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Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has an unconventional approach to leadership: he prefers "torturing" people into greatness rather than firing them. He believes that improvement is always possible if someone is given the chance to learn and grow. Drawing from his own journey—where he went from cleaning bathrooms to running one of the world’s most innovative companies—Huang emphasizes that many skills can be learned.
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He sees himself as a constant learner, observing the brilliance of those around him. When someone is on the verge of a breakthrough, he pushes them just a little harder, believing that greatness is often just one step away.
The Power of Belief and Persistence
Huang’s philosophy is all about persistence. He believes that people often give up right before their big "aha" moment—the point where everything suddenly clicks. His goal is to prevent that, urging his team to keep pushing until they get it. He knows the feeling of something just falling into place and wants everyone to experience it.
Huang’s approach is less about being harsh and more about his deep belief in people's potential. He refuses to give up on someone when he knows they’re close to a breakthrough, and he’s willing to push them to get there. In his view, this is the key to unlocking greatness.
Why Jensen Huang Prefers Improvement Over Firing
For Huang, firing someone isn’t just about a mismatch of talent or skills—it’s about missed opportunities for growth. He believes that anyone, with enough effort and guidance, can learn the necessary skills to succeed. That’s why he’s so adamant about nurturing talent rather than letting it go. In his eyes, people are capable of achieving much more than they realize.
His leadership style is a mix of tough love and optimism. While the journey may be difficult, he’s committed to walking alongside his team, guiding them towards that elusive moment of clarity where everything just makes sense.
Listen to Jensen Huang:
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