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May 19, 2023

Plugged: TikTok Executive Kudzi Chikumbu Can't Live Without These Gadgets

For L.A.-based TikTok executive Kudzi Chikumbu, creativity is the thing that

For L.A.-based TikTok executive Kudzi Chikumbu, creativity is the thing that drives him day in and day out. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, the global head of Creator Marketing at TikTok, shares that he always had a creative mindset. He's done everything from manage his own blogs and Tumblr to making and editing videos before they were big on social media.

So, he knew, after attending business school at Stanford for his MBA, that he would either land a job in a creative role or one that allowed him to work with other creatives.

"In my grad school essays, I often spoke about using the power of entertainment and technology to help creators share their messages even more in an authentic way," Chikumbu shares. "Right after that, I landed at TikTok, working with our creator team. I helped build that team, and now I'm on the creator marketing side, which amplifies and showcases the breath, depth and authenticity of creatives."

In this role, there's a ton of meetings centered around campaigns and programs that TikTok may be rolling out. Or, he can be found studying the trends of creators—a combination he says really helps progress the magic.

Beyond work, he's always seeking community and connecting with friends and loved ones. It's what fills him up. He is also a creative himself, running his viral fragrance and lifestyle brand Sir Candle Man, where he shows us the best luxury scents and fragrances to buy and try.

"I also still watch a lot of videos on the internet. That's how I feed my creative spirit a lot of the time. Sir Candle Man is another great creative outlet for me as well," shares Chikumbu.

We asked the exec and influencer to share the gadgets and tech items that help his productivity and those that take his creativity to new heights. Here are the gadgets that he can't live without.