Living at the intersection between entertainment, commerce, and community, TikTok's Global E-Commerce Team is posed with an interesting challenge to provide a more innovative, interactive, and efficient consumer experience. Since piloting e-commerce solutions in the UK and Indonesia in early 2021, the team has been dedicated to developing a seamless shopping experience for consumers and enabling merchants to bring their products to life.
To further understand what goes into the magic of e-commerce on TikTok, we sat down with Michael Javier (Governance Policy Operations), William Bolitho (Category Operations), and Icha Marisa (Creator Operations) about their experiences working in a diverse and global team.
Introducing the E-Commerce Team
Our Global E-Commerce Team is responsible for a variety of global operations from policy to business development. Based in different offices across the globe, Michael, William, and Icha handle different aspects of the business.
"The key focus for my team is to help grow the electronics category," says William, who is based in the UK. "Our aim is to find the best products at the best prices and collaborate with other teams to showcase them on the platform. We work with some of the biggest household names as well as up and coming brands."
Similarly, Icha leads the growth and development of creators in Indonesia, helping them to grow and establish their presence on TikTok as an e-commerce creator. "I specifically handle the health and beauty category; from identifying market trends, scouting potential creators, to creating livestream product and content strategy."
As for Michael, who is based in Singapore, he focuses on seller policy adoption. "This involves tasks like reviewing local market regulations to open new product categories and improving seller risk management," he continues.
The Potential of TikTok Shopping
"TikTok enables a new method of selling online by bringing a personalized shopping experience to customers," Michael explains. "Our team will challenge the current e-commerce status quo as we launch to new destination markets."
Having worked on one of the first major shoppable livestreams on TikTok in the UK, William's team was able to break sales records and discover the best-selling products on the platform.
"There's nothing more exciting than a brand suddenly realizing the vast potential of social commerce and how this can grow their brand," William adds. "This is the place where I have most felt like we're really pioneering an industry. The ambitions the team has are very lofty but the success we've had in the last few months gives you real belief that we might even exceed those expectations."
"I was given the opportunity to run a few major projects from incubation programs to key live sessions for our emerging creators," Icha recounts fondly. "For me, being able to help grow and see our creators becoming established e-commerce creators is really rewarding and encouraging."
Working as a Global Team
Global team members from diverse cultures are key to building a platform that serves consumers and businesses from all over the world. Collaboration within the Global E-Commerce Team is rooted in mutual respect, open communication, and a shared common goal.
The entrepreneurial environment in TikTok provides regional teams a certain level of autonomy to drive their own projects in their local markets. "The team values trust and ownership. The managers let you run the show but they are not shy in giving inputs and feedback. In the end, you are empowered to see the big picture and execute based on your strategy and expertise," Michael adds.
"TikTok is less hierarchical than other companies I've worked for and I see this as one of the key strengths of our culture," William comments. "We have a title-less culture. Everyone's opinions are valued and people are keen to learn from each other's experiences. Most projects are cross-functional and people are very open to new ideas."
In a hypergrowth company like TikTok, there is an agile working environment to tackle issues quickly. In William's eyes, this provides the perfect opportunity to make a change, as well as achieve personal growth: "The ability to make an impact early allows you to grow within the role. The fast-paced nature of the business means you're always learning and new opportunities are often opening up. The team values the ability of self-starters and good performance is rewarded."
Making Your Mark with the Team
Interested in making your mark on the future of e-commerce? Our Global E-Commerce Team is looking for passionate individuals who are up to the challenge. As Icha puts it, "Not only do you get to learn how to run an e-commerce business, but you will also experience the dynamics of working for a social media platform that combines e-commerce and content creation."
Interested individuals can look for openings here!
