Lisa Su- The CEO Who Set the Bar High and Led AMD into a $210 Billion Giant
Lisa Su, 55, has transformed Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) into a $210 billion powerhouse, making it a fierce competitor to tech giants like Intel and Nvidia. As the CEO since 2014, Su has overseen remarkable growth, earning her the title of TIME’s 2024 CEO of the Year.
Su’s leadership style is known for its intensity. She sets exceptionally high expectations for her team, pushing them to work late into the night and attend weekend meetings. “I don’t believe leaders are born. I believe leaders are trained,” Su shared with TIME. “People are motivated by ambitious goals. The old strategy of just making small improvements isn’t enough. We needed to bet on what we were good at.”
Her commitment to excellence is evident in her approach to leadership. Su is notorious for sending lengthy memos to her executives after midnight and following up with morning calls to discuss the details. She also regularly visits the labs, getting hands-on with prototype chips and ensuring everything is on track. “I visited the labs several times,” she said, emphasizing her deep involvement in every stage of the process.
♦Also Read| Is Atul Subhash’s Suicide a Society Or Legal System Failure?
Despite the demanding hours, AMD employees maintain a surprisingly good work-life balance, with over 400 positive reviews on Glassdoor. Su’s leadership is resonating, with a 95 per cent approval rating from her team.
In her TIME interview, Su also revealed her no-nonsense attitude regarding deadlines. At AMD’s Santa Clara headquarters, with Nvidia and Intel offices visible through the glass, Su was clear with her senior executives: “We cannot miss a beat,” she said, stressing that the company couldn’t afford to slow down as they worked on specialized chips for AI data center’s. Her mantra? “We have negative slack.” It’s a constant drive to push forward; under her leadership, AMD is accelerating like never before.
