Lisa Su: The Tech Visionary Powering AMD’s Rise to Global Dominance

Dr. Lisa Su is one of the most influential figures in the semiconductor industry. As the Chair and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), she has transformed the company from a struggling chipmaker into a global leader in high-performance computing. Under her leadership, AMD has become a fierce competitor to industry giants like Intel and NVIDIA, driving innovation in processors and graphics technology.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1969 in Tainan, Taiwan, Lisa Su immigrated to the United States as a child. From an early age, she showed a passion for math and engineering, often taking apart and fixing electronics. Encouraged by her parents to pursue science, she earned a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Her research focused on semiconductor technology, specifically silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, which would later become a game-changer in the chip industry.

Career Path: From Engineer to CEO

Lisa Su’s career began at Texas Instruments and IBM, where she worked on semiconductor research and product development. At IBM, she played a crucial role in developing copper interconnects, a breakthrough that significantly improved microprocessor performance.

She later joined Freescale Semiconductor, serving as Chief Technology Officer, before making the pivotal move to AMD in 2012.

Reviving AMD: A Masterclass in Leadership

Lisa Su joined AMD as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Business Units and quickly climbed the ranks. In 2014, she was appointed CEO, becoming the first woman to lead a major semiconductor company.

At the time, AMD was struggling, facing financial losses and lagging behind competitors like Intel. Su implemented a bold turnaround strategy focusing on:

1. High-Performance Chips

She led AMD’s shift toward high-performance computing, launching the revolutionary Ryzen processors for consumers and EPYC processors for data centers. These chips outperformed Intel’s offerings and put AMD back in the race.

2. Gaming and Graphics Dominance

Under her leadership, AMD secured major deals to power gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, solidifying its position in the gaming industry.

3. Expanding in AI & Data Centers

Recognizing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, Su spearheaded AMD’s focus on high-performance GPUs and AI accelerators, competing with NVIDIA in the AI and data center markets.

Breaking Barriers & Recognition

Lisa Su’s achievements have earned her global recognition, including:

• Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business list.
• Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women rankings.
• Harvard Business Review’s Best-Performing CEOs list.
• Becoming the first woman to receive the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal, a prestigious honor in the semiconductor industry.

She is also a strong advocate for women in STEM, mentoring young engineers and promoting diversity in tech leadership.

Philanthropy and Leadership Beyond AMD

Beyond AMD, Lisa Su serves on the boards of Cisco Systems and MIT, contributing her expertise to shape the future of technology. She actively supports initiatives in STEM education and semiconductor research.

Lisa Su’s leadership has not only revived AMD but also reshaped the semiconductor industry. Her strategic vision, technical expertise, and relentless pursuit of innovation have positioned AMD as a leader in high-performance computing, gaming, and AI. As she continues to push the boundaries of technology, Su’s legacy will inspire future generations of engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the tech world.