Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO and co-founder, demonstrates a hands-on approach to mentoring startup leaders by offering unexpected guidance at unconventional hours. Shiv Rao, CEO of healthcare AI startup Abridge, received a midnight call from Huang after emailing him about a leadership challenge he was facing. The conversation left Rao with a transformative lesson about finding fulfillment in work, regardless of whether the tasks initially appeal to you.

What Did Jensen Huang Tell Abridge's CEO During That Midnight Call?

Rao recalled the unexpected call during an appearance on the "20VC" podcast, describing how Huang wanted to "unpack a challenge" he was experiencing as a founder. Rather than offering quick fixes or surface-level advice, Huang shared a philosophy rooted in his own career journey. The core message centered on a simple but powerful idea: your job is to fall in love with whatever the job is, and you can convince yourself to do so.

"One of the lessons for me that day was your job is to fall in love with whatever the job is. That is something you can do, and you can convince yourself," said Shiv Rao, CEO of Abridge.

Shiv Rao, CEO of Abridge

This advice proved particularly relevant to Rao's situation. As a startup founder, he had inherited responsibilities he hadn't anticipated enjoying, including frequent travel. Huang's perspective helped him reframe these obligations not as burdens but as essential components of his role that he could learn to appreciate.

How Has This Philosophy Shaped Abridge's Leadership Approach?

Rao acknowledged that five years earlier, he would have rejected the idea of frequent travel as a growth strategy. "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," he explained. The shift in mindset demonstrates how Huang's mentorship influenced not just Rao's personal approach to work, but his broader leadership philosophy at Abridge.

Rao

Abridge, founded in 2018, develops artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to transcribe and summarize patient visits, helping healthcare providers manage clinical documentation more efficiently. The company's growth trajectory reflects the quality of its leadership and strategic direction. In June, Abridge raised a $300 million Series E funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Khosla Ventures, valuing the company at $5.3 billion.

Ways Huang's Work Philosophy Extends Beyond Nvidia

• Mentoring Through Direct Engagement: Huang actively reaches out to founders facing challenges, offering personalized guidance rather than delegating mentorship to others, demonstrating his commitment to the startup ecosystem.
• Sharing Personal Career Narratives: Huang draws from his own experiences working entry-level jobs, including as a dishwasher, busboy, and paper delivery person, to illustrate how passion can be developed rather than discovered.
• Investing in Founder Development: As an investor in Abridge through Nvidia, Huang combines financial support with hands-on mentorship, recognizing that founder mindset directly impacts company success.

Huang's philosophy about learning to love your work isn't new to his public commentary. In a 2023 podcast appearance, he reflected on his entire career trajectory with remarkable consistency. "I loved it when I was a dishwasher. I loved it when I was a busboy. I loved it when I was delivering papers. I loved every single day at Nvidia that I've ever had, and I just learned to love what I'm doing," Huang stated.

"I loved it when I was a dishwasher. I loved it when I was a busboy. I loved it when I was delivering papers. I loved every single day at Nvidia that I've ever had, and I just learned to love what I'm doing," said Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of Nvidia.

Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of Nvidia

This consistent messaging reveals a core belief that has guided Huang's leadership at Nvidia since he co-founded the company in 1993. Rather than advocating for people to search endlessly for their "dream job," Huang argues that passion and fulfillment can be cultivated through intentional mindset shifts and commitment to excellence in whatever role you occupy.

The impact of Huang's mentorship extends beyond individual founders. His willingness to engage with startup leaders at critical moments, combined with Nvidia's strategic investments in companies like Abridge, positions the chip maker as more than just a hardware supplier. Huang has become an influential voice shaping how the next generation of AI entrepreneurs approach their work, their teams, and their long-term vision for their companies.