Instagram's Amy Cole explains how to become a social media superpower

As part of our Future Shapers series, in partnership with Neutrogena, we've scoured the country to find 2016's hot new innovators

The social media superpower: Amy Cole, 35

As the seventh person to join Instagram’s team (her handle is @Amy), Cole is now head of business development, overseeing the brand’s vision for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

We have a global community of half a billion. From women in the Middle East who are using Instagram to start their own businesses, to transgender teens who rely on the network for support, this social media platform is changing lives.

You have to love your product. Being a fanatic Instagrammer is what landed me my job. I joined the team when it was a six-person start-up. We had a tiny office in San Francisco, two engineers who were on 24-hour call in case our servers went down, and at that point, no business to speak of.

Surround yourself with inspiring people. Since watching my mother go back to college as a single parent, I have completely thrown myself into life. Seeing how much it mattered to her, and how hard she worked for it has shaped what I do.

You don’t have to know everything. I started in automotive engineering, so Instagram was a total leap of faith. I had no idea what I was doing, and still don’t at times, but I had the confidence to follow what I’m passionate about.

Ditch the plan. There are so many opportunities out there that we don’t even know exist. Just keep putting yourself in situations where you’re doing something you love, and doors will inevitably keep opening in areas that you never even expected.

#passiton ‘Trust your gut and always take the path that excites you most.’

Follow all the buzz around Future Shapers with our hashtag #FUTURESHAPERS.