Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang recently delivered a powerful message to students at his alma mater, Stanford University, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the role of suffering in achieving greatness.

During his speech at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Huang stressed that greatness is not solely attributed to intelligence, but rather to character, which is developed through experiences of hardship and adversity. Drawing from his own journey, Huang highlighted the significance of resilience in the pursuit of success.

As the co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, a leading computer chip company, Huang’s insights hold weight. With over three decades of leadership at Nvidia, the company has thrived, propelling him to billionaire status. Notably, Nvidia’s chips are in high demand for AI software, contributing to its valuation of over $2 trillion and Huang’s estimated net worth of $77.6 billion.

According to Huang, resilience is a defining trait that can significantly impact an individual’s likelihood of achieving success. He emphasized the correlation between high expectations and low resilience, particularly among graduates of elite institutions like Stanford. Highlighting the necessity of resilience in the face of failure, he expressed his hope for the experience of suffering as a means of developing this crucial attribute.

Psychologists support the notion that resilience plays a pivotal role in determining future success. Research has consistently underscored the importance of resilience in enabling individuals to navigate and overcome challenges, ultimately contributing to their ability to thrive in the face of adversity.