Your Humor Isn't Harmless. It Exposes Your Values.
Edgy Humor, Empty Empathy: What Our Jokes About Children Quietly Reveal
February 12, 2025
Read on Medium →Experience · Leadership · Writing
8+ years building brands, breaking stories, and leading communities — from Silicon Valley tech ecosystems to Pakistan's most ambitious architectural startup.
Experience
Independent · Full-time · San Francisco Bay Area
Tech PR Consultant & Multimedia Journalist
8 yrs 5 mos · Hybrid
Leading the narrative on the Silicon Valley tech ecosystem through high-impact technical content, executive thought leadership, and on-ground multimedia journalism. Covering Pakistani-American tech founders, entrepreneurs, and community events across the Bay Area — with field reporting featured on Dawn.com and across international media.
Notable Coverage
Embedded journalist for Pakistan's 60+ delegation at Game Developers Conference — full playlist of studio founder interviews.
Official on-ground interviewer — Pakistani-American entrepreneurs, engineers, and community leaders.
Captured audience reactions at the special screening at Berkeley University's Pacific Art Theater — Pakistan's first Oscar-nominated animated film.
Early career field report for international media from Islamabad covering the Charlie Hebdo aftermath and Pakistani public response.
On-ground video from Fremont, CA — PTI protest coverage cited by @PTIofficial with 2,700+ likes, embedded by Dawn.com.
NUSTIAN USA · Full-time · San Francisco Bay Area
NUSTIAN USA
8 yrs 5 mos · Network of 3,000+ Engineering & STEM Professionals
Governance and strategic direction for a premier network of 3,000+ Pakistani engineering and STEM professionals across the US.
Orchestrated global communications and digital strategy. Launched Instagram series, redesigned website, ran record-breaking Ramadan campaigns, and co-led the 2024 NUSTIAN Forum welcoming ambassadors and entrepreneurs.
Architected the organisation's entire digital footprint — launching all social platforms and establishing cohesive communication policies from the ground up.
A-Sqr Architects · Co-founder · Full-time · San Francisco Bay Area
Co-founder — Marketing & Business Development
8 yrs 3 mos · Architecture & Design Startup
Co-founded and led all marketing and business development for A-Sqr Architects from inception. Built brand communications, led client acquisition, and secured high-profile fine dining restaurants and premium café clients — establishing the startup as a recognized design firm in the Bay Area.
Leadership Spotlight
Joined NUSTIAN USA in 2018 as a volunteer with no digital presence established. Over seven years, rose from building the organisation's social media from scratch to leading its entire global communications strategy — and now serving as Trustee.
Key achievements: "Not So Mundane Monday" Instagram series, record-breaking IWD brunches in Silicon Valley, multi-platform Ramadan fundraising, full website redesign, and co-leading the 2024 Annual Forum.
Writing
Medium Profile
@zahrasundas
Edgy Humor, Empty Empathy: What Our Jokes About Children Quietly Reveal
February 12, 2025
Read on Medium →How autonomy reshapes the meaning of giving
January 18, 2025
Read on Medium →New essays published regularly. Trained in journalism and public relations.
Follow on Medium →4 original interview series, ground reporting from Pakistan and the US, academic journalism from Germany, film coverage, Shorts, and press features — all in one place.