‘Let’s fail gloriously,’” Salman grins. The result? A 68% surge in customer loyalty and recognition from the World Packaging Organization.
His latest moonshot? Blockchain-enabled QR codes, tracing a package’s journey from Punjab’s hemp farms to Berlin’s recycling hubs. “Transparency shouldn’t be optional,” he says—a belief that continues to drive DevBatch’s innovations for OXO and beyond.
Mentorship: No Sugarcoating, Just Samosas
Salman’s mentorship style is equal parts drill sergeant and cheerleader. Maria Khan, founder of sustainable fashion startup ReThread, recalls pitching him at a Lahore tech meetup: “He said, ‘Your pricing model’s a disaster. Fix it, then bother me.’ Brutal—but it pushed me to nail my first investor pitch.”
His commitment to nurturing talent goes far beyond one-on-one sessions. As a senior member of Punjab IT Board’s Plan9 incubator, a mentor at the CXO Global Forum, and a member of the Standing Committee on IT Development and Infrastructure at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, Salman has played a pivotal role in shaping Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
His apprenticeship program has placed 210 students in top industry roles, while his workshops at PITB and CXO Global Forum have trained over 1,000 entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
These platforms allow him to directly influence policy, guide startups, and create avenues for aspiring professionals to break into competitive markets.
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t,” he says. “We’re closing that gap.” Whether through structured programs or impromptu strategy sessions over chai, his mission remains the same: to democratize access to knowledge and opportunity.
Salman’s Visionary Marketing Playbook: How Your Market is Ripe to Disrupt is Shaping the Future of AI-Driven Business
Salman’s impact on the digital marketing landscape is undeniable. Through his thought leadership, mentorship, and groundbreaking work at DevBatch, he has not only transformed businesses but also paved the way for an AI-powered future.
His book, Our Market is Ripe to Disrupt – The Hidden Methodology of Marketing Truths Every Digital Marketer Must Know!, serves as a blueprint for marketers navigating the AI revolution, offering deep insights into leveraging data, automation, and personalization to drive unparalleled growth.
Legacy: Coding Accountability, One Box at a Time
When asked how he wants to be remembered, Salman pauses. “As the guy who proved you don’t need to sell your soul to scale a business. Oh, and someone who really sucked at magic tricks.”
Yet his impact is no illusion. From AI that humanizes to packaging that nourishes the planet, Salman’s work is a blueprint for conscious capitalism. As he rushes off to his daughter’s karate class, he leaves with a parting shot: “Even disruptors have curfews.”
