Most Important Skills for a Senior Manager SMB Growth at TikTok
Navigating ambiguity and making decisions "without all the information" are crucial skills for a senior manager at a rapidly changing company like TikTok, requiring strong time management and cultural adaptability to work effectively across global teams. The ability to "be patient and to try to understand where people are coming from" is also paramount for success in this role.
Ambiguity Tolerance, Decision-Making, Time Management, Cross-Cultural Communication, Flexibility
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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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. Navigating ambiguity and making decisions with incomplete information is crucial for success. The ability to be confident in one's direction while acknowledging uncertainty is key.
2. Excellent time management and flexibility are essential, especially when working across time zones and with diverse cultural perspectives.
3. Patience and understanding are vital when collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds, even when disagreements arise. Being open to alternative viewpoints and potentially better ideas is important.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
My job has a lot of ambiguity and change, both within the organization and in the world. I'm sure you've heard about the issues TikTok is facing externally.
One of the biggest things that made me successful is my ability to navigate ambiguity and make decisions without all the information. It's scary to do that, because what if you're wrong? It's easier to be wrong when you don't have all the information.
But I've learned that in roles like this, specifically in strategy within a less organized business, it's important to be confident in your direction. Seek out as much information as you can, and be okay if it's not all there.
Another thing that has made me successful is time management and flexibility. I work across time zones globally, which means working with people from very different cultures. The way people work in other cultures isn't necessarily the way people work in the US.
It's been a big learning opportunity to be patient and try to understand where people are coming from, especially if you don't agree with them. Sometimes their ideas are better than yours, and you have to sit with that for a minute.
So, those are the two most important things in a job like this.