Management Wisdom from the "Godfather of AI"

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has recently been on a whirlwind tour of Asia. From his attendance at Computex in Taipei to his meetings with tech giants in South Korea, his every move and word has captured the media's attention. I have been following his interviews closely, particularly his guest appearance on a South Korean variety show, where he discussed his life experiences, management philosophy, and his vision for AI and the future of society. I have learned a great deal from his insights.

The statement that struck me the most was, "Mission is the Boss." He explained that at Nvidia, supervisors are not the bosses of the employees; they are merely there to assist them in executing their tasks. Therefore, the "mission" is the true boss. When every employee is aligned with a common goal—doing exactly what the company needs—it eliminates corporate politics. When I heard this, it was a "lightbulb moment." I realized that this management style is entirely possible: employees don't need to report to a specific supervisor; they simply "report to their work." When everyone fulfills their own responsibilities, that is enough. Watching that interview felt like taking a masterclass.

Jensen Huang is widely acknowledged as an exceptionally strict leader. In the interview, he compared his management style to that of an "Asian parent"—parents who always feel their children aren't quite good enough and can always find reasons to be critical. Even if a child gets 90 on a math test, they believe they could have done better. In a management context, this translates to direct, rigorous, and public criticism; there is no "best," only "better." He understands that his colleagues may find him harsh, yet they respect him because he is just as demanding of himself as he is of others.

I consider myself a strict leader with very high standards for quality, so I strongly resonate with this "Asian parent" management style. To be honest, I occasionally have colleagues complain to me, asking why I have further feedback after they have already revised their work according to my instructions. But the world today changes in an instant; to keep pace with the market, one must innovate constantly. I have noticed competitors consistently copying FMI's methods, so our company must keep changing to stay ahead. Even if they follow closely, we change again, constantly optimizing ourselves. I firmly believe that when a company invests massive amounts of time and resources into doing something well, others who merely copy it will never outperform the original. It is like a singer performing their own songs—they will always infuse them with the most emotion. Others may cover the song with excellent technique, but the soul is different. As Jacky Cheung once said, every time he sings Li Xianglan or Still Feel You Are the Best, he finds new feelings in them—something I believe imitators can never replicate.

Regarding his philosophy on raising children, Jensen Huang also has a unique perspective. Despite being a high-achiever himself, he does not impose high expectations on the next generation. His two children have their own dreams: his son originally started a bar and later pursued further studies before entering Nvidia as an intern; his daughter graduated from a culinary institute in the U.S. and worked various jobs before joining the tech industry in recent years. I recall him saying that he would rather see his children fail at something they love than succeed at something they hate. That is a sentiment truly worth reflecting on.

One point that surprised me deeply was when someone asked Jensen Huang when he plans to retire. He didn't have a concrete answer; he only revealed that he hopes to pass away while still at work—to literally "work until the end." This answer stunned me. I often ask myself: "When should I step down?" I don't have a concrete plan yet, but Jensen Huang’s answer—working until the very end—truly shook me. From this day forward, I have added another idol to my chart of people worth learning from.

Jensen Huang has built an AI empire through unconventional management methods.