View From The Top with Lisa Su: Chair and CEO of AMD

Key Concepts

• Semiconductors: Materials with conductivity between conductors and insulators, crucial for electronic devices.
• High-Performance Computing (HPC): Using advanced computing to solve complex problems.
• Moore's Law: The observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years.
• AI Training: The process of teaching an AI model to perform a task using large datasets.
• AI Inference: Using a trained AI model to make predictions or decisions on new data.
• Large Language Models (LLMs): AI models trained on vast amounts of text data, capable of generating human-like text.
• Open Source: Software with publicly available source code, allowing for modification and distribution.
• CHIPS Act: U.S. legislation aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
• Supply Chain Resiliency: The ability of a supply chain to withstand disruptions and maintain operations.

Early Life and Education

Lisa Su was born in Taiwan and immigrated to New York at age two. Her upbringing emphasized education and ambition. She pursued her interest in how things work, leading her to MIT, where she earned three degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD). A part-time job in a semiconductor lab during her freshman year sparked her passion for chip technology.

Career Progression

After graduating from MIT, Lisa Su joined Texas Instruments and then IBM, where she advanced to Director of Emerging Products. She later became CTO at Freescale Semiconductor before joining AMD. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and taking on new challenges throughout her career. She notes that early in her career, bosses asking her "what do you want to be when you grow up?" helped her explore different paths. She also mentions regretting not pursuing an MBA due to time constraints.

Problem-Solving Approach

Lisa Su believes in the importance of deep curiosity in solving problems. She recounts an experience early in her career where a microprocessor product was about to be announced but was not working. This situation galvanized the team to find creative solutions. She emphasizes that leaders bring teams together to achieve what seems impossible.

Talent Development

Lisa Su believes that leaders should provide opportunities for individuals with potential, even if they are underestimated. She shares her experience as a technical assistant to Lou Gerstner, the CEO of IBM, which provided her with invaluable insights into leadership at a global scale. She emphasizes the importance of supporting individuals in new roles to ensure their success. She also highlights the value of diverse experiences in career development.

AMD Leadership and Turnaround

Lisa Su joined AMD as Senior Vice President and became CEO in 2014. At the time, AMD was facing significant challenges and was on the brink of bankruptcy. She emphasizes the importance of deciding "what do we want to be when we grow up" and focusing on core strengths.

• Strategic Shift: AMD decided to focus on high-performance computing rather than mobile chips, recognizing its "secret sauce" in this area.
• Market Inflection: The slowing of Moore's Law presented an opportunity for AMD to leverage new technologies.
• Cultural Transformation: Lisa Su fostered a learning culture at AMD, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and a drive to win. She believes that the company culture is defined by what people see and feel every day.

Navigating Geopolitical Landscape

Lisa Su acknowledges the geopolitical significance of the semiconductor industry. She emphasizes AMD's commitment to complying with U.S. regulations while operating as a global company. She believes it's important for companies to have their voices heard in policy discussions.

AI Strategy

Lisa Su believes that AI is the most important technology advance of the last 50 years. She emphasizes that AI will permeate every aspect of our lives, from cloud environments to edge devices. AMD's strategy is to provide the right computing solutions for various AI applications. She believes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for AI compute.

• Training vs. Inference: While AMD has focused on inference, Lisa Su believes both training and inference are important.
• Open Source Approach: AMD's commitment to open-source software allows customers and partners to choose the best components for their needs.

AI Innovation and Accessibility

Lisa Su highlights DeepSeek as an example of how innovation can spark new thinking in AI. She believes that making AI more accessible and cheaper will lead to broader adoption and new use cases. She emphasizes that AI is still in its early stages and requires more cycles of learning.

Future Outlook and Risks

Lisa Su wants AMD to be a major player in unlocking the power of computing to drive productivity and solve global problems. She sees opportunities for AI in healthcare, drug discovery, and climate change. She emphasizes the importance of agility and collaboration in a rapidly changing technology landscape.

Advice for MBA Students

Lisa Su advises MBA students to embrace continuous learning and develop their problem-solving skills. She encourages them to have big, bold, audacious dreams and follow them.

Rapid Fire Questions

• Hobby: Boxing for exercise and playing Texas Hold'em.
• Alternative Career: Improving her golf handicap.
• Essential Tech: Spotify on her phone.
• Advice for Stanford: Dream big.
• One Word for AMD's Future: Phenomenal.