TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi addressed graduates at Nanyang Technological University’s PhD conferment ceremony on August 1, offering a reflection on his career path and the evolving role of technology. Speaking to the new doctoral graduates, Mr. Chew recounted his transition from a finance background to the helm of a global tech giant. He highlighted how his early curiosity, sparked by a childhood computer, eventually led him away from investment banking and into the technology sector, where he served in leadership roles at Xiaomi and later ByteDance before becoming TikTok’s chief executive in 2021.
During his address, Mr. Chew emphasized that technology is more than just hardware or code; he described it as a tool for unlocking human potential and scaling ideas to reach millions. He encouraged the graduates to remain curious as they enter a workforce currently undergoing massive structural changes driven by artificial intelligence. By drawing parallels between the digital transformation of his own early career and the current AI-driven era, he urged the new cohort to actively seek out the unknown and take the lead in this pivotal point in history.
Mr. Chew’s appearance at the ceremony underscored the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing professional landscape. He noted that his own journey, which included studies at University College London and Harvard Business School, was defined by unexpected turns that required a willingness to embrace uncertainty. As these new PhD graduates prepare to enter their respective fields, his message focused on the necessity of using complex knowledge to create meaningful global impact, framing the current era of AI as an exciting opportunity for those ready to push boundaries.