At TikTok, we not only strive to build teams that reflect the diversity of our creator community, but also encourage our employees to create content themselves in order to stay grounded and connected to the real user experience. Since our employees are some of the most creative around, combining this creativity with a true passion for the platform has led to some amazing results -- both in their work at the office and on their TikTok accounts!
With this philosophy in mind, we recently launched our first Employee Creator Program with the goal of gathering awesome employee creators to share their stories on our LifeatTikTok TikTok page. In this article, we want to highlight the fascinating stories of four of these employee creators -- Tim, Sophia, Jenna, and Yenn -- who came to TikTok from quite different backgrounds.
Tim Martin Toussaint (GBS, USA)
"I'm a lifelong New Yorker who now works on the TikTok Global Business Solutions team. My past experience was diverse, including stints in advertising at prominent newspaper and entertainment companies, as well as running a consultancy influencer agency. As a passion project, I run a small events company called Project NuType, which focuses on bringing anime and model kit events to schools, conventions, and anyone else who will have us.
After years of being a creator myself and seeing all the new advertising products that were coming out, I had a feeling TikTok would be the right place for me as an innovator in the industry. I've loved my life at TikTok so far, especially being able to work on large-impact hashtag campaigns like #Quickrecipes and #Dialitforward, and getting to work alongside and learn from the best salespeople in the business. Now, the opportunity to be a featured employee creator is an exciting next step because it really speaks to what I love most about TikTok as a platform: you're rewarded for being you. You can be the strangest and most fun version of yourself, and explore as far as your creativity takes you!"
Sophia Iwaniuk (TnS, UK)
"I was born and raised in London, in a bustling Ukrainian household. After graduating university, I spent over a year traveling to Fiji, Kuala Lumpur, and many other places while documenting my experiences. I've always loved filming my daily life, whether at home or in a foreign country, and I'm constantly editing and learning to use different software. This was what immediately drew me to the role of Ukrainian Content Manager at TikTok, since I saw the unique opportunity to use my native language and cultural knowledge at a company that celebrates ‘real people and real videos’ -- something I live and breathe every day! After moving into a new role as Quality Analyst, I continue to learn and grow in new ways.
My brother is actually a full-time TikTok creator, so if I’m not watching creators at work, I'm usually being distracted by one! For me, TikTok is 24/7, so I'm truly excited to be a featured employee creator and have a new outlet for me to express my creativity. I hope to share not only the highlights of my life as a TikTok employee, but also the regular everyday moments that make TikTok such an amazing platform."
Jenna Palek (GBS, USA)
"I grew up in Painesville, Ohio. Before graduating college this year and joining TikTok as a Brand Development Manager in Austin, I worked in several sales and creative roles within the fashion industry, which has really helped me in my current role dealing with businesses in the fashion & beauty vertical. My favorite part about life at TikTok so far is that honesty and vulnerability are celebrated, so there's truly a place for everyone; for me, I can freely express my passions by making fun videos about The Bachelor, singing my heart out, creating DIY tutorials, sharing fashion/beauty tips, or just sharing snippets of my daily life! This culture really mirrors how welcoming the community is on the app itself.
Through the employee creator program, I'm excited to show my creativity and share my experience working at a major tech start-up right out of college. As a 23-year-old recent graduate with a unique perspective, I want to use my platform to encourage college students to take risks, work hard for what they want, and realize their goals. Still, my main goal as a creator has always been to share my love for TikTok with others, so if I can also bring a smile to someone's face through my content, then that would be even better!"
Yenn Dinh (TnS, Germany)
"My name is Huyen, but everyone calls me Yenn. I was born in Berlin, which actually makes me an exception among Berliners! I studied theology in college, but have since developed an interest in social media and digital creative outlets that allow people to tell their stories. Working in TikTok's Trust and Safety team, I'm responsible for everything concerning the safety of both the user and the platform (basically, making sure that the user experience stays awesome). My past experience includes work in freelance photography and social media management.
I’m incredibly humbled to be selected as one of TikTok's employee creators, and I see it as an amazing opportunity for me to combine my passion for my job with my love for creative storytelling. Even before joining TikTok, I had already downloaded the app out of curiosity and been hooked; it struck me as such a unique platform for creators to share their authentic selves. I can't wait to showcase what an incredible experience it is to work here!"
We're proud to spotlight Tim, Sophia, Jenna, and Yenn as members of the TikTok family who have a true passion for our platform and community. In the coming months, they -- along with many other employee creators -- will be sharing regular content on our LifeatTikTok social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. So, from the whacky and fun to the informative and insightful, stay tuned to see how our most talented employee creators capture life at TikTok!
Do you want to join us at TikTok? Find out more about our career opportunities by visiting our jobs page. You can also learn more about us on LinkedIn and YouTube. At TikTok, it's your turn to make a change!
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- Employee Creators
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- Life at TikTok
