At TikTok, we're grateful and inspired by the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. We see it as vital to honor veterans not just within our own community at TikTok, but around the world. In observing Veterans Day this year, we spoke with Jawana McFadden, who is currently serving in the US Army National Guard (this year marking 23 years) and leads TikTok's Diversity & Inclusion initiatives in North America. Jawana shared with us her reflections on the meaning of her military service, her experience working at TikTok while still serving in the National Guard, and the importance of bringing veterans into an inclusive workplace.
Tell us about your career and current role in the Army.
"I've been in the Army for over 23 years, and I'm still proudly serving. My dad is a Vietnam veteran, so I come from a military family, but it wasn't until college that I realized joining the military could help me achieve my goals of both paying for school and pursuing a career in law. My military experience has been invaluable to my life and has played a huge role in getting me to where I am today!
My career began as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the legal branch of the military. After 15 years of service and several deployments, including a combat tour in Iraq, I took a brief hiatus before deciding to become a commissioned officer. Commissioned officers are leaders who manage big-picture items and guide and develop soldiers, so this transition came with a major shift in responsibility. Following several years of service as a Human Resources Officer, I seized the opportunity to impact people in a different way and transitioned to Public Affairs, which is where I now serve as Executive Officer in the rank of Captain. I would describe this role as a combination of communications, public relations, and broadcasting. It is a privilege to impact Soldiers in a different capacity while simultaneously highlighting the unique and complex duties of our Armed Forces.
As someone who is still actively serving while working in the private sector, I spend one weekend each month and two weeks in the summer (or when needed) fulfilling my duties in the National Guard. The National Guard is unique in that we have both federal and state obligations, and can be called at any moment to respond to crises at a national or local level. It's a great feeling to know the work and support you provide directly impacts your friends, family, and neighbors."
How do you demonstrate military service within your community?
"I am a National Guardsman who lives and works within the community I serve. Because the seven Army values -- Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage -- align with my own, I strive to apply them daily through selfless service in my community. In addition to volunteering on veteran home builds with Homes4Families or Habitat for Veterans, I speak at engagements supporting military employment and career transition for organizations like HireHeroesUSA, U.S.VETS, and my own business Monarchery. For community advocacy, I serve on the Los Angeles Mayor's Veterans Advisory Council and the LA County Veterans Advisory Commission, where I help deal with a wide range of issues impacting veterans, like homelessness, employment, and community relations. I'm also a board member of the National Association of Black Military Women in LA and Director of Veterans Wellness and Advocacy for the Resource Center in Atlanta."
How has your military background been relevant to your role at TikTok?
"As a leader of TikTok's Diversity & Inclusion team in North America, I work to protect the rights of current and future employees to be themselves. My responsibilities include providing guidance to help employees understand and apply our organization's values, and ensure that their voices are heard and incorporated within the business. The most gratifying part of my job is that I can champion and be of service to others, which is something I've always done as a member of the Army and feels like a natural extension of who I am and what I care about. On a practical level, the skills I've learned working in Legal, HR, and Public Affairs within the Army apply directly to my projects at TikTok -- advocating for equity and inclusion policies, managing public communications about diversity, and elevating understanding about the capabilities of veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The Army also prepares you to overcome obstacles, which is what TikTok's diversity and inclusion initiatives strive to achieve as well. When I became an officer, there weren't many people who looked like me; there weren't many women, and certainly not many women of color, in leadership positions. I wanted to change the perception of what a Soldier looked like -- to embed a new image in people's minds and become a model for others -- and I eventually earned a seat at the table where decisions are made. Now, I'm doing similar work by helping to ensure our teams at TikTok incorporate diverse voices in all our projects."
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
"To me, diversity is an individual's authenticity. It's all the pieces that make up who you are. I analogize this to a fingerprint, because it's something that can only be held by you and helps make up your core identity. Inclusion means appreciating and understanding how all those pieces work together in our world, just like how our fingers and fingertips come together to form one hand. That hand can build, code, and create. In the workplace, inclusion is essential for us to understand and appreciate our colleagues for who they are, and it constantly encourages us to seek out new ways for us to deepen our understanding. We can be so much more creative, innovative, and successful in our work. That's what we're doing at TikTok."
What is it like to work at TikTok as someone who serves in the military?
"TikTok is incredibly supportive and flexible when it comes to veterans and those like me who are still serving. We have a military affinity group at TikTok that truly understands the 'shared language' of military veterans, and provides close guidance and mentorship to meet our unique needs. The group includes veterans from numerous countries, including a member from Ireland who served in the Turkish Army, from Australia who served in the Australian Defense Force, and of course from the United States representing most branches of our armed forces, including the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. It's a terrific community representing so many backgrounds and shared experiences, creating as a safe space for us all to come together regardless of country, branch, gender or age.
As a member of the National Guard, I have a unique, first-hand perspective on how much TikTok appreciates its veteran and active military employees. The company has always supported my position and understands that I may be called for duty at any time. This year, my unit (the 40th Infantry Division) was called upon to provide urgent support to local fire departments fighting the California wildfires, as well as augment the California Emergency Medical Services Authority in preparing and delivering food throughout the COVID-19 crisis. While fulfilling my military obligations, whether in an emergency situation or for one weekend each month, I have the flexibility to unplug completely! I really appreciate this flexibility, along with the military benefits in TikTok's company policy that extend to spouses or registered domestic partners."
How can we help other veterans find a welcoming and inclusive home at TikTok?
"We've established a really impressive baseline for welcoming veterans with open arms at TikTok, and that's something that makes me incredibly proud. The key to welcoming veterans at TikTok, or any organization, is to improve education and understanding on both sides. On the military side, it's important for veterans to understand that TikTok is a business with many departments and facets, not just an entertainment app. We have many hard-working people behind the app, many of whom are veterans, who work tirelessly to make it run and operate. On the business side, we have to understand that the military is like a business too. There are so many dimensions to military service that extend beyond the field of battle that you see on TV or in movies. All of our military branches are full of countless people involved in making the organization operate; we are engineers, doctors, data analysts, lawyers, human resource professionals, and more. We have skills and experience that can be invaluable to private sector businesses. Who wouldn't want to hire a highly trained and reliable professional like that at their company?"
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
"Veterans, especially when we're in civilian roles and out of uniform, can sometimes feel forgotten. At times it seems like Veterans Day is the only time each year when we are recognized. My goal as a veteran, volunteer in my community, and leader of Diversity & Inclusion initiatives at TikTok is to make sure we bridge the gap in understanding between veterans and civilians.
On Veterans Day and throughout the year, I encourage everyone to do something to give back to the veteran and military community, whether it's assembling kits for service members, providing school supplies to military spouses and children, or working with the incredible organizations that help connect veterans with employment and a solid support system. For local businesses, even something as simple as military discounts at stores and restaurants can show appreciation and understanding of our service. Veterans and members of the military tend to be quiet and humble, so that understanding and appreciation goes a long way!"
Is there anything you want to share with veterans interested in working at TikTok?
"As with any business, my experiences in the Army have prepared me to be flexible and adapt (or as we would say, 'Semper-Gumby!'). Don't be afraid to apply for jobs at TikTok, or anywhere else for that matter, because the skills you've worked hard to obtain and refine will help you succeed no matter where you go. Be confident, don't underestimate yourself, and do your best to articulate your skills and experiences. Focus on the function of the job you are applying for, rather than the title. At TikTok, it's the work you do -- not your title -- that matters. And perhaps most importantly, have fun! One of the things I love most about TikTok is that the work environment is like that of our platform: a safe space where you can be yourself, have fun, and do great things."
On this Veterans Day, we at TikTok want to express our deepest gratitude for the service and sacrifice of Jawana and all others who have served. Our vision is to become the most diverse and inclusive company in the technology industry, and we encourage veterans of all backgrounds to join us and add their perspectives. If you're a veteran interested in roles at TikTok, you can browse open positions on our jobs page and stay up-to-date by following TikTok on LinkedIn.
