In the competitive world of semiconductor technology, two names often come up as titans of the industry: Lisa Su of AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. These two executives have led their respective companies to global prominence, shaping the landscape of graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. However, beyond their professional rivalry, there exists a curious and rather unexpected connection between the two leaders: they are distant relatives.
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In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Lisa Su revealed that she had never met Jensen Huang until much later in their careers, despite being first cousins once removed. This revelation has sparked a renewed interest in the lives of these influential figures and the peculiar, almost coincidental nature of their connection. To fully understand the story behind this family tie and the parallel career paths of these two leaders, we must delve deeper into their backgrounds, their journey to the top, and how their familial link remained unknown for so long.
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The Family Connection: A Distant Tie
Lisa Su and Jensen Huang, both of Taiwanese descent, were unaware of their familial relationship for much of their lives. While they share a common ancestry, their paths never crossed in their early years. Su, born in Tainan, Taiwan, was raised in the United States, while Huang grew up in a number of U.S. states before settling in Oregon. Despite their familial ties, the two never encountered each other at family gatherings, as Su noted in her interview with Bloomberg: “No family dinners.”
A genealogical study by former journalist and genealogist Jean Wu uncovered that Su and Huang are first cousins once removed. Specifically, Huang’s mother is a sister to Su’s grandfather. While this distant relationship is fascinating, it also highlights the complexity of familial connections that can go unnoticed even among close-knit ethnic communities like the Taiwanese diaspora. For a long time, Su and Huang’s shared heritage remained a curious footnote, one that neither of them paid much attention to until later in their careers.
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Paths to Power: Parallel Journeys
The careers of Lisa Su and Jensen Huang mirror each other in striking ways, despite their differing upbringings. Both are highly respected figures in the tech world, having risen through the ranks of the semiconductor industry to become CEOs of their respective companies. Yet, their early life experiences and the paths they took to get there reveal some intriguing contrasts.
Lisa Su: From Taiwan to MIT to CEO
Lisa Su was born in Tainan, Taiwan, in 1969, and moved to the United States with her family at the age of 3. She grew up in New York, where she was exposed to a rigorous academic environment that would later shape her career. Su’s parents were both highly educated professionals, and she was encouraged to pursue excellence in academics from an early age. After graduating as valedictorian from her high school, she went on to study electrical engineering at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she earned her Ph.D.
Su’s passion for technology and innovation led her to work at IBM, where she spent over 10 years honing her skills in semiconductor research and development. Later, she joined Freescale Semiconductor and was instrumental in driving technological advancements in microprocessors. In 2012, Su joined AMD as the Chief Operating Officer, eventually rising to the position of CEO in 2014. Under her leadership, AMD transformed into a major player in the chip industry, challenging Intel’s dominance in CPUs and Nvidia’s lead in GPUs.
Jensen Huang: From Taiwan to Oregon State to Nvidia
Jensen Huang, born in 1962 in Taipei, Taiwan, had a very different upbringing from Lisa Su, but his path to success in the semiconductor industry was equally remarkable. Huang moved to the U.S. at the age of 10, and like Su, he was raised in several states, including Washington and Kentucky, before settling in Oregon. He attended Oregon State University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. Later, he pursued a master’s degree at Stanford University, where his passion for technology truly began to take shape.
After completing his education, Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, a company that initially focused on creating graphics chips for personal computers. Under his leadership, Nvidia became a leading player in the GPU market, with groundbreaking innovations like the GeForce series of graphics cards. Huang also spearheaded Nvidia’s expansion into AI technologies, making the company a key player in the development of machine learning and deep learning applications.
Huang’s leadership and vision for Nvidia helped the company become one of the most valuable tech firms in the world. With a relentless focus on innovation and a knack for anticipating future trends, Huang’s impact on the semiconductor industry has been profound.
No Family Dinners: The Curious Coincidence
Despite their strikingly similar career trajectories, the fact that Lisa Su and Jensen Huang are distant cousins remained largely unknown for many years. As Su remarked in her interview, their families were so distant that they never even crossed paths at family gatherings. Su’s father had nine siblings, and her mother had six, making for a large extended family in Taiwan. However, these family ties were not enough to bring the cousins together during their early years.
It wasn’t until later in their careers, when they both became prominent figures in the tech industry, that they met. Su explained that they first encountered each other at an industry event, an unexpected encounter that was far removed from any familial connection. It was only then that they learned about their shared family history.
This revelation adds an element of serendipity to the already fascinating story of their careers. Two individuals, both of whom would go on to lead major tech companies, were united not only by their shared industry but also by a distant familial bond. The idea that two such influential figures could share a bloodline yet remain unaware of each other for so long is an extraordinary coincidence.
The Role of Family in Shaping Careers
While their families may not have been directly involved in their professional journeys, the influence of family background on the careers of both Su and Huang cannot be underestimated. Both executives were raised in environments that emphasized education, discipline, and innovation, qualities that have undoubtedly played a role in their success.
Su’s large family and supportive upbringing provided a strong foundation for her career. Her parents, both professionals with a deep appreciation for education, instilled in her the values that would guide her through her journey in the tech industry. Similarly, Huang’s parents, who also prioritized education, set the stage for his success in technology.
Although they did not grow up together, it’s clear that the shared values of their families have had a lasting impact on their lives. In this way, their distant connection underscores the importance of family and upbringing in shaping the futures of individuals, even in unexpected ways.
The Power of Coincidence and Innovation
The story of Lisa Su and Jensen Huang is one of coincidence, competition, and, above all, innovation. Their paths to success in the tech industry are a testament to their individual talents, drive, and vision. Despite the familial bond that ties them together, their professional rivalry has been a key factor in their respective companies’ growth and success.
The connection between Su and Huang serves as a reminder that the world of technology is full of surprises. In an industry driven by competition and innovation, even the most unexpected familial ties can emerge, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the already fascinating lives of these influential leaders. As AMD and Nvidia continue to shape the future of semiconductors, one can only wonder what other surprising connections lie hidden beneath the surface of this fast-paced, ever-evolving industry.
