Jensen Huang runs Nvidia with 60 direct reports — and no one-on-ones

• Jensen Huang said he doesn’t conduct one-on-one meetings.

• At Nvidia, Huang leads 60 direct reports with a style he calls “extreme co-design.”

• Huang said this method fosters innovation and accountability among engineers at Nvidia.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s direct reports don’t have to worry about one-on-one meetings with the big boss.

Huang spoke to podcaster Lex Fridman in an episode published Monday about the way he leads one of the largest chipmakers at the forefront of technological innovation. He said he runs his business differently from the way other trillion-dollar companies do.

Huang said he oversees more than 60 people in his direct staff, but he doesn’t conduct one-on-one meetings with each of them. He said he prefers to tackle issues as a group.

“I don’t have one-on-ones with them because it’s impossible,” Huang said. “We present a problem, and all of us attack it.”

He described Nvidia’s workflow as “extreme co-design.” He said he manages mostly engineers with expertise in areas like CPUs, GPUs, algorithms, and design. Huang addresses them together, and each person is expected to know when to chime in.

“Whoever wants to tune out, tune out,” Huang said. “The people who are on the staff, they know when to pay attention.”

However, Huang said he’s not afraid to call out an employee for not contributing in an area where they could have.

Huang has previously spoken about his preference for ditching one-on-ones, saying he would rather…