Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia — now valued at about $5 trillion — could easily focus exclusively on triumph. Instead, he underscores that the journey to success was “paved with pain and suffering”   This isn’t mere self-flagellation but a conscious leadership tactic. Huang believes that earnest stories of struggle build trust, strengthen team character and distance the company from narratives of effortless success.

For Nvidia, whose breakthroughs in AI, GPUs and accelerated computing look like rapid ascents in hindsight, Huang insists the early years were anything but smooth: failed bets, near-bankruptcy, unproven markets and everyday existential risks. By highlighting that struggle is real, he positions company culture to stay hungry, humble and aware — even amid massive success. In short, the message is: greatness isn’t just about intelligence or innovation, it is about character forged in the fire of challenge. This mindset helps keep Nvidia’s ambitious team aligned — not resting on laurels, not assuming peak has been reached, but ready for the next “zero-billion-dollar” market.