Samantha Tan

About Samantha Tan

I have lived hundreds of lives, and it all started from the moment I opened a book.As a middle child who was a Chinese-born Malaysian native, it was easy for me to blend into the shadows. Being a woman in a somewhat conservative Southeast Asian country, having my own cultural identity, a voice, and speaking my truth is not part of my DNA. I was essentially the Asian child standard: actively pursuing the STEM field and extracurriculars like ballet and piano.Despite all this, I found myself struggling to provide a genuine answer that feels true to my identity when someone asks, “Tell me about yourself.”Then came my personal big bang. When I was fourteen, I picked up a book on a whim and was instantly catapulted into a different universe. And as I began to read more and more, I found myself living many lives and going on countless adventures. One day, I was a young boy living in a cupboard under the stairs. The next day, I was a fearless girl volunteering as tribute. Through each one, I found qualities such as empathy, strength, and bravery in characters that I could only hope to have. Before I knew it, I began instilling these qualities within myself and shaping my identity.Since then, storytelling has become a wildfire in my soul. And every page I turn fuels my passion. As a result, I began paving my way toward a career that enables me to tell authentic, impactful stories within tech, so that I could still hold a piece of my roots with me. This led me to earn my Bachelor\'s in public relations and Master\'s in mass communications with a focus on emerging media, holding several roles in PR and marketing (from an intern to an account manager).Today, I tell compelling stories for B2B tech clients across a variety of industries, including server/storage, telecommunications, and logistics/warehousing. My past work and educational experiences in public relations have equipped me with skills in media relations, strategic counsel, long-form content creation (bylines, press releases), social media strategies, analytics, and more.(And yes, I am still an avid reader).

Experience

1. Account Director

   The Hoffman Agency

   Mar 2026 — Present · Portland, OR, US

Education

• San José State University

  Bachelor of Science, Public Relations, Minor in Radio-Television-Film

  2017 — 2019

• Taylor's University

  Associate of Arts - AA, Mass Communication/Media Studies

  2015 — 2016

• San José State University

  Master of Science - MS, Mass Communications w/ Focus on Emerging Media

  2020 — 2022