Chew Shou Zi, CEO of TikTok and a former student in Singapore, recently visited the city-state where he shared insights during a doctoral conferment ceremony at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He urged graduates to embrace curiosity and pursue knowledge beyond their comfort zones, highlighting the importance of innovation in today’s fast-evolving technological landscape. Chew recounted his own formative years in Singapore, drawing connections between his education there and his current leadership at one of the world’s leading social media platforms.
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has emerged as a major player in global social media, with Chew leading its global operations since 2021. His engagements in Singapore underscore the city-state's role as a hub for technology and innovation in Asia. At NTU’s event, Chew’s messages resonated with graduates poised to enter competitive and technological fields, emphasizing active exploration and adaptability.
Chew’s reflections also spotlight Singapore’s influence in nurturing global talent. Having spent part of his youth in Singapore, he credited the city’s education system and multicultural environment with shaping his perspectives. This visit and his speech align with ongoing dialogues about Singapore’s increasing prominence in the tech sector and its efforts to cultivate innovation.
Looking forward, Chew’s call to “actively seek the unknown” may inspire new directions both for graduates and for companies like TikTok, which face evolving challenges around technology, regulation, and societal impact. His personal narrative offers a reminder of the potential pathways individuals can take from local education to global tech leadership.