Calling Operator with Laura Nicol Ep 42. Culture Drivers with Olivia Panzic—Leading Marketing Communications and Building High-Performing Teams at TikTok ANZ
**Join us at our first-ever podcast meetup in Sydney. Info below**
Today, I'm connecting with Olivia (Liv) Panzic, Head of Marketing Communications at TikTok ANZ. A core part of Liv’s belief system? Look after people. And it shows. Her colleagues and mentors describe her leadership at TikTok as “people-centric,” “human-first,” and “transformative for those around her.” This conversation covers three big themes: creating thumb-stopping content, being brave, and leading from the heart.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why everything is better after a good night’s sleep (thanks, Mum).
- Community as strategy—not just support, but a growth engine.
- How a failed startup led her to TikTok—proof that the algorithm of life sometimes gets it right.
- Her first three years at TikTok ANZ—moving to Sydney, stepping into leadership, and building a marcomms strategy that clicks.
- A reminder that growth is layered: internal, external, and relational.
- Want to break into startups? Ditch the “pick me” mindset—find your match (tips inside).
- Leading inside a global company and bringing local context to celebrate culture drivers.
- Creating space for your team to grow and go viral in their own way.
- Why talking out loud to AI tools like ChatGPT changes the game for storytelling, advertising, and attention. Looking ahead to reaching people through voice.
- Staying humble: “You’re never too big for a small job.”
- Operator shoutout: How Elly Strang and the team at Tracksuit rewrote the playbook on early-stage B2B comms and content. Why their customers say: “Hey, I want this company to win as much as I love their product.”
Connect with Liv:
Others Mentioned in the Episode:
Huge thanks to Hayley Saddleton and Shani Kugenthiran for the pre-interview chats. You're so right. Liv. Is. Magic.
📆 JOIN US: Calling Operator x Notion coffee | Apr 29, 10am
Some of the best conversations happen off-mic. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Notion to bring the Calling Operator community together in Sydney.
The deets:
🌞 First-ever pod meetup in our most-listened city >> Sydney
🌞 Tues, Apr 29 at 10am (Surry Hills location)
🌞 Past podcast guests are coming—swap stories, ask questions
🌞 RSVP here
Guest ideas?
Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.
A note from your host, Laura:
My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons.
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