Morris Chang's Memoir: The Job Offer That Jensen Huang Turned Down in Record Time

In an intriguing revelation from his recently published autobiography, Morris Chang, the visionary founder of TSMC (NYSE: TSM), opened up about an unexpected recruitment attempt he made over a decade ago. In a candid reflection, Chang recounted his invitation to Jensen Huang, the esteemed CEO of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), to take the helm of TSMC. Unfortunately for Chang, the response was swift and definitive—Huang would politely decline the offer within just ten minutes.

In his memoir, covering a remarkable span of his life from 1964 to 2018, Chang looked back at this pivotal moment during his search for a successor in 2013. He viewed Huang as the perfect fit due to his vast knowledge of the semiconductor industry and his impressive track record. However, Huang, who was already steering Nvidia towards monumental growth, simply replied, “I already have a job.” Talk about a way to crush a dream in record time!

This latest volume of Chang's autobiography not only explores his extensive career, including his valuable years at Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) and the founding of TSMC in 1987, but also highlights some of the company’s interactions with industry giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). One particularly interesting anecdote involves Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), which initially shunned an investment in TSMC back in the 1980s—only to later become a significant customer.

Chang’s reflections also shed light on his long-standing friendship with Huang, who has led Nvidia to become a titan in the AI arena, solving problems that most companies wouldn't dare touch. The camaraderie between these two industry leaders has been publicly acknowledged numerous times, as Huang frequently attributes a part of Nvidia's success to Chang's influence.

The memoir elaborates on Huang's faith in TSMC, as he chose the Taiwanese manufacturer as Nvidia’s key production partner during the company's formative years. In fact, TSMC was so committed to helping Nvidia that they sent two production team members to assist during a critical staffing shortage back in 1998. It’s heartwarming to see such partnerships flourish in Silicon Valley!

Interestingly, Chang also reminisced about his attempts to engage Gordon Moore, then at the helm of Intel, for funding during TSMC's early days. While Intel ultimately abstained from investing, it later recognized the potential of TSMC, turning into one of its primary customers producing laptop chips. However, with the landscape now shifting under the leadership of Intel's current CEO Pat Gelsinger, who aims to pivot towards becoming a foundry, Chang expressed skepticism. With Chang and Huang both at the forefront of the tech industry, understanding their interactions and decisions could provide valuable insights into the trajectories of Nvidia and TSMC. As the semiconductor sector continues to evolve, both companies remain pivotal players whose decisions could sway market dynamics. So, for traders keeping a keen eye on these stocks, remember: sometimes the best opportunities arise from moments of unanticipated rejection!