Shiv Rao, a US-based entrepreneur, recently appeared on an episode of the “20VC” podcast, where he recalled a midnight phone conversation with Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang. Rao, a startup founder, had emailed Huang seeking advice on facing professional challenges. In response, Huang called Rao directly.
“He once called me at midnight, on his way home, and I knew it was him. I picked it up, and it was awesome,” Rao said on the podcast, according to Business Insider. Rao added, “He wanted to unpack a challenge that I was experiencing.” Surprised by the sudden call, Rao marveled at how quickly Huang responded, despite being the CEO of Nvidia, one of the world’s busiest chipmaking giants. Nvidia is also an investor in Rao’s startup. Rao stated that Huang’s advice was simple but relevant: “Your job is to fall in love with whatever the job is. That is something you can do, and you can convince yourself,” Rao recalled. This gesture highlights Huang’s dedication as a leader and entrepreneur.
Rao’s startup, Abridge, founded in 2018, is an AI-based company designed to help transcribe and simplify doctor-patient conversations. As a cardiologist, Rao observed this gap firsthand and addressed the problem with the objective of streamlining clinical documentation using artificial intelligence.
During the podcast, Rao recollected how he applied Huang’s advice. “One of the things I learned to bend my DNA to love was living on an airplane,” he said. “If you caught me like five years ago, I’d be like, ‘Never. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to find other ways to grow and scale.’ But this is what the job requires, and I enjoy it.”
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, has reportedly spoken before about the importance of enjoying one’s current work rather than waiting to find a passion. His philosophy was reflected in a 2023 podcast conversation where he shared how he embraced every role he ever held. “I loved it when I was a dishwasher. I loved it when I was a busboy. I loved it when I was delivering papers,” he said. “I loved every single day at Nvidia that I’ve ever had, and I just learned to love what I’m doing.” While Huang’s advice seems simple, its importance has grown in today’s landscape, where entrepreneurs face increasingly stressful obstacles.
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