Joanna previously worked in the legal sector after receiving a LLB in Law and a Master's Degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from the SOAS University of London. However, she decided to divert from the traditional legal path after discovering her true interest in technology. She has since eagerly taken on her role and become an established member in the TikTok family.
How did you start your journey with TikTok, and how have you found the working environment?
"I actually studied Law at University, and had a couple of jobs at startups prior to deciding that I wanted to be part of the tech sector. I had heard about TikTok a few months before I joined, and knew that it was a very cool app with lots of awesome videos to watch. When I searched for roles online, I found that there were a lot of opportunities at the company, and so I applied as I wanted to be part of something that was changing the world! Since starting here, I have found that the company really appreciates people aiming for the highest, breaking boundaries, and trying to change the world as we see it. This means a lot to me because I consider myself an ambitious person, and I don't want to feel that I am in a stagnant job, but rather, one that is part of something growing quickly. Having these committed and innovative people around me makes me very optimistic about the future direction of the company, and also extremely excited about our office bi-weekly lunches, as it is an opportunity to share good food and ideas with them. All of this makes me really motivated to come to work every morning!"
Tell us more about your role, how would you describe your job to someone who is not familiar with TikTok?
"As a community manager at TikTok, I speak with the top creators on our platform every day and make sure that we give them as many opportunities as possible, support their growth, and keep them active. My work impacts the company greatly because I speak directly to the users, and they're the ones that keep our app alive. It's important that we see how they feel about the app and make sure we support their growth continuously. One of the ways we are able to do this is through our hashtag challenges. To give you some context, a hashtag challenge is either an action or something you do with your friends that is exciting and has potential to be trending on TikTok. We really want both our TikTok creators and users to enjoy watching, participating in, and sharing content on our platform, and this is a great way to encourage it!"
Looking back at your time with TikTok, have you had opportunities for personal growth?
"Absolutely! For example, quite early on in my time here, I organized a live stream from the 'Brit Awards' red carpet, which was awesome! We had two of our top creators presenting on the red carpet and thousands of people tuning in to watch the livestream. Just the simple fact that I can get involved in things like that, as well as organise the partnership myself, is pretty exciting! I think in other companies, you might not be given the chance to take the lead on new projects like that."
Any advice for potential jobseekers out there?
"If you want to be part of something that's changing the game as we know it, then you would want to work at TikTok!"
At TikTok, we believe in doing great things with the right people, and this includes sharing responsibilities on meaningful projects so that we can foster the growth of all our employees. Giving new opportunities to our team means that we empower them and allow them to learn and try.
Joanna is an excellent example of what it means to "Aim for the Highest" at TikTok.
Do you want to have a success story of your own? Find out more about our career opportunities by following TikTok on LinkedIn.
At TikTok, it's your turn to make a change!
