Meet Mei Tham | Nonprofit Founder & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mei Tham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mei, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Confidence Through Creation began with a simple belief: that confidence is not something you wait to feel, it is something you build by creating. Our mission is to give young people, especially those who feel overlooked or silenced, the chance to discover that same truth. We create environments where they can experiment, make mistakes, and still be proud of what they’ve made. We remind them that they don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of sharing their voice.

Through mentorship and workshops, I guide students in turning their ideas into real projects. Some girls have launched mental health apps, sustainability campaigns for their city, podcasts amplifying women in STEM, and small initiatives that bring change to their schools or communities. We also host a podcast, The Confident Creator, to amplify the stories of female founders and inspire the next generation of creators.

Slowly, we are shifting the culture from comparison and hesitation to creativity and courage. The social impact is a community of young creators who learn that their ideas matter, that failure is not the end, and that they have the power to shape the world around them. That is what makes this work meaningful. It is not just about making projects. It is about making people believe in themselves, and watching how that belief multiplies when they bring it back into their own schools, families, and communities.

Each project looks different, but the goal is the same: helping girls realize that they don’t need perfect resources to create something powerful. Watching them go from hesitant to confident—from unsure coders to founders and storytellers—reminds me why I started.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I posted my first TikTok on a random afternoon after school. It was about makeup—nothing fancy, just me sitting on my bedroom floor talking about why I loved experimenting with different products and colors. I didn’t have any sort of plan; I just wanted to share something that made me happy.

I didn’t expect anyone to watch it. But somehow, people did. Comments started coming in from girls saying they felt the same way, that they were scared to post their own videos or didn’t feel confident enough to put themselves out there. That small bit of connection made me realize something I’d never fully understood before: creativity could actually make people feel less alone.

From there, it just grew naturally. I kept posting—sometimes tutorials, sometimes just raw, honest videos about things I was learning or struggling with. Over time, I built a community of people who cared about more than just makeup. They cared about confidence, creativity, and the messy process of becoming yourself. As the community grew, I started working with brands, including Uber and Windsor. Each partnership taught me something new about storytelling, collaboration, and staying authentic in spaces that often reward perfection.

But somewhere along the way, I realized I wanted to do more than just create content. I wanted to help others find that same confidence that had changed everything for me. So I started Confidence Through Creation, a nonprofit that helps girls turn their ideas into real projects. I wanted it to be the kind of space I wish I’d had when I was first learning to create: supportive, inclusive, and full of possibility.

Building it wasn’t easy. There were nights where I stayed up teaching myself how to design a website or plan a mentorship program. I was figuring things out as I went, balancing school, content creation, and this growing organization. But every time I saw one of our students light up after finishing a project, it reminded me why I started.

Looking back, everything connects. That first TikTok about makeup taught me that creativity doesn’t need permission, that confidence isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you build by showing up. My platform gave me a voice, but Confidence Through Creation gave that voice a purpose. Now, whether I’m creating content, mentoring students, or speaking to a group of girls who remind me of myself, it always comes back to the same idea: confidence grows when you create something you care about.

It all started with a makeup video, but it became something so much bigger. It became a reminder that when you share your passions honestly, you never know who might find the courage to start their own.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to Atlanta for a week, I’d want them to see the side of the city that feels alive.

We’d start with Ponce City Market because it’s impossible not to. I’d grab us iced coffees from Spiller Park, walk the BeltLine, and stop by all the little pop-up shops and murals along the way. At night, we’d head back to The Roof at Ponce for skyline views and carnival-style food. It’s touristy, but still so much fun.

Another day, I’d take them to Krog Street Market for dinner, a mix of ramen, tacos, and gelato because balance. Then we’d wander through the Krog Street Tunnel to see all the street art.

We’d spend a day exploring Little Five Points, thrifting and vintage shopping, probably ending up at Julianna’s Coffee & Crepes for something sweet. Maybe we’d visit the High Museum of Art or Piedmont Park the next day to slow down, picnic, and just people-watch.

For food, I’d mix it up with brunch at The Flying Biscuit, dinner at Delbar or South City Kitchen, and one night at Victory Sandwich Bar for something casual. The rest of the time, we’d just see where the day takes us. Atlanta always surprises you like that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Women In Technology (WIT) Atlanta. Being part of WIT gave me a community that truly changed the way I saw myself in tech. Surrounded by women who lead with both confidence and compassion, I learned that there’s strength in showing up exactly as you are—and power in helping others do the same.

Through their mentorship programs and events, I found guidance, encouragement, and role models who showed me what’s possible when women lift each other up. WIT didn’t just connect me to opportunities—it connected me to a purpose. Every project I take on now carries that same mission of making technology more accessible and inclusive, just like they did for me. Special shoutout to Meagan Skerchock, who I found through WIT, for being so excited to support me and Confidence Through Creation.

Website: https://confidencethroughcreation.org

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@meicji

Other: New York Post article, featuring me: https://nypost.com/2024/01/09/lifestyle/silent-reviews-are-all-the-rage-tiktok-users-call-it-the-new-get-ready-with-me-trend/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meitham?lang=en