Nvidia’s operating system comes directly from its founder, Jensen Huang. His approach is simple but demanding: hire people smarter than you, move fast, and work with the intensity that compounds over time.
The Nvidia Way shows how these principles shaped not just the company, but the pace at which it operates.
“I owe whatever success I have attained to my ability to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am.” – Andrew Carnegie
Hiring People Smarter Than You
Jensen hires for grit, courage, and determination. These three traits, plus his reliance on referrals, form the backbone of hiring people smarter than you in The Nvidia Way.
Jensen believes teams will eventually include both humans and digital agents, so he’s already incorporating AI assistants into Nvidia’s workflow.
Grit and determination go hand in hand if you want to hire upward. Jensen wants people with passion, courage, and drive—people who want a mission, not just a job.
Nvidia takes rigor further than most. They want a mix of intelligence, heart, and a tight fit with the mission.
Like many companies, Nvidia uses references to hire the best people, but Jensen trusts references more than interviews. A person’s past work tells him nearly everything he needs to know.
Nvidia’s referral program is key. Jensen pays bonuses to employees who refer successful new hires—a simple, direct incentive to bring in top talent.
Nvidia’s goal is simple: bring in top talent that fits the culture.
Nvidia sources top talent through referrals, universities, and community programs. Jensen looks everywhere he can to find people who push boundaries.
Once they’re in the door, Jensen wants everyone, especially new hires, to use AI tools to stay competitive.
Hiring people smarter than you is only the first step. Inside Nvidia, the expectation shifts to speed—because to Jensen, speed is the ultimate advantage.
Work as Fast as Humanly Possible
Nvidia’s execution philosophy in The Nvidia Way is simple: work as fast as humanly possible. Speed, not just hard work, is how to stay.
Speed is baked into Nvidia’s culture. Employees imagine the fastest way to complete a project, without constraints, then work creatively to get close.
Jensen manages the company as an extension of himself. Work starts when he wakes up. There’s no real work-life balance because he finds work relaxing and loves solving problems.
AI is the fuel that makes Nvidia’s fire burn brighter. It’s not a job replacer but a tool that lets people work more efficiently and tackle more complex problems.
Nvidia has a flat, decentralized structure. Speed is central to its strategy. Jensen has about 60 direct reports to cut unnecessary layers and stay close to the front lines.
Jensen works as fast as humanly possible because he views the chip market as winner-take-all. Speed beats everything. It’s central to Nvidia’s edge.
Be Obsessed with Your Work
Jensen operates with an “obsessed with your work” philosophy. Passion isn’t enough. You have to love what you’re doing through hard work and commitment.
He’s completely immersed in his work, often seven days a week. Jensen finds work relaxing—an opportunity to solve problems. There’s no 9-to-5 clock with him.
You become obsessed with your work not by “following your passion” but through mastery and hard work. Winners, to Jensen, are resilient, endure pain, handle setbacks, and stay with something for a long time.
Focus on mastery. Jensen recommends picking something you can be great at, going deep for years, and letting mastery follow. He doesn’t recommend chasing a dream job.
The Nvidia Way makes it clear that he embraces the struggle. Doing anything great isn’t easy, and he doesn’t love every day, but enduring the struggle makes him appreciate the journey of work.
Jensen, like Elon Musk, puts himself on the insanely hard work end of the spectrum. Work is a continuous part of life for him—not a chore, but something relaxing that offers achievement.
When you’re obsessed with your work, there’s no work-life balance. Jensen works from the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep and thinks about work even when he’s not working.
David Senra talks about his Founders podcast as his life’s work. Nvidia is the same for Jensen. He’s dedicated to making Nvidia great—and that blurs the line between his personal and professional life.
When you find your life’s work, you want to keep improving at the job you have. You’re not climbing a corporate ladder or chasing a different role.
Jensen says that when you find your life’s work, you stay present and adapt constantly. At Nvidia, that means fewer long-term plans and a relentless focus on the present.
Hiring People Smarter Than You: Takeaway
Nvidia’s execution strategy is built on three ideas: hire people smarter than you, move fast, and stay obsessed with the work.
These principles reinforce one another. Smart people push the company forward. Speed compounds into an advantage. Obsession provides the consistency required to win long-term. Together, they form a system any builder, operator, or entrepreneur can apply.
