Lisa Su - the woman who helped revive AMD

Ms. Lisa Su, CEO of chip manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - Photo: Womensagenda

This is the second annual list published by Time to honor individuals who have made important contributions to shaping the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Problem Solver

Lisa Su's inclusion in the "Innovators" category in Time's list affirms her strategic vision and outstanding execution ability in leading AMD through important turning points.

Since taking over in 2014, she has been the first woman to lead a major semiconductor company—she has led AMD through a difficult period, bringing the company back from the brink of bankruptcy. Su is the first to solve problems through product innovation.

According to Business Insider, she shifted AMD's focus from personal computers to high-performance computing, gaming, and AI, helping the company restore its market position.

One of her biggest successes was the launch of the Ryzen chip line and Radeon graphics products that changed the landscape of the technology industry.

These products not only help AMD compete directly with major rivals like Intel and Nvidia, but also create breakthroughs in performance and value.

When she took over the company in 2014, AMD's stock price was only around $3; now it's $130, giving the company a market capitalization close to $230 billion. AMD's second-quarter 2024 revenue was $5.8 billion, up 9% from the previous year, according to Time.

Despite concerns that AI is being "hyped up" and even falling into a technology bubble as warned by some experts, Ms. Su is confident that AI will be the biggest revolution in technology.

“Every 10 years, we see a major breakthrough in technology, whether it’s the Internet, the PC, mobile phones, or the cloud,” she said. “I believe AI will be bigger than all of those things, because of how it will actually impact our lives, our productivity, our business, and our research.” She emphasized that AI will be present in the company’s entire product portfolio.

In the next five years, she predicts AI will help speed up research and improve the quality of healthcare. In particular, even more powerful chips in the future will be designed with the help of AI.

Great inspiration from mother

Born in 1969 in Tainan, Taiwan, Lisa Su immigrated to the United States with her family when she was just 3 years old. Growing up in Queens, New York, she developed an early passion for machines and technology, often taking apart her brother’s remote-controlled cars to figure out how they worked.

From a young age, she showed outstanding talent in math and science, but it seemed that her parents still wanted their daughter to pursue a career in art rather than engineering.

Encouraged by her parents, Su began playing the piano at age 7 and practiced for hours every day, all while commuting four hours a day to attend the Bronx High School of Science, one of the most prestigious public high schools in the United States.

When she decided to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), her parents were almost disappointed.

"My mom probably wanted me to be a pianist rather than an engineer," Su told Atxwoman in 2020. "But I didn't get into Juilliard. I got into MIT." She later earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from MIT in the early 1990s.

Mrs. Su appreciates and loves her parents very much for always encouraging her to maximize her abilities.

“My mother is a great inspiration in my life,” she said. “Even though she doesn’t speak perfect English, she runs an import and export business, connecting manufacturers in Taiwan with shipping companies. She has built a multi-million dollar business and has always been by my side.”

There are much more important things

As the executive director of a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars, often having to travel around the world, Ms. Su was still willing to go to the hospital to be on duty day and night for three months when her mother fell seriously ill in 2019.

“Luckily, we got through that difficult period,” Ms. Su recalls. “It was an unforgettable experience. I had a great team and I continued to work from the hospital via online meetings.

It was one of those moments when you realize there are things that are much more important. No one can support your family better than you. No matter who you are, you have to be there when the doctor walks in."

She also shared that if there is a next life, she will spend time improving the health care system.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lisa-su-nguoi-phu-nu-giup-hoi-sinh-amd-20240928084058459.htm