College Experiences That Helped A Senior Manager Of SMB Growth At TikTok Succeed
Kelly's undergraduate success stemmed from two key strategies: pursuing "classes that had absolutely nothing to do with [her] major," fostering a proactive approach to learning and opportunity, and actively seeking help, building a valuable network through mentorship and professor connections which ultimately led to a Deloitte role. This "mindset has continued to allow [her] to seek new opportunities," propelling Kelly's career trajectory.
Networking, Mentorship, Career Exploration, Asking for Help, Seeking New Opportunities
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. Following your interests, even if they are unrelated to your major, can help you develop a versatile skillset and approach to problem-solving.
2. Actively seeking mentorship opportunities can provide valuable guidance, networking connections, and support in your career journey.
3. Don't hesitate to ask for help; it can open doors to unexpected opportunities and resources that you might not otherwise discover. Proactively seeking assistance from professors and mentors demonstrates initiative and can lead to valuable connections and career prospects.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
Two big things come to mind with this. The first is not very intuitive at all. I took a lot of classes that had absolutely nothing to do with my major, solely based on what I was genuinely interested in.
This set me up for success because it trained my brain to constantly seek out what interests me, despite what I'm supposed to be doing. In my first job at Deloitte, I continued to do this subconsciously due to how I approached my undergrad experience.
I was constantly asking if I could be staffed on random projects that weren't my main job, just for the sake of learning and for fun because they looked cool. Most of the time, they said yes because they needed the help. This opened so many doors for me.
It got me promoted within my first five months at the job, which is not typical. That mindset has continued to allow me to seek new and different opportunities. So that's one kind of non-traditional answer.
My more traditional answer, which is also true, is that I am really bad at asking for help. This is a big flaw, because no one gets through life alone. Asking for help in school set me up for success more than anything.
I was in USC's undergraduate business program, which had a mentorship program called Career Advanced Placement or something similar. It pairs an undergrad student with a USC Alum in the field they aspire to go into.
Joining that program, I got a mentor who was in the fields I wanted to be in. She helped me with my resume and interview prep and introduced me to a couple of her colleagues who helped me get interviews. I even felt guilty contacting her, but every time I did, she was so nice.
I also struggled in a couple of classes. I would go to my professors' office hours all the time. One professor in particular had friends who were partners at Deloitte. While I was failing his accounting class, I was still in his office twice a week for help with homework.
He said, "You're clearly not going to be a CPA, but you work really hard and seem decently smart. I have a friend recruiting for a market strategy role. You're in marketing, right? Is that of interest?" He was actually the one who encouraged me to apply for the job I currently have.
Asking for help exposes you to a network that you wouldn't otherwise have. You never know where that network will lead you. Those are the two things from undergrad that have set me up long-term.