Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Manager, SMB Growth At TikTok
Kelly's biggest challenge as a Senior Manager at TikTok is influencing peers who don't report to them, requiring "persuad[ing] teammates to get on board with [their] vision." This necessitates navigating competing priorities across teams, a challenge that simultaneously presents valuable learning opportunities and informs Kelly's strategic decision-making.
Executive/Leadership, Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kelly Mellenthin
Senior Manager, SMB Growth
TikTok
University of Southern California (USC), 2013
UCLA Anderson School of Management, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Marketing
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Cross-team collaboration and persuasion are crucial skills in this role, requiring influencing peers without direct authority.
2. Balancing competing priorities across different teams is a major challenge, demanding strategic decision-making and negotiation skills.
3. Successfully navigating cross-functional dynamics provides valuable learning opportunities and enhances strategic understanding of the organization's priorities
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role? Aside from the fact that everyone is everywhere.
Getting things done across teams can be a bit of a challenge. The biggest challenge in my role is that a lot of the people you work with don't report to you. They're usually at your level.
So, trying to persuade teammates to get on board with your vision when they don't directly report to you takes a lot of work. I've been learning a lot, especially when other teams have other priorities that don't quite align with your team's priorities and goals.
How do you get everyone on the same page and working together on something you really want, despite other teams not necessarily prioritizing it at the time? That's been a challenge.
But it's been a really great learning opportunity. It also allows me to see what other teams are focused on and why, which then influences my strategic decisions as well.