Temima Sames

CEO/Founder

Temima Shames is a leading entertainment executive who is pioneering the growth of brands and talent in the digital age of influencers, followers and virality. At the young age of 24, she is the CEO & Founder of Next Step Talent — a full service management company and digital brand consulting agency that specializes in long term growth through digital strategy and audience relationship building. Born in Israel and raised in New York, Temima has early entertainment experience after starting her career in acting. Prior to founding Next Step Talent, she earned her college degree in music business at SUNY Oneonta while working at companies including Atlantic Records, and Visionary Music Group, with various platinum records and billboard charting campaigns. Now, Next Step Talent represents some of the biggest talent in the world and has helped countless brands including Lemon Perfect grow exponentially.

Temima alongside her team and their clients have secured massive brand growth achievements including 5B+ YouTube views, #7 debut Spotify Album, highlights in Youtube’s Black Creator Class of 2023, TikTok’s biggest POV star, and one of NYFW’s creators with the highest brand return of 2023 (over $723K), with viral campaigns being featured in media outlets like Business Insider and New York Post. Songs, records, and projects Temima has been a part of have garnered 25 million streams and viral campaigns with more than 2 million recreates on TikTok. She’s also activated partnerships with top brands including YouTube, Meta, Disney Music Group, BOSS, Neutrogena, HBO, Netflix, Target, Universal Music Group, NYX Cosmetics. Temima, passionate about giving back, has worked to promote non-profit OutRight Action International to support the LGBTQIA+ community. At the age of 10, Temima was involved in Strength to Strength, an organization for kids affected by 9/11 and terrorism, where she spoke at the United Nations advocating for global peace. She also co-founded an organization called Women PowHer Music to encourage women to start businesses during quarantine. As someone who grew up in a household where she had to be resourceful at a very young age, Shames is an advocate for mental health, entrepreneurship, and inspires others to take a chance at any age. With a passion for entrepreneurship and scaling brands, Temima is focused on finding budding talent and partners to help make a difference in the business ecosystem.