In a notable show of agreement between two tech titans, Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, has publicly endorsed the leadership and work ethic philosophy of Nvidia's founder and CEO, Jensen Huang. The endorsement came via a post on Musk's social media platform, X, where he commented on a clip from Huang's March 2024 interview at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
From Humble Beginnings to Tech Titan
Jensen Huang's journey to the pinnacle of the technology world began with the most modest of jobs. Born in Taiwan and immigrating to the United States at the age of five, Huang, now 61, did not shy away from hard work. In his now-viral interview, he vividly recalled his early years working as a dishwasher, busboy, and waiter at Denny's, even joking about cleaning more toilets than the entire Stanford audience combined.
"To me, no task is beneath me because, remember, I used to be a dishwasher, I used to clean toilets," Huang stated. This foundational experience continues to shape his approach to leadership at Nvidia, the company he co-founded and which has become a central player in the global artificial intelligence revolution.
The Core of Huang's Leadership: Empowerment Through Reasoning
For Huang, leadership is not about delegating from a distance but about active participation and empowerment. He believes that by demonstrating his thought process on any task, no matter how small, he contributes to his team's growth.
"You can’t show me a task that’s beneath me," he explained. "If you send me something and you want my input on it... and in my review of it, share with you how I reasoned through it, I’ve made a contribution to you." He emphasized that this method of openly sharing strategic reasoning—whether for forecasting or problem-solving—empowers employees by demystifying complex processes.
'Torture You into Greatness': A Coach's Mentality
In another revealing conversation with The Transcript, Huang elaborated on his people management style, which he describes with the tongue-in-cheek phrase "torture you into greatness." He expressed a strong reluctance to fire employees, preferring instead to invest time in helping them learn and improve.
"I used to clean bathrooms, and now I'm the CEO of a company. I think you can learn it," Huang said, drawing a parallel to his own life. He views his role similarly to that of a dedicated coach who believes fiercely in the potential of their team. "I would rather torture you into greatness because I believe in you. And I think coaches that really believe in their team, torture them into greatness."
This philosophy stems from his own habit of continuous learning from those around him. Huang noted that he is constantly observing and learning from his team of smart individuals, which reinforces his belief in people's capacity to develop.
Elon Musk's Seal of Approval
The resonance of Huang's views with Elon Musk is significant. Musk, whose net worth recently surpassed the $700 billion milestone, succinctly commented "This is the way" on the interview clip, amplifying Huang's message to his vast audience. This public agreement highlights a shared value between two of the most influential figures in modern technology: a hands-on, no-task-is-too-small work ethic forged through relentless effort.
Huang's humble origins, detailed in his LinkedIn profile which lists his work as a waiter and busboy from 1978 to 1983, and his educational background—a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and a master’s from Stanford—complete the picture of a leader who values grit and continuous learning. As Nvidia continues to drive the AI revolution forward, the leadership style of its CEO, now validated by Elon Musk, offers a compelling case study in grounded, empowering management.
