Tell us a little bit about yourself and the work you do here at Triller
I’m originally from New York and I played college basketball in San Francisco at the only art school in the NCAA, Academy of Art University, where I majored in digital & media technologies. It was a dope time to be in Silicon Salley, with major startups starting to arise, such as Uber, Lyft, Postmates, etc. I’ve always had a passion for storytelling but this is where I started realizing how vital technology is to get your story across all different verticals.
At Triller, I started off as a producer on the events team focusing primarily on everything VERZUZ and played a key role in the successful Latin VERZUZ event. I noticed where the digital landscape was going and started diving deep into the Web3/metaverse space and thanks to the executives at Triller, they allowed me to run with it. For the past eight months, I’ve been a part of the amazing team leading the Web3/metaverse initiative for Triller!
How would you describe the Web3/metaverse to someone who is unfamiliar?
It’s ever-evolving and truthfully came before its time due to the pandemic. Think of it as a virtual environment where you can navigate through different locations, engage in activities, and interact with other users, all while using a virtual avatar that represents you. Your avatar is your IP in a decentralized space. The Metaverse/Web3 is not just limited to gaming or entertainment; it has the potential to transform the way we work, learn, and socialize by bridging the gap between digital and physical!
A lot of companies are trying to get into the metaverse business, what separates the Triller offering from the others?
Triller’s mission statement, at its core, is essentially giving more back to the creator. We understand that technology is useless without community. We empower our creators/businesses/brands and give them the tools to maximize their reach across all verticals. It’s a white glove service and not just a transaction.
What made you want to work in an emerging industry such as the metaverse?
I saw where this digital evolution is heading and you’re either a part of the wave or you’ll get drowned out. This is a necessary change and only makes it easier for us to bridge the gap and create our own digital IP and scale it way faster than ever before. I love physical events and that’s not going anywhere but this is something that can simultaneously be happening at the same time and give users a unique experience for those who can’t physically be there.
Who should we be looking out for as leaders in innovation in Web3 and why?
Besides myself (haha)? I’m a big fan of what Yat Siu is doing over at Animoca as the chairman and CEO. Yat Siu is huge on creating an open metaverse and has acquired some of the biggest companies in this space that truly make them a force in this new landscape.
What has been your biggest professional accomplishment at Triller?
Being a key part of the process in deciding which Web3/metaverse companies we were going to partner with. It was a tedious process with lots of conversations and ultimately narrowing down on Epik which eventually led to a multi-year deal/partnership that we are extremely excited about!
What part of the Triller culture makes you most excited about working here?
Everything. I love the fact that everyone at Triller is always willing to offer a helping hand — that “no job too big or small” mentality. Being surrounded by so many innovative/smart/creative people every day is really inspiring and motivating.
What is the best advice you have for someone looking to make it in the tech and innovation sector?
My biggest advice would be to do your research and due diligence on startups that are hiring. Doesn’t necessarily matter the position, if it’s an associate/assistant, just getting into the door with a dope startup company because we all know that your “title/position” might be “B” but you will have to wear many hats and have an “all hands on deck mentality.” Through this boot camp, you will figure out what you like/don’t like and will set the stage for your next opportunity or how you plan to grow with that specific company. From there, I always recommend looking into tech companies that you are a consumer of (Triller, Tiktok, Instagram, etc) and see what opportunities they might have. You already have a leg up if you are a user/consumer, which would make that whole process much easier.
