Lisa Su: A Leader in Technology
Lisa Su is the CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a major player in the computer chip and semiconductor industry. Taking the helm in October 2014, she has played a crucial role in guiding AMD’s growth in sectors like computing, gaming, and artificial intelligence.
Born in Taiwan, Lisa moved to the United States with her family when she was young. From an early age, she showed a passion for technology, which inspired her to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Su completed her bachelor’s degree in 1990, followed by a master’s in 1991 and her Ph.D. in 1994.
Su’s career took off at Texas Instruments, where she began her journey in the semiconductor industry. From 1994 to 1995, she worked in their Semiconductor Process and Device Centre before moving on to IBM. Over her 13 years at IBM, she held several roles in engineering and management, eventually becoming Vice President of the Semiconductor Research and Development Center. Here, she contributed to the advancement of copper interconnect technology, which significantly improved chip performance by replacing aluminum.
In 2007, Su joined Freescale Semiconductor as Chief Technology Officer and later advanced to senior vice president and general manager. Her expertise brought her to AMD in January 2012, where she began as senior vice president and general manager of global business units before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and ultimately to President and CEO.
When Lisa took over as CEO, AMD was struggling financially and facing tough competition. The company was best known for its processors in personal computers, but under her leadership, AMD shifted its strategy. Su expanded the company’s focus on high-performance computing, creating products like Ryzen processors for consumers and EPYC server processors for data centers. These innovations have become key components of AMD’s product lineup, helping to revitalize the company and enhance its position in the tech industry.
Through her dedication and vision, Lisa Su has not only transformed AMD but has also made a significant impact on the technology sector as a whole.
