Guy Kawasaki

Who He Is

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing strategist, author, and technology evangelist who was among the first to prove that building passionate online communities could transform a brand. Born in 1954 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kawasaki studied at Stanford University and UCLA before joining Apple in 1983, where he worked to convince software developers to create products for the Macintosh. He became known for his ability to generate excitement and loyalty around a product, a skill that translated naturally into social media when platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ emerged. Kawasaki was an early adopter who quickly became one of the most followed people on multiple platforms, using them to share ideas, promote books, and build audiences for the brands he worked with. He has authored more than fifteen books on marketing, entrepreneurship, and technology, and currently serves as the chief evangelist for the online design platform Canva.

Why He Matters

Guy Kawasaki helped define what it means to use social media strategically, long before "social media manager" was a recognized job title. His career shows that the core of great social media work is not about chasing trends or going viral; it is about building genuine enthusiasm for something you believe in and communicating that enthusiasm in a way that draws people in. Kawasaki's concept of "evangelism marketing," turning customers into passionate advocates, is now a foundation of how brands approach social media. For young people interested in this field, his story demonstrates that understanding your audience and delivering real value to them consistently is more powerful than any algorithm hack.