Lessons from the Rise of TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew: From Facebook Intern to Fierce Competitor
The story of Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, exemplifies how unexpected career trajectories and strategic decisions can redefine industries. Once an intern at Facebook, Chew has risen to lead one of Meta’s fiercest competitors, showing that today’s mentee could be tomorrow’s rival. His journey offers key lessons for professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders alike.
1. Embrace Diverse Experiences
Chew’s career path is a testament to the value of diverse global experiences. After earning an economics degree from University College London and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he interned at Facebook, Chew embarked on an international career that took him across London, Singapore, and Hong Kong before landing in Beijing. His time at Xiaomi, where he helped take the company public as CFO, provided invaluable insights into the tech industry and the intricacies of global business.
Lesson: Moving across industries and geographies can build a broad skill set, enabling leaders to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to new challenges.
2. Strategic Positioning Can Lead to Big Opportunities
Chew’s rise from CFO of ByteDance to CEO of TikTok highlights the importance of aligning with emerging trends. ByteDance’s acquisition of Musical.ly, which it merged with TikTok, proved pivotal in shaping the global short-form video landscape. While Facebook attempted to launch its own TikTok rival, Lasso, the app failed to gain traction. ByteDance, with Chew’s leadership, capitalized on its early mover advantage.
Lesson: Identifying and positioning oneself with forward-thinking companies or technologies can open the door to transformative opportunities.
3. Competitors Are Learning Grounds
Interning at Facebook provided Chew a front-row seat to one of the world’s leading tech firms early in his career. Working within such a dynamic environment likely influenced his understanding of social media, data management, and platform growth. Ironically, this experience prepared him to later lead TikTok, one of Facebook’s biggest threats.
Lesson: Working for potential competitors can offer valuable insights that may later shape strategic leadership in competing ventures.
4. Adaptability Is Key in a Changing Landscape
The tech world evolves rapidly, and successful leaders must adapt. TikTok’s ascent has forced traditional social media giants to rethink their strategies. Even as Meta sought to acquire Musical.ly, ByteDance’s swift actions secured a dominant position. Chew’s adaptability allowed him to navigate the challenges of leading a globally scrutinized platform amid data privacy and national security debates.
Lesson: Flexibility and swift decision-making are crucial in a rapidly shifting industry. Staying agile allows leaders to pivot when opportunities or threats arise.
5. Data Privacy and Ethics as a Competitive Edge
One of the biggest challenges Chew has faced is defending TikTok against allegations of being a national security threat. During a 2023 congressional hearing, he highlighted TikTok’s data practices and criticized American platforms—like Facebook—for their past privacy scandals, including Cambridge Analytica. His stance emphasized that ethical data management and privacy protection are integral to building trust.
Lesson: In a world increasingly concerned with privacy, transparent and responsible data management practices can become a distinguishing factor that builds brand loyalty and trust.
