Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Manager SMB Growth At TikTok
Kelly, a Senior Manager at TikTok, learned that "rejection is not failure," a lesson solidified through numerous setbacks including job rejections, promotions passed over, and layoffs. This experience fostered resilience, empathy, and gratitude, ultimately leading to their current success, proving that perceived failures often redirect one to a better path.
Resilience, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Career Development, Executive/Leadership
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. Rejection is a redirection, not a failure. Kelly emphasizes that setbacks, including job rejections and layoffs, are opportunities for growth and learning. They shouldn't define success or potential.
2. Resilience and empathy are developed through challenges. Overcoming professional rejection built Kelly's resilience and increased her capacity for empathy and compassion, skills valuable in any career.
3. Perspective on accomplishments is key. Kelly highlights the importance of acknowledging and celebrating achievements throughout one's career journey, rather than solely focusing on the next step or goal. This prevents burnout and fosters gratitude for progress made.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
The biggest lesson I've learned throughout my career is that rejection never stops happening. It took me a really long time to learn this. In undergrad, I applied to about 50 jobs and interviewed with at least 15 companies before getting my job at Deloitte.
It was really hard because being rejected stung, especially when you think you're perfect for a role and they just think differently. I've been passed up for promotions a couple times because I wasn't with the company long enough. I've also been laid off from startups that financially went under.
Every time those things happened, I always took it as a rejection and as a failure. But I actually learned so many life lessons, resilience, and increased my ability to be empathetic and compassionate with people. I also learned to be grateful for what I've accomplished and to see my accomplishments as accomplishments.
If I could tell my younger self something now, who was really down on herself for getting rejected from all those jobs in undergrad, it's that everything happens the way it's supposed to and for a reason. If you're rejected, that's definitely not a failure. It's just a redirection to another course that's probably better for you in the long run.
I would never have this conversation right now if the company I was working for before didn't financially go down and lay off my team. I'm so grateful that that happened, but at the time, I obviously was not.
So, the biggest lesson I would love to impart on anybody watching this video is that rejection is definitely not a failure, and you should never consider it as such.