#WhenWomenWin: Five inspiring women to know on TikTok

TikTok is a place where people can be authentic and express themselves creatively. Women all over the world are using TikTok to find their community and empower and educate each other—and the impact is huge.

🦸‍♀️ Who runs the world? Women on TikTok. 🦸‍♀️

In honor of Women’s History Month, learn about five amazing women who used TikTok to share their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and support other women. From geologists to astrobiologists, these women are launching their careers and seizing opportunities they never dreamed possible.

@astrobiolena

After stumbling upon the popular hashtag #learnontiktok, Lena Vincent, astrobiologist and NASA graduate fellow, started using TikTok to share her passion for astrobiology. After her video on anaerobic chambers went viral, Lena quickly realized there was a vast community of people eager to learn. Since then, Lena has created dozens of fun, educational videos that led to career opportunities like podcast interviews and consulting as a science researcher for a New York Times best-selling author.

“Finding this home on TikTok and this really large, growing community of people who are also interested in this stuff has just reinvigorated me and gives me motivation in times where being a scientist is hard. I feel like TikTok has brought a lot of value that extends beyond just my time on the app.” —Lena Vincent

@resasue

Theresa Sue is a tech content creator that started getting noticed on TikTok by sharing tips on how to break into the tech industry. She started posting and hosting daily TikTok LIVE videos to answer questions and share advice.

“I was motivated by the fact that I look different from a typical person in tech. There are people out there that have no idea what’s going on and how they can get involved, and I could share that knowledge with them.” —Theresa Sue

As Theresa’s TikTok community developed, so did career opportunities like teaching a masterclass, career coaching, media interviews, speaking engagements, and collaborating with celebrities to teach girls how to code.

@aliciajbarber1

Neuroscientist, writer and Alzheimer’s advocate,Alicia Barberused TikTok to share her experience as a family member of someone with Alzheimer’s. Her unique perspective as a woman in STEM inspired her to explain the science behind the disease while connecting to a large community of TikTok users going through similar experiences. TikTok allowed Alicia to launch her own media company to educate people about Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me to have those connections and talk to those young women I see my prior self in and to just create this community of strong women who are excited about taking the world by storm and contributing to research, science, and medicine.” —Alicia Barber

@rocktokcate

Cate Larson, a geologist and science communicator, started using TikTok to highlight the world of rocks and geology. After just a few videos, Cate built a base of followers who were engaged and curious to learn more.

“The content that I make on TikTok is an outward representation of my interest—and you can take one look at my profile, and you can see my number one interest is rocks. I’m not kidding when I say I talk about rocks for a living…and it’s awesome.” —Cate Larson

Since starting her geology-focused account on TikTok, Cate has been invited to speak at libraries and schools, collaborate with her favorite museum, start a podcast and lead geology hikes and field trips.

@gabrielle_judge

As a woman working in a male-dominated industry, Gabrielle Judge turned to TikTok to share her experiences and provide career tips for women interested in tech. Her relatable, funny and informative videos helped Gabrielle connect to a broad audience of tech professionals while encouraging other women to pursue careers in tech. She gained new opportunities, including mentoring other young professionals and selling digital products to spur career growth.

“The opportunities that I see for women in the technology niche on TikTok is being able to be their 100% authentic selves. Being able to show up as your authentic self allows you to bring what you can bring to the table at your best potential.” —Gabrielle Judge

No matter what your passion is, you can find your niche and community on TikTok.

Sign up for TikTok For Business and start sharing your knowledge, building a community, and growing your business.

Sources:

1. TikTok Marketing ScienceGlobal Authenticity Study, conducted by Nielsen (US n=1034, June 2020 & Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, South Korea, n=1000/each market, June 2021