Renowned as the “father of AI,” Huang Renxun has propelled Nvidia to the peak of the technology industry not only through the AI wave but also by garnering high praise from his employees for his leadership style. According to the “2026 Top 50 CEOs” ranking released by the U.S. job-seeking website Glassdoor, Huang Renxun clinched the top spot with a staggering 99% employee approval rate, making him the most highly esteemed CEO in America.
What kind of leadership charisma does Huang Renxun possess that makes employees willing to follow him in the long term?
Yoon Eun-gi, Chairman of the Korea Collaboration Development Forum, pointed out in his article for “Economic Korea” that with an approval rate of up to 99% among employees, which is nearly synonymous with gaining the support of all employees, this not only showcases popularity but also reflects the new leadership model required in the era of AI Transformation (AX).
He mentioned that Huang Renxun’s management style significantly differs from traditional corporate leaders, from forward-looking planning, candid communication with employees, to encouraging teams to learn from failures. These practices might be the key to earning employees’ trust. Yoon Eun-gi compiled “7 reasons why employees are willing to follow Huang Renxun,” analyzing how he manages to consolidate top talent at the forefront of the AI revolution and lead the entire company towards a common goal.
Yoon Eun-gi believes that Nvidia’s transformation from a graphics card manufacturer 30 years ago to an AI giant is attributed to Huang Renxun’s visionary foresight.
He stated, “Huang Renxun foresaw the potential of graphics processors (GPU) and the CUDA ecosystem decades ago, and allocated resources accordingly. When employees see that he can always foresee the future earlier than others, it is easy for them to identify with the company’s direction, develop a sense of mission, and be willing to usher in a new era together.”
Huang Renxun directly manages over 40 executives and also engages in real-time communication with frontline engineers via email.
Yoon Eun-gi mentioned that Huang Renxun broke the conventional hierarchical management approach in enterprises and established a communication model that transcends departments and levels, allowing direct connection between departments and frontline employees without the need for hierarchical reporting. This facilitates rapid information flow, prevents delays or distortions in transmission, and maximizes the capabilities of each employee.
He added that Huang Renxun often wears his trademark black leather jacket and personally visits work sites, always speaking clearly and directly without beating around the bush. “When faced with greater crises, he is more willing to openly explain the situation and immediately listen to the opinions of frontline employees. When a leader follows through with actions, employees naturally do not need to expend energy on guessing and misunderstandings with each other.”
Despite being a prominent corporate leader and globally renowned tech entrepreneur, Huang Renxun queues up at the company cafeteria for meals and even engages in discussions with engineers throughout the night. Yoon Eun-gi stated, “His humility on one hand and strong desire to win on the other hand create a unique affinity, portraying him not only as an employer in the eyes of employees but more like a ‘colleague’ or ‘mentor’ fighting side by side.”
Nvidia has faced several crises, including significant stock price drops and technological bottlenecks. However, Huang Renxun, in the face of setbacks, does not rush to reorganize the structure or attribute blame but rather inspires team morale with the motto “Failure is a part of learning, and we must continue to try.”
Yoon Eun-gi mentioned that this attitude of maintaining resilience during crises and continuously moving forward from failures has become Nvidia’s corporate culture.
Huang Renxun does not encourage unnecessary formalities nor require employees to write elaborate yet unsubstantial reports. His philosophy on life is clear: “Save time and leave behind meaningful results.” This approach allows employees to avoid wasting time on frivolous tasks and invest more energy in creative thinking and genuinely significant work.
Yoon Eun-gi highlighted that Huang Renxun’s ability to maintain immense energy is related to his stable family relationships and lifestyle habits. He prioritizes balancing work and personal life, believing that only by harmonizing both can one endure in the long run. Such a life attitude provides crucial guidance for employees as well.