TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew, a Harvard graduate, is currently facing scrutiny from US lawmakers as he fights to secure the app’s survival in the US market.
Chew’s diverse academic and business background has positioned him as a formidable leader in the tech industry, with experiences ranging from serving as a conscript in Singapore’s armed forces to working as a banker at Goldman Sachs and leading investments in companies such as Xiaomi.
Shou Zi Chew’s journey to the top of the tech industry began when he scored high marks on a national exam at the age of 12, which granted him admission to an elite high school where he became fluent in Mandarin. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in economics from University College London and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Chew joined venture capital firm DST as its China-focused partner, where he invested in ByteDance and led investment in Xiaomi as its chief financial officer.
In 2021, Chew was appointed as ByteDance’s first chief financial officer and was quickly promoted to CEO following the departure of the former Disney executive Kevin Mayer. Chew’s rapid rise in the tech industry has earned him a spot on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list in 2021.
As TikTok faces the possibility of a ban in the US and other countries, Chew has launched a media offensive to galvanize support from TikTok’s 150 million users in the US. With his mettle and determination, Chew is poised to lead TikTok through this challenging time and secure its place in the global market.
