For Shalendra Mendis, digital advertising isn't just a career, it’s a landscape that needs constant "hacking." As the Founder and Managing Partner of the Hackvertising Network, Shalendra leads a collective of specialty agencies designed to dismantle and rethink conventional advertising models. With over 14 years of experience, including a decade-long stint where he became the youngest-ever Vice President in the GroupM South Asia region, Shalendra is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Sri Lankan digital industry. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka (DMASL), continuing his work as a foundational architect of the nation’s digital future.
Shalendra’s professional journey is a series of landmark transitions. He began his career at a London-based digital video agency before returning to Sri Lanka to lead GroupM, the country’s largest digital agency. Under his leadership, he managed a powerhouse of 50+ professionals driving strategies for global giants like Unilever, Red Bull, Uber, Nokia, and Dell. He was a key driver of Unilever’s digital transformation between 2015 and 2017 and has since pivoted to the entrepreneurial space. At Hackvertising, he continues to deliver high-impact campaigns for brands like Pizza Hut, Denza, and Revello, proving that agility and "specialty" thinking are the new currencies of the digital age.
Shalendra holds the most significant global achievement in Sri Lankan digital marketing history: a Global Gold at the Festival of Media Awards in Rome, where his team triumphed over Amazon’s Alexa UK campaign. His trophy cabinet is among the most decorated in the region, featuring three Campaign Asia "Digital Agency of the Year" Golds, the Grand Prix at SLIM DIGIS 2019, and multiple Effie Awards. In 2018, he was the only South Asian selected as a Mindshare Young Lion to represent the agency at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity—solidifying his status as a world-class creative strategist.
A graduate of Edith Cowan University, Australia, with a BBA in Marketing & Management (2010), Shalendra combines international academic standards with a decade of regional market leadership. He is a frequent speaker and thought leader, often appearing in industry forums to discuss the future of the agency model. His leadership within the DMASL as a founding EXCO member highlights his commitment to elevating the entire digital ecosystem, ensuring Sri Lanka remains competitive on the global stage.
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Beyond the boardroom, Shalendra is a man of deep and varied passions. A self-proclaimed Bitcoin Evangelist, he is fascinated by the intersection of decentralization and future tech. He is an avid fan of movies, TV shows, and music, a history lover, and a devoted dog lover. Shalendra brings this eclectic energy to his training sessions, often drawing parallels between historical shifts and modern digital disruptions. For him, success is measured by the ability to break the rules effectively and he is on a mission to ensure his students have the confidence to do exactly that.