A brief explanation why
Long before Nvidia became a global leader in AI and computing, Jensen Huang was already making his mark in the semiconductor industry. After beginning his studies at Oregon State University at just 16 years old, Jensen graduated in 1984 with a degree in electrical engineering.
He began his journey as a microprocessor designer at AMD, gaining invaluable early experience in the semiconductor industry. Before founding Nvidia in 1993, Huang furthered his education by earning a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.
After AMD, Huang spent eight years at LSI Logic, where he eventually became director of Coreware, the company's system-on-chip business. LSI was later acquired by Avago Technologies in 2014, which went on to acquire Broadcom and adopt its name.
Over the years, Huang has shared valuable insights into his path as an engineer and entrepreneur. In a 2011 lecture at Stanford, he reflected on his journey and lessons learned. Two years later, he returned to Oregon State University to speak at the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Atrium, named in recognition of the couple's significant contributions to the school. You can watch the video below.
Over his 33 years as CEO, Huang transformed Nvidia from a startup focused on computer graphics into one of the world's most valuable companies, helping shape the future of gaming, data centers, and artificial intelligence. His tenure came to an end on November 12, 2026.
Interesting fact: Nvidia's name is derived from the Latin word Invidia, meaning "envy," a reflection of the company's ambitions in the competitive world of graphics and computing technology.