In 1993, three engineers were sitting at Denny’s in San Jose, dreaming up concepts that didn’t really have any market, customers, or purpose. One of them was Jensen Hunag. To build at NVIDIA was not only to build a company, but also a new way of thinking about computers.
NVIDIA is at the heart of the AI revolution today. Its chips are used in everything from big language models to self-driving cars to complex simulations. Experts agree that NVIDIA currently dominates the AI accelerator market and is on the verge of becoming a trillion-dollar company. However, Huang’s size isn’t the only thing that makes him stand out; it’s his mindset as well.
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Constructing in an Empty Space
Huang’s style isn’t smooth or formal, but rather unpolished, unconventional and sometimes uncomfortable, which is what makes it effective. His first act was to make up something that was none. NVIDIA has been investing in AI since 2006, before it became a boardroom obsession, with a platform for parallel computing called CUDA. The market was extremely small, and at the time, the idea of AI infrastructure didn’t really have much of a commercial value. Huang said his method is to seek opportunities in zero-dollar markets. This bet was the groundwork of the current AI techno-stack. McKinsey estimates that generative AI can contribute as much as 4.4 trillion dollars to the global economy, a sum that wasn’t even a possibility 20 years ago.
The Lesson: Don’t try to fill current demand. Rather, think about and create what the world will require next. If an idea is too early, it means you are ahead of your competitors, and that’s where the true innovation starts.
Transparency Over Comfort
Huang has an impressively wide span of control and directs dozens of people across the organisation. Understanding the flaws in the one-on-one system, he has been proactively promoting the transformation of the one-on-one mode into open communication, fostering an organisational environment in which information spreads rapidly and permeates every corner. This is not only about transparency, but also about cultivating a culture that allows feedback to be shared openly in a group, so that mistakes are made visible, examined, and learned from instead of being put in the bottom drawer. As Harvard Business Review has pointed out time and again, transparency accelerates decision-making and improves quality, especially in times of uncertainty. At its core, Huang’s approach emphasises a key principle in modern leadership: the power of open communication, trust, and swift information sharing to remain one step ahead.
The Lesson: The more open feedback that’s shared, the more robust the organisation is. If you see it the same way, it’s executed faster, it’s done better, and you trust each other more.
Intellectual Honesty is a strategy
NVIDIA’s path to success is not a linear one: it’s a process of recalibration, setbacks and breakthroughs. The company has made plenty of mistakes with products and also market forecasting, often on the brink of disaster, but what is special is its ability to turn things around quickly. Huang constantly reminds them to recognise when a strategy doesn’t work and to take decisive action. He sees this as intellectual honesty.
One problem that Bain & Company research identifies is that the majority of corporate change programs fail almost 70% of the time. They fail primarily because they delay in making decisions and are not willing to abandon old plans. NVIDIA is not falling victim to such missteps; it is facing the facts and making adjustments early on.
The Lesson: Strategy isn’t about what you are going to do, it’s about what you will give up. Question assumptions and beliefs frequently. If the logic no longer holds, it’s time to consider a change in strategy.
Keep Closely Affiliated With Work
Huang started out as a dishwasher and waiter and has contributed to the founding of NVIDIA. Although he has risen, he has not forgotten that he is still a small child and this is what guides his leadership. He remains very active in engineering groups, frequently working on them at the deepest level. Huang has no hesitation in asking probing questions and is always there when problems arise. He has espoused one of his core principles in various interviews: “No job is too small for leadership”.
The Lesson: Authentic leadership. If the leaders are on good terms with their team, success is bound to come, sometimes even without the need for authority. True leadership is based on authenticity and genuine connections.
Do work with a Sense of Urgency
NVIDIA’s place as a tech giant is not just determined by its size. Throughout his tenure as CEO, Jensen Huang has stressed urgency, a powerful call to action encapsulated in his constant mantra: run, don’t walk. The attitude is a byproduct of the harsh reality of tech leadership today. It’s this constant push that is the hallmark of Huang’s leadership at NVIDIA, where flexibility is not a luxury but a must.
The Lesson: Not being innovative poses a greater risk than simply competing. An organisation can withstand and maintain its position if it is continuously coming up with new ideas, is inquisitive, and learns the art of learning.
Build Where Nothing Exists
Huang’s style isn’t polished or conventional; it’s bold, deliberate, and often uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it effective. His first step was creating where nothing existed. As early as 2006, before AI became a boardroom obsession, NVIDIA invested in CUDA, a platform for parallel computing. At that time, AI infrastructure had little commercial appeal; the market was virtually nonexistent. Huang describes his approach as hunting for opportunities in markets with zero dollar value. That gamble laid the foundation for today’s AI tech stack. According to McKinsey, generative AI could add up to 4.4 trillion dollars annually to the global economy, a value invisible two decades ago.
The Lesson: Don’t chase existing demand. Instead, imagine and build what the world will need next. When an idea is too early, it means you’re ahead of your competitors, and that’s where true innovation begins.
Transparency Over Comfort
Huang oversees an impressively broad span of control, managing dozens of direct reports across the organisation. Recognising the limitations of traditional one-on-one systems, he has actively championed a shift toward open communication, driving an environment where information flows swiftly and reaches every corner. This approach isn’t just about transparency; it’s about building a culture where feedback is shared openly in groups, ensuring mistakes are exposed, discussed, and learned from, rather than hidden away. As Harvard Business Review has repeatedly emphasised, transparency accelerates decision-making and elevates overall quality, particularly in uncertain times. Huang’s strategy highlights a fundamental truth in leadership today: the most effective organisations are those that prioritise open dialogue, trust, and rapid information exchange to stay ahead of the curve.
The Lesson: The more open feedback is shared, the stronger the organisation becomes. When everyone perceives the same reality, execution speeds up, outcomes improve, and trust grows.
Intellectual Honesty as Strategy
NVIDIA’s journey isn’t a straight path; it’s a series of recalibrations, setbacks, and breakthrough moments. The company has navigated failed products and market misjudgments, often nearing the edge of disaster, yet what sets it apart is its remarkable ability to adapt swiftly. Huang repeatedly emphasises the importance of recognising when a strategy isn’t working and acting decisively. To him, this is true intellectual honesty.
Research from Bain & Company highlights a common pitfall: nearly 70% of corporate change initiatives fail. They falter mainly due to decision-making delays and an unwavering commitment to outdated plans. NVIDIA avoids these traps by confronting reality head-on and making adjustments early.
The Lesson: Strategy isn’t just about what you aim to achieve; often, it’s about what you’re willing to let go. Regularly challenge your foundational assumptions. When the logic no longer holds, it’s time to rethink the strategy.
Keep Closely Affiliated With Work
Huang’s journey began as a dishwasher and waiter before he helped build NVIDIA. Despite his rise, he remains grounded, and this humility shapes his leadership style. He stays closely involved with engineering teams, often diving deep into work himself. Huang doesn’t shy away from asking detailed questions and is always present where issues arise. In several interviews, he’s emphasised a core belief: no job is too small for leadership.
The Lesson: Authentic leadership is about staying true to who you are at your core. When leaders genuinely connect with their teams, success naturally follows, often surpassing formal hierarchy. Real leadership is rooted in sincerity and meaningful relationships.
Work With a Sense of Permanent Urgency
NVIDIA’s status as a heavyweight in the tech industry doesn’t simply hinge on its size. CEO Jensen Huang has consistently emphasised a sense of urgency, an energetic call to action summed up in his relentless mantra: run, don’t walk. This mindset reflects the brutal reality of technology leadership today. It’s this relentless rush that defines how Huang steers NVIDIA, an environment where adaptability isn’t just an option, but a necessity.
The Lesson: Not being innovative poses a greater risk than simply competing. Continually generating ideas, maintaining an inquisitive mindset, and embracing the art of learning are what truly allow an organisation to stand firm in its position.
