Annie Zheng: A Dynamic Talent Acquisition Leader in the Tech Industry
In the fast-paced world of global technology, leaders who bridge people and innovation play a pivotal role in shaping the future of companies. One such professional is Annie Zheng, a highly accomplished Human Resources and Talent Acquisition expert. With a solid academic foundation from the University of Southern California and a career spanning companies like ByteDance, TikTok, Cepton, and Jerry, Annie has become a name synonymous with expertise in recruitment, people management, and organizational growth. This article explores her career journey, educational background, and the impact she has had in the tech sector.
Academic Excellence at the University of Southern California
Strong Educational Foundation
Education is the cornerstone of any successful professional career, and Annie Zheng built her foundation at the prestigious University of Southern California (USC). She pursued a Master of Science in Human Resources Management (MSHRM), graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. This academic achievement highlights her dedication, discipline, and deep understanding of human resources practices.
Why USC Matters
The USC curriculum for HR professionals emphasizes leadership, strategic management, and modern HR practices. Annie’s strong performance in this rigorous program prepared her for the challenges of working with leading tech organizations. By mastering the art of balancing talent acquisition strategies with business needs, she emerged as a professional capable of handling diverse HR challenges in dynamic environments.
Career Journey of Annie Zheng
ByteDance and TikTok: Driving Global Talent Acquisition
Role at ByteDance
In February 2024, Annie joined ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, as a Talent Acquisition Partner. Stationed in San Jose, California, she supports hiring for the Global Monetization Team. Her responsibilities include understanding business needs, partnering with stakeholders, and crafting strategies to attract world-class talent.
Contribution to TikTok
Simultaneously, Annie plays a critical role at TikTok as a Talent Acquisition Partner. She actively recruits for Software Engineers (SWE), Machine Learning Engineers (MLE), Data Engineers (DE), Site Reliability Engineers (SRE), and Product Designers. This demonstrates her ability to handle highly technical recruitment demands in a competitive industry.
Her focus is not only on filling positions but also on building efficient hiring processes that ensure a smooth candidate experience. By blending efficiency with high-touch interaction, she ensures that TikTok attracts and retains the best talent to keep its global operations thriving.
Cepton: Leading HR in the Hardware Space
Before ByteDance and TikTok, Annie served as Sr. Manager of Human Resources at Cepton, a technology company specializing in lidar solutions for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems.
Major Achievements
- Technical Recruitment Success: Annie independently executed end-to-end recruitment for critical hardware engineering roles, including Principal Electrical, Mechanical, Optical, and System Engineers.
- 100% Offer Acceptance Rate: Her recruitment strategies were so effective that she achieved a perfect acceptance rate, a rare milestone in technical hiring.
- Strategic HR Leadership: She partnered with the finance department to lead re-organization planning, budget control reviews, and even a 401 (k) audit.
- Immigration Management: Annie oversaw immigration matters, working closely with legal teams to ensure compliance and smooth operations.
This role showcased her versatility—not just in talent acquisition but also in broader HR responsibilities that required business acumen and legal knowledge.
Jerry: Building Teams from the Ground Up
One of Annie Zheng’s most remarkable career highlights was her tenure at Jerry, an AI-driven startup revolutionizing car ownership. From October 2018 to December 2022, she served as Director of Talent Acquisition & HRBP.
Building Global Engineering Teams
At Jerry, Annie’s leadership was instrumental in building engineering and data teams from scratch. She successfully scaled teams to over 100 members across three countries: the United States, Canada, and China. This feat highlights her ability to navigate cultural differences and manage global hiring strategies.
Managing HR Operations
Her role went beyond recruitment. She acted as an HR Business Partner (HRBP) for engineering and data departments, driving performance management, career development, and employee engagement. She also managed administrative operations such as onboarding, PTO, benefits, and office management.
Leadership and Mentorship
Annie managed a team of four Talent Acquisition Partners and over eight interns. By providing mentorship and clear strategic direction, she ensured her team delivered consistent results in a fast-growing startup environment.
Key Skills and Professional Strengths
Talent Acquisition Expertise
Annie’s career demonstrates her deep knowledge of both technical and non-technical recruitment. Whether building entire teams at Jerry, filling senior engineering positions at Cepton, or hiring for global teams at ByteDance, she consistently delivers.
Strategic HR Leadership
Her ability to align HR strategies with business goals sets her apart. From budget reviews to immigration policies, Annie has shown that she can manage HR holistically, not just from a hiring perspective.
Global Perspective
Having worked with teams across multiple countries, Annie possesses a strong global mindset. This is invaluable in today’s interconnected tech world, where understanding cultural and business differences is key to success.
Candidate Experience Focus
Annie emphasizes creating a high-touch, positive candidate experience, ensuring that new hires feel valued even before they join the company. This approach enhances employer branding and long-term retention.
The Impact of Annie Zheng in Tech
The impact of Annie Zheng extends beyond individual companies. By helping organizations like TikTok, Cepton, and Jerry build strong, innovative teams, she indirectly contributes to shaping the tech products and services millions of people use worldwide. Her role as a bridge between talent and innovation highlights the vital importance of HR professionals in today’s digital economy.
Her ability to thrive in both startup and corporate environments demonstrates versatility. She can adapt her strategies for rapid growth in emerging companies as well as structured, large-scale recruitment for global enterprises.
Conclusion
Annie Zheng is more than just a talent acquisition professional—she is a strategist, leader, and change-maker in the HR field. From earning top academic honors at USC to driving recruitment and HR operations at companies like Jerry, Cepton, and ByteDance, her journey reflects determination, skill, and vision.
As a Talent Acquisition Partner at TikTok’s Monetization Group, Annie continues to play a crucial role in building the teams that power one of the world’s most influential tech platforms. Her story is a testament to how education, passion, and professional excellence can combine to make a lasting impact in the technology industry.
