Before leading TikTok Europe's Product Strategy and Operations team, Kris Boger worked in product marketing for one of the largest American tech companies. Prior to his time in the tech industry, Kris worked as an International Brand Manager for a consumer goods company and as a Planning Director for a design firm. We recently asked him a few questions about leading a team at TikTok and how his experience has been so far.
Tell us about your role. What is it like to lead a team at TikTok?
"I lead the EU Product Strategy & Operations team. We are a cross-functional partner to the Global Business Solutions Organization, which is essentially the sales team of TikTok. Among other things, we're responsible for bringing monetization product solutions to market and making sure they are attractive to (and positioned well for) advertisers. In this capacity, we work with advertisers on researching new market opportunities and refining current products.
As a leader, I've noticed how much TikTok emphasizes building teams that are diverse, not only in terms of gender balance and female leadership, but also in terms of people's lifestyles and working styles. For example, we have someone in the team who has children and structures working hours a bit differently, but this has been seamlessly integrated into our overall work flow since we're already working in multiple timezones."
What do you think is most exciting about working at TikTok?
"First of all, the scale of our work is truly global. It's pretty incredible that we have users across places like India, Europe, and the US, and we have local offices in over 30 countries and regions. Before I started, I was worried about working in a satellite office that might be tied to the orders of management in China, but that hasn't been the case at all. Decision-making at the local level is absolutely essential here, and we're given the room to drive initiatives that have a fundamental impact on the business. I can't think of another global tech company that does it this way."
How has your team grown, and have you seen opportunities for development?
"When I started, there were two people besides myself. We've now more than tripled in size, and we're still growing fast! I think the Product Strategy and Operations team is unique in that we're all given the freedom to make a profound impact on a product in its early stages. Unlike working with products that are already bringing in millions of dollars in revenue, we get to be hands-on and make decisions that could potentially double a product's revenue in two months. That's a pretty cool learning experience that would be hard to find elsewhere!
Another thing I've noticed about career development at TikTok is that the company is willing to give top performers leadership and management opportunities much earlier than you normally see in the tech industry. This comes from one of our core values, 'Always Day 1,' which emphasizes taking initiative and approaching each day as if it was your first day, regardless of seniority. Over the past year, several of my team members earlier in their careers who started as individual contributors and demonstrated this proactive approach eventually moved into management roles, and I've seen a similar trend across the company.
What do you think jobseekers would be surprised to learn about TikTok?
"I genuinely think there's a humility about this organization if I compare it to my previous experience working at American tech companies. I've been in meetings with members of the c-suite and seen firsthand how engaged, open, and friendly they are with employees. They give each and every one of our ideas their full attention. I think this might surprise people who have certain preconceptions of what it's like to work at a company whose parent company is based out of China."
Do you want to pursue a career at TikTok? Find out more about our career opportunities by browsing open positions on our website and following TikTok on LinkedIn.
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