Shou Zi Chew, a key figure in the global tech industry, who is currently the CEO of TikTok, which is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms and a significant competitor to Meta’s Instagram. However, what many might find surprising is that Chew’s career started with a stint at Mark Zuckerberg’s company, Facebook.
Shou Zi Chew was born in Singapore. He pursued an economics degree at University College London before advancing to Harvard Business School for his MBA. During his time at Harvard, he landed a prestigious summer internship at Facebook, which was still in its early growth phase. Reflecting on this experience in an interview with Harvard Business School’s alumni publication, Chew described the company at that time as a rapidly expanding entity; “It was called Facebook.” However in 2021, Chew joined ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, where he initially served as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). His leadership qualities and business acumen soon saw him take on dual roles—both as ByteDance’s CFO and TikTok’s CEO. Eventually, he decided to dedicate his focus solely to TikTok, steering the short-form video platform toward unprecedented global success.
As the CEO, Chew has been at the forefront of navigating TikTok through its outstanding rise and addressing complex challenges, including regulatory scrutiny and competition with other tech giants. Under his leadership, TikTok has solidified its position as a cultural phenomenon, reshaping how content is consumed and created.
Chew’s career trajectory shows the transformative potential of embracing opportunities in the tech industry, showing how early experiences can pave the way for impactful leadership roles. As TikTok continues to evolve under his guidance, Chew’s journey remains a testament to strategic vision and adaptability in the ever-changing digital landscape.
