How I Make $400K A Year Working At TikTok

Summary

Sora Lee, a 34-year-old high earner from San Mateo, shares her journey of balancing a successful career with personal life. With a salary of $400,000, she emphasizes the importance of time management and not having to sacrifice one aspect of life for another. From her early days working in a Korean bar to her significant salary jump at Netflix, Sora's story is one of perseverance and financial literacy. She candidly discusses her divorce, financial mistakes, and her current investment strategies, including maxing out her IRA and 401(k), contributing to her son's 529 plan, and investing in stocks and Bitcoin. Sora's narrative also touches on her role as a mother, her appearance on 'Love After Divorce,' and her mission to inspire others to dream bigger through her social media presence.

Takeaways

• 💼 Sora Lee emphasizes the importance of time management and balance in juggling multiple roles such as being a working mom, having a job at a tech company, and maintaining friendships.
• 💡 She highlights the fast-paced nature of TikTok, which contributes to its rapid growth, and her role in bridging product, sales, and user feedback.
• 💰 In 2023, Sora's total compensation included a base salary and sign-on bonus from TikTok, severance from Meta, and income from brand partnerships as a content creator.
• 🎓 She graduated early in three years to save money and worked at a Korean bar, which she believes is a valuable experience for learning operational efficiency and people skills.
• 🚀 Sora's career took off with a significant salary jump when she moved from TubeMogul to Netflix, doubling her income.
• 💬 Her top negotiation tip is to always have counter offers, which gave her confidence and leverage during salary negotiations.
• 🏡 She discusses her financial situation post-divorce, including spousal support, credit card debt, and the importance of learning about personal finance and investing.
• 💲 Sora is mindful of her spending and investments, aiming not to keep more than $10,000 in her checking account and contributing to her retirement and son's education.
• 🚗 She openly admits to financial mistakes, such as buying a new Tesla during her divorce, which she now regrets due to the high monthly payments.
• 👶 Sora shares her approach to parenting, involving her son in chores and teaching him about money and values from a young age.
• 🌟 She uses her social media platform to inspire and educate, particularly women of color and Koreans interested in corporate careers, aiming to empower them to be more effective and successful.

Q & A

What is Sora Lee's annual income?

Sora Lee makes about $400,000 a year.

Where does Sora Lee live?

Sora Lee lives in San Mateo, California.

What is Sora Lee's role in her company?

Sora Lee sits between product and sales and users, and sometimes goes to market with a product.

Why does Sora Lee believe TikTok has been growing so fast?

Sora Lee believes TikTok has been growing fast because of its fast-paced operations and the ability to address and fix issues overnight due to engineers being in Asia.

What was the composition of Sora Lee's total compensation in 2023?

In 2023, Sora Lee's total compensation consisted of her base salary and sign-on bonus from TikTok, severance from Meta, income from her primary residence co-owned with her ex-husband, and brand partnership deals as a creator.

How did Sora Lee finance her education?

Sora Lee financed her education by working at a Korean bar and deciding to graduate in three years to save money.

What was Sora Lee's initial salary at TubeMogul and how did it change before she left?

Sora Lee started at TubeMogul with a base salary of $40,000 and a bonus of $6,000. Before she left, her base salary increased to $46,000, with the bonus remaining the same at $6,000.

What was the biggest salary jump in Sora Lee's career?

The biggest salary jump in Sora Lee's career was when she moved from TubeMogul to Netflix, where her salary increased from $46,000 to $110,000.

What is Sora Lee's biggest negotiation tip?

Sora Lee's biggest negotiation tip is to always have counter offers, which gives her a confidence boost and strengthens her position in salary negotiations.

How did Sora Lee manage her finances after her divorce?

After her divorce, Sora Lee opened three credit cards with 0% APR and managed to pay off about $100,000 in credit card debt. She also started learning about personal investing and managing her finances.

What is Sora Lee's approach to managing her wealth and investments?

Sora Lee tries not to keep more than $10,000 in her checking account, maxes out her traditional IRA, contributes to her 401(k), and invests in her son's 529 plan. Any remaining funds are invested in Robinhood, including index funds, individual stocks, and Bitcoin.

How does Sora Lee handle her relationship with money and teach her son about it?

Sora Lee is making conscious efforts to have a healthier relationship with money. She also engages in adult-like discussions with her son about wealth, teaching him that material possessions like cars do not necessarily equate to wealth and are depreciating assets.

What is Sora Lee's advice for working parents?

Sora Lee's advice for working parents is to give their children chores and involve them in tasks, which helps in their development and also lightens the parents' load.

What is Sora Lee's goal with her social media presence and the content she shares?

Sora Lee aims to inspire people through her social media by sharing her stories on becoming a more effective employee and navigating corporate careers, with the goal of empowering women of color, people in Korea, and others to be better at their jobs, pursue their passions, and advance in their careers.