Marvell Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) CEO Matt Murphy says one of the most powerful things a leader can give another person is confidence, calling it the kind of support that can change the course of a life and career.
Gifford's Confidence Helped Shape Murphy's Career
Speaking on the February episode of "A Bit Personal" with host Jodi Shelton, Murphy said encouragement from Jack Gifford, the late Maxim Integrated founder and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) co-founder, became a defining moment in his semiconductor career.
Murphy recalled asking Gifford for advice when he was weighing his path at Maxim. Gifford declined to tell him what to do directly, saying, "Well, I'm not going to tell you what to do." But he then told Murphy he could see both options and believed that if Murphy stayed on the business management track, "you can go all the way."
Murphy said he did not fully understand what that meant at the time. He imagined he might one day become a vice president or general manager. But the show of faith pushed him to continue, and he said he eventually succeeded.
The experience, Murphy said, shaped his belief that lifting someone up and giving them confidence may be "the most beautiful thing" a person can do for someone else.
Marvell CEO Rose After Long Maxim Run
Murphy started at Maxim in the late 1990s and advanced through major business leadership roles. Backed by the executive team's trust, he ultimately became executive vice president of business units, sales and marketing.
Marvell announced Murphy's appointment as president and CEO on June 20, 2016, effective July 11, 2016. The company said he had spent 22 years at Maxim in sales and business unit leadership roles.
Other business leaders have taken similar approaches. Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella pushed the company from a "know-it-all" culture toward a "learn-it-all" mindset.
Huang Endorsement Sends Marvell Shares Higher
Marvell shares have surged about 52% over five days after Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang endorsed the company during a joint appearance with Murphy at Computex in Taipei.
"The next trillion-dollar company, ladies and gentlemen," Huang told the crowd. He said AI bottlenecks are shifting from raw computing power to moving data across data centers, making connectivity crucial. "This is why Matt is performing so well, and why Marvell is so vital," Huang said.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate Marvell stock has a Momentum score in the 99th percentile and a Growth score in the 99th percentile.
Photo Courtesy: Maks_lab on Shutterstock.com
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