‘The Nvidia Way’ Reveals How this Chipmaker is Dominating the Tech World
When it comes to shaping the future of technology, all eyes seem fixated on Nvidia. No other company has driven fascination with artificial intelligence more than this once-niche graphics chipmaker.
Nvidia, one of the world's most valuable companies with a market cap of $3.5 trillion, wasn't an overnight success. It didn't just spring onto the scene and disrupt everything that came before. No, Nvidia evolved from humble and measured beginnings three decades ago to become an innovation powerhouse under the leadership of Jensen Huang.
If you read one book this year, I recommend Tae Kim's The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant. Just as Chris Miller brought the complex world of semiconductors to life in his book Chip War, Kim is artful and detailed in illustrating the foundational philosophy, culture, and success factors that drive Nvidia.
As Kim repeatedly points out, Nvidia and Jensen are virtually indistinguishable. Of the three founders, Jensen set the tone for how Nvidia would operate. According to Kim, Jensen is an unapologetic taskmaster who is driven by learning from past mistakes and achieving greater success to stay ahead of the competition.
Don't expect to find it in Kim's book if you're looking for some secret sauce, obscure management technique, or some system Nvidia follows to achieve its rock star status. Nvidia, by Kim's telling and in the words of the people who work at the company, is driven by hard work. They don't take shortcuts. They don't allow bureaucracy to stymie progress. They don't get fixated on PowerPoints. They set objectives and drive relentlessly towards achievement.
Yes, there are certain things Nvidia does to foster its collaborative and task-driven culture. They have absolute transparency. They maintain a flat organizational structure. It's not unusual to get criticized by superiors – particularly Jensen. And the whiteboard reigns supreme in Nvidia's offices. Most of all, Nvidia moves at speed under Jensen's constant scrutiny; it doesn't allow competition to flank them.
One surprising detail in Kim's book is that Jensen, who had to be convinced that there was a $50 million market for graphics cards before agreeing to start Nvidia, doesn't take success for granted. A large part of his ethos is remembering the company's near-death experiences over the years and not waiting to jump on opportunities when other companies hesitate. He knows, through experience, that success can turn to failure overnight if you're not careful or become complacent.
The Nvidia Way isn't the first look into the company that's now the envy of the market. However, it's the first and best attempt yet at clearly describing the culture. Kim is clear that Jensen is the driving force behind Nvidia. He leaves one open question: Can Nvidia continue when Jensen—now the second-longest-serving CEO in Silicon Valley—retires? It will probably not require an answer soon, as Jensen is showing no signs of riding off into the sunset.
I'm on a mission to read 50 books in 2025. This is book 2 in my journey. What books are you reading? What books should I read? Share your thoughts in the comments or message me. All thoughts and suggestions are welcomed.