Dr. Lisa Su stands among the most influential figures in the global technology landscape. As the President and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), she has not only revitalized the company’s fortunes. Still, she has also emerged as a trailblazer for women in science and engineering. Her story is one of resilience, intellect, and leadership that continues to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Key Information
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Lisa Tzwu-Fang Su |
| Date of Birth | November 7, 1969 |
| Age | 55 (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Tainan, Taiwan |
| Nationality | Taiwanese-American |
| Ethnicity | Asian (Chinese descent) |
| Current Residence | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Dan Su (a specialist in molecular biology) |
| Children | No publicly known children |
| Parents | Father: Retired statistician
Mother: Sandy Lo (an accountant) |
| Education | MIT – B.S. (1990), M.S. (1991), Ph.D. (1994) in Electrical Engineering |
| Ph.D. Thesis Topic | Semiconductor technology: Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process and devices |
| Doctoral Advisor | Dimitri Antoniadis |
| Languages Spoken | English (fluent), Mandarin (conversational) |
| Religious Beliefs | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | Electrical Engineer, Business Executive |
| First Job | Texas Instruments – Process Engineer |
| Previous Employers | Texas Instruments, IBM, Freescale Semiconductor |
| Current Role | President & CEO, AMD (since October 2014) |
| Board Memberships | Cisco Systems (Board of Directors), Global Semiconductor Alliance |
| Major Awards | TIME CEO of the Year 2024, IEEE Noyce Medal, Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women |
| Patents Held | Over 40 patents in semiconductor and chip design |
| Hobbies and Interests | Reading, science education, mentoring youth, classical music |
| Inspirational Figures | Marie Curie, her own mother, Sandy Lo |
Early Life and Education
Born on November 7, 1969, in Tainan, Taiwan, Lisa Su moved to the United States with her family at the age of three. Raised in Queens, New York, she showed an early interest in engineering and dismantled electronic devices as a child just to understand how they worked. Encouraged by her parents to pursue her passion, Lisa enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering by the age of 26.
Breaking Ground in the Semiconductor Industry
Lisa Su began her career at Texas Instruments and quickly moved on to IBM, where she held various technical and leadership positions. During her time at IBM, she played a crucial role in developing innovative semiconductor technologies, including pioneering work on copper interconnects that significantly improved chip performance and efficiency. Her work earned her a reputation as a brilliant engineer and an effective leader.
Later, she joined Freescale Semiconductor as Chief Technology Officer, where she continued to steer the company’s development efforts before eventually transitioning to AMD in 2012.
Reviving AMD: A Masterclass in Strategic Leadership
When Lisa Su joined AMD, the company was struggling against stiff competition from Intel and NVIDIA. In 2014, she became AMD’s CEO, and under her stewardship, the company underwent a dramatic transformation. Su focused the company’s resources on high-performance computing, AI, and graphics. She led the development of the Ryzen CPU and EPYC server processors, products that re-established AMD as a serious competitor in both consumer and enterprise markets.
Her strategic foresight, focus on innovation, and emphasis on execution helped AMD regain its market share and re-enter the hearts of gamers, creators, and data center operators. The company’s stock price soared under her leadership, growing over 30-fold, and AMD became a $200+ billion tech powerhouse.
Accolades and Recognition
Lisa Su’s accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition. She has been featured in Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, named Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year, and honored with the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal. In 2024, she was selected as TIME magazine’s CEO of the Year, a testament to her vision and impact on the global tech ecosystem.
Personal Life and Legacy
Despite her towering achievements in the tech industry, Lisa Su remains humble and focused on mentorship. She advocates for greater inclusion of women and minorities in STEM fields and continues to invest in the future of technology through education and innovation. Her leadership style, marked by clarity, discipline, and a deep understanding of technology, has set a new benchmark in Silicon Valley.
Lisa Su’s journey is more than just a corporate success story. It’s a narrative of perseverance, bold vision, and the transformative power of leadership. Her influence extends far beyond the boardroom, shaping the future of computing in profound ways.
Interesting Facts About Lisa Su
- She wanted to be an engineer from age 10: Lisa Su began taking apart electronics like remote-controlled cars and radios during childhood, simply to understand how they worked.
- One of the first to advocate copper over aluminum in semiconductors: At IBM, she led a project that pioneered the use of copper connections in chips—technology still foundational today.
- She was the first female CEO of AMD: Appointed in 2014, Lisa Su broke barriers as both a woman and an immigrant in a male-dominated industry.
- Under her leadership, AMD’s stock rose over 3,000%: Her strategic decisions helped turn AMD from a struggling company into a global tech giant.
- She holds over 40 patents. Many of her innovations relate to semiconductor design and chip architecture.
- She’s related to a famous physicist: Lisa Su is the niece of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr. Chen-Ning Yang.
- Named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People: She received this honor not just for her business acumen but for reshaping global computing.
- She’s a role model for women in STEM: Lisa actively supports mentoring programs and initiatives that promote diversity in tech.
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