Founder & CEO, Media Maison
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Samantha Martin didn’t start Media Maison to run a typical PR agency.
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She started it because she believed brands deserved something better than endless reports, buzzwords, and agencies that talk a lot about “strategy” but rarely deliver real media coverage.
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More than 18 years later, Media Maison has become the firm companies call when they want attention that actually moves the needle.
Born and raised in Hong Kong and fluent in Cantonese, Samantha grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs. Her family has been involved in toy invention and manufacturing for generations, so she learned early how ideas become products and products become businesses.
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That entrepreneurial mindset still drives everything she does.
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Before launching Media Maison, Samantha held a senior executive position at Burson-Marsteller. But she quickly realized she wanted to build something very different from the traditional agency model.
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Today, Media Maison operates out of New York and Hong Kong with teams across the United States, working with startups, established brands, and celebrity entrepreneurs who want national exposure.
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Samantha has built a reputation for securing the kind of media placements that most firms promise but few actually deliver. Her relationships span television producers, journalists, editors, podcast hosts, influencers, and industry leaders across virtually every platform.
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Her Rolodex is wide and deep. You'd be shocked who is on her contact list. And if she doesn’t know someone personally, she almost certainly knows someone who does.
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Something no other PR firm offers is her experience taking a product from concept to potential retail shelf placement—at the very least on a Shopify page. From introduction to investors, analyzing samples and comparing US versus overseas manufacturing costs, to naming their product, creating a marketing plan, a website and all their social channels, to securing introductions with big-box and specialty retailers - she can handle every aspect. However, we only take on 1 or 2 of those clients a year and there is a waitlist. Once completed, she hands them over to the PR and social media team. It's called our six-month CEO program.
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That level of knowledge let alone involvement isn’t typical for most PR firms.
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But then again, Media Maison was never meant to be typical.
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In addition to media strategy, Samantha and her team are known for producing high-impact brand experiences. From product launches and pop-up retail activations to large-scale events and celebrity gatherings, Media Maison knows how to bring the right people into the room and make sure the right conversations happen.
At the core of the firm is a philosophy Samantha has repeated since the day she opened the doors:
No excuses.
No exceptions.
Out-of-the-box thinking.
Because in a crowded media landscape, the brands that win attention are the ones willing to approach things differently.
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Beyond her work in public relations, Samantha has long been involved in philanthropic efforts. She founded The KELY Organization, a Hong Kong-based nonprofit focused on preventing substance abuse among teenagers, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
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She also serves on boards supporting animal rescue, children with terminal illnesses, lupus research, and organizations that mentor women entering the workforce.
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Married with her two "furbabies" Lily and Rosie, Sam's life is full but nothing brings her more joy than seeing a start up brand on a National TV segment - knowing it will change their lives forever.
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