If you told me a year ago that I’d be sitting in a product feedback session with the CapCut team inside the TikTok office in LA, I probably would’ve laughed.
Because here’s the thing:
I didn’t pitch for this.
I didn’t apply for this.
I didn’t do anything to make it happen.
Yet, I was there—sitting at the table, giving feedback on upcoming AI tools, and even getting paid for the trip.
Here’s how it all went down.
The Backstory: I’m Not “TikTok Famous”
Let’s rewind.
My social media presence lives primarily on Instagram (@dariaast) I post occasionally on TikTok, but nothing ever really goes viral. My videos rarely pass 1,000 views, and I don’t chase trends.
But that’s okay. Because my focus has never been about numbers—it’s always been about building relationships and delivering real results.
I’m a personal branding coach and the founder of The Sell Well, a Vancouver-based content creation agency. Through my work, I attend lots of in-person events, workshops, and networking meetups.
And it was at one of these events that I met the incredible Kate @kate.telek, a video editing educator with over 1 million followers. We stayed in touch, became very close friends, and one day, she messaged me:
“Hey, I’m invited to the TikTok office and CapCut roundtable in LA. Want to come with me?”
With CapCut’s approval, I was officially in.
The Imposter Syndrome Hit Hard
Let’s be real. I felt like an imposter the entire time leading up to the trip.
- I didn’t have massive numbers.
- I wasn’t a keynote speaker.
- I wasn’t even invited directly.
On top of that, my business was coming out of a very slow month, and spending a week in LA felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford.
But I also knew I couldn’t turn this down.
Inside the TikTok Office: What Actually Happened
Fast-forward to LA.
On Monday morning, we arrived at the TikTok office—and let me tell you, they take security very seriously.
We weren’t allowed to film most of the office (no workstations, no employees, no screens). Only specific photo zones were fair game.
But what mattered more was what happened behind the scenes.
A Two-Hour Roundtable with CapCut
The CapCut team flew in from China for a two-week creator feedback tour. And yes, they flew in just for these sessions.
In a small room with just three creators and the CapCut team, we broke down our entire editing workflows:
- What works
- What doesn’t
- What tools we wish existed
That’s when it hit me:
I wasn’t just Kate’s plus-one.
I was there because I run a content creation agency. CapCut wanted to hear from someone who manages editing workflows for service providers—photographers, designers, wedding pros—not just influencers.
They wanted insight from my kind of creator.
1:1 Product Feedback with the CapCut Team
After the group session, we moved into private 1:1 conversations with the CapCut product team.
They walked me through unreleased tools, asked for feedback on beta features, and asked how they could better support small agency workflows.
This wasn’t about follower count.
It was about real use cases.
And that made me feel like I belonged.
Oh, and the TikTok Office Perks? Unreal.
After the sessions, we had lunch in their office cafeteria (which felt more like a five-star coworking space).
They had:
- Salad and hot bars for lunch and dinner
- Unlimited snacks
- A full-service coffee bar
- Cozy lounge areas
- and even showers!
Before we left, they gave us goodie boxes and sent us on our way.
Did I Get Paid to Be There? Kind of
Although this wasn’t a sponsored gig, the CapCut team reimbursed me $450 for my flight from Vancouver to LA.
So technically… yes. I was paid to visit the TikTok office. Wild.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t have 100K followers.
I wasn’t “discovered” through viral content.
I didn’t pitch myself into this opportunity.
I got in the room because of relationships, positioning, and real expertise.
So if you’ve ever felt like your audience is too small to matter—remember this:
Brands don’t just care about numbers. They care about insight, impact, and the kind of value only you can bring.
And to my friend Kate—thank you for bringing me along for the wildest ride.
Want to Work With My Agency?
If you’re a service provider looking for done-for-you content creation that actually converts, check out The Sell Well and see how we help you show up with confidence and consistency.
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