As artificial intelligence transforms the way we work, communicate, and create, the future of your career depends not just on keeping up, but on standing out. In this timely and empowering keynote, Kudzi Chikumbu, former Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok and a digital thought leader, explores how AI is reshaping professional paths and how you can harness its power to build a career that reflects your purpose and potential.

Kudzi dives into how AI-driven tools are revolutionizing everything from job searches and personal branding to skill development and content creation. He shows audiences how to leverage tools like AI resume builders, portfolio generators, and career mapping platforms to elevate their visibility and accelerate growth. At the same time, he underscores the importance of human traits like creativity, empathy, and authenticity that remain irreplaceable in the age of automation.

With real-world insights from tech, creator, and corporate spaces, Kudzi shares actionable strategies for:

• Using AI to build a standout digital presence
• Navigating new roles and industries emerging from AI disruption
• Telling your story with clarity, confidence, and consistency
• Upskilling creatively to stay competitive in evolving job markets
• Maintaining authenticity in an increasingly automated world

Perfect for early-career professionals, job seekers, and anyone rethinking their next step, this talk is a must-hear guide to thriving—not just surviving—in the future of work.

When Kudzi Chikumbu began his career, he never imagined he’d one day become the Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok or build a personal brand as “Sir Candle Man,” but in hindsight, he was preparing for it all along simply by honoring every part of who he is. From accountant and Stanford MBA to digital thought leader and luxury fragrance influencer, Kudzi’s journey is a testament to the power of bringing your full self to work.

In this inspiring and energizing talk, Kudzi shares how embracing his multifaceted identity unlocked doors he didn’t even know existed and how companies can benefit when employees are empowered to do the same. He meets the audience where they are - a generation balancing personal passions, side hustles, and evolving ambitions - and reveals how the mindset that fuels successful creators can drive meaningful impact in any industry.

Through his 5 guiding principles, Kudzi challenges audiences to align their purpose, trust their voice, and build communities that reflect their values:

• Have a clear why – Let purpose be your compass.
• Adopt a creator mindset – Take ownership. You’re building your own life.
• Be authentic – Honor your instincts and all parts of your identity.
• Build a community – Collaboration creates momentum.
• Give yourself permission to pivot – Evolve freely, without shame.

Audiences leave with actionable tools and permission to show up more fully, create careers that reflect who they really are, and understand why the future of work belongs to the bold, the multifaceted, and the unapologetically authentic.

In today's landscape, with increasing scrutiny on marketing budgets and evolving privacy regulations, reaching the right audience has become more challenging than ever. Yet, amidst these hurdles, Kudzi Chikumbu—widely known as Sir Candle Man online—has successfully built a deeply engaged niche community that exemplifies the kind of audience connection businesses aspire to achieve.

In this conversation, Kudzi reveals how organizations and creators can strategically build and sustain niche digital communities. He shares insights on effectively communicating core values, driving engagement, and ultimately converting community loyalty into tangible business growth. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to refine their marketing approaches, resonate authentically with their target audience, and drive key metrics.

In this ever-evolving conversation, Kudzi talks audiences through the latest trends in social media and discusses the obstacles and opportunities for your organization to get ahead in the digital space. He also explores the transformative impact of generative AI on creativity, addressing both its potential to enhance creative processes and the challenges it poses. Kudzi delves into how AI-driven tools are reshaping content creation, enabling more personalized and dynamic engagement with audiences, while also prompting important questions about originality, authorship, and the future of creative work.

Whether you're building a startup or managing a global enterprise, social media is indispensable. With his experience as the former Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok, Kudzi Chikumbu is uniquely positioned to guide businesses through the intricacies of the digital landscape. He offers a comprehensive blueprint for establishing a strong online presence, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and strategic engagement.

In this talk, Kudzi provides actionable insights for businesses to effectively tell their story, cut through the noise, and connect with their target audience. He covers the steps to staying ahead in the ever-changing digital world and offers practical solutions for navigating challenges when things go wrong.

Audience takeaways include:

• How to craft and share your brand's story
• Strategies for standing out in a crowded digital space
• Tactics to stay ahead of digital trends
• Best practices for crisis management online
• The often-overlooked key to long-term success in online branding

As a black, gay man working in tech, Kudzi Chikumbu stands out every single day. Instead of caving to the pressures of a world full of trends that promote replicating and copying others, Kudzi focuses on authenticity. He makes a point to bring his full self to work and encourages everyone to do the same, whatever their identity is.

Based on his own experiences in the workplace, Kudzi shares how diversity leads to creativity and discusses the power that comes from bringing together different perspectives to achieve success.

When Kudzi started his career, he didn’t set out to become the Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok or to make it as an influencer - partly because neither of those role existed at the time. However, Kudzi was preparing himself for these opportunities throughout his life simply by living authentically.

After working as an accountant and consultant at Deloitte, he took a leap of faith to follow his long-time ambition to monetize his creative mindset. In this talk, Kudzi meets the audience where they are - a generation that is obsessed with being influencers and creators online - and demonstrates how the principles that make a successful creator can lead to a successful career in any industry. He leaves audiences with the 5 guiding principles that have led him through the pivotal moments along his journey as a creator and an executive:

1. Have a clear why. This is your guiding light.
2. Have a creator mindset - you can create your best life. Take action.
3. Be authentic and trust your instincts.
4. Build a community. We are stronger together so make friends, help others, and ask for help (in that order).
5. Pivot when you need to. You can change your why.

Audiences will walk away with actionable takeaways to bring their full selves to everything they do and, in turn, create the life and career they want.