David Kang is a global tech, media, and marketing leader at the forefront of the consumer internet and digital advertising. He serves as the bridge between platforms and brands, TURNING CULTURAL RELEVANCE INTO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS WITH TODAY’S DIGITAL-FIRST CONSUMERS.

THE WORK

META REALITY LABS, AI RESEARCH

Operationalized and launched Meta’s first voice assistant AI product, now used across Reality Labs hardware and software products. Championed responsible and ethical AI model development while leading the scale-up of global operations by 350x.

Instagram, Ads & Creator Monetization

Early member of Instagram’s 0-to-1 team building the platform’s first Creator Monetization products to help creators directly make a living from fans, brands, and the platform. Drove significant increase in creator retention, engagement, and payout. creators.instagram.com

Snapchat, Creators & New Platform Monetization

First commercial product lead brought to Snap to bring creators, branded content advertising, and creator-led social commerce to the platform. Pioneered the platform’s first official brand and creator partnerships, drove a 300% increase in the platform’s global verified creator base, and saw a 40% YoY increase in creator content. creators.snapchat.com

Syky, Alexis Ohanian’s 776-Backed Digital Fashion Marketplace Startup

Head of Product & Marketing building the premier digital fashion marketplace platform of the projected $5B+ digital fashion industry with the former digital chief of Ralph Lauren.

TikTok, Global Consumer, Beauty, & Luxury

Leading TikTok’s global product partnerships and commercial strategy across the consumer, beauty, and luxury sectors, advising brand executives on how to unlock the platform’s full potential to drive both business growth and cultural relevance.

AWARDS

Adweek Executive Mentor Program 2024

The ADWEEK Executive Mentor Program identifies the industry’s most promising next-generation leaders and pairs them with today’s top CMOs to accelerate their growth and shape the future of marketing leadership.

Top 30 U.S. Pioneers in Influencer Marketing 2022

Hello Partner’s U.S. list identifying pioneers of creator marketing and the creator economy in the region. See more here.

McKinsey Achievement Award 2020

McKinsey & Company award honored to underrepresented young leaders who have made a significant impact in business. Awarded for work on responsible and ethical AI model development at Meta.

PRESS

Two people in business attire shaking hands in a professional setting with digital bar graphs overlayed.
Screenshot of a webpage titled 'Creator Marketplace' featuring profiles of four creators, including their photos, names, locations, descriptions, websites, languages, fees, and categories, with contact email buttons beneath each profile.

Crypto firms are busy adding executive talent, with several recent notable hires, THE BLOCK

Snap Is Rolling Out a Marketplace for Brands and Creators 

A woman taking a selfie using a smartphone app, with a text overlay that says "Today’s a big day..." and a yellow "Send To" button at the bottom of the screen. The screen shows options to send the photo to various friends and contacts.

Snapchat will introduce revenue sharing on ads in creators’ stories

INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT

  • Jury board for the Festival of Media’s 2025 North America Awards. Profile here.

  • Member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Creator Economy Committee. More here.

  • Member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Converged Video Innovation Committee. More here.

  • Techstars’ mentorship program that pairs mentors with early stage founders. More here.

WORK WITH ME.

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    Advisory | Investing

    I advise and invest in startups and companies that are redefining culture, shaping consumer behavior, and transforming how people express themselves and capture attention. Currently interested in: the future of health & longevity, verticalized AI solutions, brand and product discovery, advertising in AI.

  • CONSULTING

    I consult on GTM, product, positioning, and commercial strategy for early to mid stage companies, with a strong focus on enterprise B2B. I have worked with founders to refine their investor pitches, identify their target customers, and build strong positioning and GTM strategies to drive customer acquisition.

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    SPEAKING

    I am available for select speaking engagements that do not have a conflict of interest with my current employer.

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    COACHING

    I am a coach on Leland and support people at all stages of their career looking to build a product marketing, commercial, or business-track career in tech. Creating access by sharing clarity with others is important to me, and I use coaching to pass down what I’ve been exposed to and help position you for the roles you are aiming for.