Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA

In this View From The Top interview, Shantam Jain, MBA ’24, speaks with Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA.

As of March 1, 2024, NVIDIA is the third most valuable company on Wall Street, with over $2T in market value. Jensen shares his experience founding NVIDIA, getting funded, building the first killer application for NVIDIA’s technology, deciding which markets are worth exploring, finding the conviction in making non-consensus bets, steering the company through challenging times, designing the right organization structure, and finally, his views on the AI revolution.

Excerpts from the interview:

- On reputation: “You can have a good or bad interview, but you can't run away from your past, so have a good past; I was probably Denny's [first job] best dishwasher”

- On early days: “In order for NVIDIA to succeed we needed another startup to succeed—EA… and EA’s CTO was 14 and had to be driven to work by his mom… that’s who we were relying on”

- On markets: “If someone else can do it, let them do it; focus on--if I don't do it, it won't get done”

- On core beliefs: “My reaction during that time [when NVIDIA lost 80% of market value in the financial crisis], is the same reaction I had about this week [when NVIDIA crossed $2T and became the 3rd most valuable company on Wall Street]”

- On unique organizational design: “You have to go back to first principles ... as a CEO I have to architect the company and create an organization that allows my employees to do their life’s work”

[Beatricegove]

I've owned NVDA for over 8 years. It's been up and down, but I believe in Jensen Huang and will stick with NVDA until Jensen says otherwise. I know that sounds crazy, but when the financial statements/Jensen, (same to me) tell me to sell, I will. I'm sure I won't sell at the top, but that's OK.

[gingerkilkus]

I read that Nvidia provides tech for crypto mining services/blockchain transactions. Could the current crypto pump be attributed to Nvidia’s great earnings and should I hold some crypto as well, cos tbh I’m having FOMO with the current crypto price at $66k.

[Adambarking]

Jensen has done well with NVIDIA, the company stock has been a booster for many investors. Yes I agree that the company stock is considered by many as the stock of the year, However, I'm curious about which stocks could potentially become the next META in terms of growth over the next decade. I've allocated $200k for investment, looking for companies to make additions to boost performance

[Muller-od]

As recession fears mount on Wall Street and inflation remains well above the Fed's 2% target, some of the top commentators in markets, business, and economics have been sounding off on just how bad they think the next downturn might be — and how far stocks may have to fall. I need ideas and advice on what investments to make to set myself up for retirement, my goal is to have a portfolio of at least $850k at the age of 60.

[lukehaswell]

I'm certain $NVDA is a no-brainer for the next few quarters, but $TSM is a better option too, as is $PLTR, with $AMD also performing well. I keep increasing my shares manageably, l'd add more into giant tech players who are solid in their own hardwares like $META and $GOOG

[TomNook.]

He has the best ASMR voice of all CEOs

[Adityadhar_]

His clarity of thought and humility set him apart. Very impressive and refreshing!

[jbossnack]

My friend works for Jensen and says this man understands what the best people need to do their job for NVIDIA. He is super!

[Jeffrey-nthk]

"Don't worry about how other companies or org charts look. Start from first principles. Remember what an organization is designed to do - an organization of the past where there's a king (CEO), then you have the royal subjects/court, then you keep working your way down - eventually you have employees. Well the reason why it was designed that way is because they wanted their soldiers to have as little information as possible because their fundamental purpose of the soldiers is to die in the field of battle. To die without asking questions. I only have 30, 000 employees. I would like none of them to die. I would like them to question everything. So the way you organize in the past and the way you organize today is very different."

Best quote. It really separates the two schools of thought around transparency and the mindset that permeates each.

[ec]

That's why we need an engineering background CEO rather than a financial background CEO which only looks at the short-term benefits.

[zjhnbxe]

I idolize this guy. Coz his humble and smart . he loves his family

[doc.shidqi]

The talk is full of good inspirational quote. This one in particular:

"You want the company to be lazy about doing things that other people always/can do. If somebody else can do it, let them do it. We should go select the things that: if we didn't do it, the world would fall apart.

If I don't do this, it won't get done"

[anuraga]

44:52 These lines will be written in Pure Gold!🙏
"your job is to make a unique contribution live a life of purpose to do something that nobody else in the world would do or can do to make a unique contribution so that in the event that after you done um everybody says you know the world was better because you were here"🙏

[ionk]

Damn, a real CEO that I really enjoy listening to. The way he talks it's so easy to understand everything he says, I want to be a leader like him someday.

[AbdulSalam-ztkz]

When he said he did the dishwasher very well and Everyone laughed, it was no joke.

[rcpxhuj]

Proud of Taiwanese！Great man Jensen Huang🎉🎉🎉

[JimmysNotes]

Every Denny’s employee should be proud of what they’re doing ❤

[Irish]

Delightful interview. Congratulations to Jensen and everyone who drove and built NVIDIA to the company it is today.

[carolinexu-qkhi]

All in NVIDIA❤ Jensen is such a great leader! Energetic, innovative, persistent, enthusiastic, devoting, and caring. Also very humorous and humble. Really a delight to hear his talk.

[clarechen]

This is the therapy and encouragement that I needed. If I think like Jensen Huang, I will have fewer problems in my life.