Meet the 2025 Fellows – Marissa Williams
Meet the 2025 Fellows – Marissa Williams, Agency Partnerships Manager, Tik Tok
Marissa Williams is an Agency Partnerships Manager at TikTok, where she leads partnerships with enterprise media agencies. With nearly a decade of experience across both the agency and platform sides of advertising, Marissa has built a career rooted in curiosity and finding new ways to help partners launch impactful media campaigns.
Marissa began her career on the agency side, running paid social activations for brands like Google and HBO before transitioning to the platform side at Twitter and later TikTok. Known for her ability to bridge creative storytelling with data-driven strategy, she has helped brands and agencies unlock new opportunities for innovation and connection on social platforms.
Outside of work, you can usually find Marissa at her neighborhood bookstore browsing the thriller section or discovering something new to learn. She believes in staying curious whether that’s through a great book, a new conversation, or a different perspective. She carries that same mindset into how she approaches her work and life.
What does success mean to you?:
To me, success means showing up as my full, authentic self. For a long time, I thought success was about proving myself to others, but through a lot of reflection, I’ve learned that real success comes from being true to who I am, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.
Success, for me, is about choosing growth over fear and embracing change, even when it requires letting go of what’s familiar. It’s having the courage to trust my instincts, use my voice, and take up space without apology. When I can look back and know I led with authenticity, stayed grounded in my values, and kept moving forward with courage and openness, that’s when I know I’ve succeeded.
What do you hope to gain from this fellowship?:
Through this fellowship, I hope to find a sense of community and connection with industry peers who are also navigating moments of growth and transition in their careers. I’m looking to surround myself with women who challenge and inspire me, and who can offer new perspectives on what leadership, purpose, and success can look like.
I also want to use this experience to step outside my comfort zone. I’ve spent much of my career focused on supporting others and operating behind the scenes. I’m ready to challenge myself to take up more space, be open to new ways of thinking and build confidence in new areas.
Most of all, I want to learn. The mentorship, programming, and access to industry leaders this fellowship provides would help me grow more intentionally, both personally and professionally, while giving me the tools to continue evolving long after the program ends.