Morris Chang: The Visionary Behind TSMC
Morris Chang, the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), shares his insights and life story in the highly anticipated second volume of his autobiography. This latest release revisits Chang’s remarkable journey, from his early days at Texas Instruments to his pioneering work at TSMC, solidifying his role as a key figure in the semiconductor industry.
The second volume of Morris Chang’s autobiography covers the pivotal years from 1964 to 2018, revisiting his “golden years” at Texas Instruments and charting TSMC’s transformation into a global powerhouse. Written with sincerity and clarity, the book reflects Chang’s genuine intent to share his journey and insight. CNA
Vision That Shaped The Semiconductor Industry
The heart of Chang’s story lies in his bold vision for TSMC’s pure-play foundry model, a groundbreaking strategy focused on working closely with customers without competing against them. Despite doubts from industry experts and government officials, Chang’s unwavering belief in this approach paid off. It allowed TSMC to lead the foundry market and build strong, long-lasting partnerships with major players like Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm.
One of the book’s highlights is Chang’s revelation that he twice invited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to lead TSMC in 2013. Huang declined, choosing instead to focus on Nvidia, which grew from a $9 billion company at the time to a $3 trillion tech behemoth today. This anecdote not only underscores Chang’s eye for leadership but also emphasizes the pivotal role individual decisions play in shaping the tech landscape. Focus Taiwan
During the early days TSMC’s market valuation remained in the lead when compared to Nvidia. It is not until the year 2021 where Nvidia’s market valuation takes over TSMC since the early 2000s then growing exponentially during the year 2023 and 2024 due to the AI boom.
Morris Chang also reflects on his relationships with key industry players, including Intel co-founders Gordon Moore and Bob Noyce. While he describes a friendly rapport with them, his interactions with more recent Intel leadership were less amicable. Chang notes that Intel’s lack of a clear strategy contributed to its struggles in the semiconductor race. Semafor
Building TSMC
In his autobiography, Morris Chang shares the story of TSMC’s early days and the challenges it faced. In the 1980s, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry was far behind global leaders, struggling with outdated technology and limited resources. Chang’s solution was to create TSMC as a foundry that focused only on manufacturing chips for other companies. With funding from Taiwan’s government and Philips Electronics, this innovative approach filled a gap in the market and set TSMC on the path to success.
TSMC didn’t just rely on its unique business model, it also invested heavily in developing its own technology. Chang explains how, in just 12 years, the company advanced its chip-making processes nine generations ahead, surpassing its competitors. By focusing on its own research and development, TSMC stayed ahead of rivals like Intel, Samsung, and UMC, solidifying its position as a global leader. CommonWealth Magazine
TSMC falls under the Semiconductor Foundry market industry which means these companies manufacture chips for others (fabless companies, ex. Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm). As of now TSMC is dominating the semiconductor foundry market having over 61.7% of the market share as of 2024. This further shows how Morris Chang’s leadership performs when being compared to other competitors in the same industry.
While the book highlights TSMC’s corporate achievements, Chang also opens up about his personal philosophy and leadership style. He stresses the value of humility, continuous learning, and supporting employees with incentives like bonuses and stock options. His honest reflections on early career missteps and the sacrifices he made along the way add a personal and relatable touch to the memoir. CommonWealth Magazine
Morris Chang’s Legacy
Morris Chang’s reflections in his latest autobiography shows the growing global importance of semiconductors and the challenges TSMC faces in staying ahead in an ever-changing world. More than just a personal history, Chang’s autobiography is a tribute to the power of vision and resilience. His pioneering of the dedicated foundry model not only propelled TSMC to the forefront of the semiconductor industry but also cemented Taiwan’s position as a global technology hub.
At 93, Chang’s wisdom is as relevant as ever. His story offers timeless lessons for leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers alike, reminding us that lasting success is built on collaboration, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The latest installment of Morris Chang’s autobiography is a good start for anyone seeking for insights into the semiconductor industry’s evolution and also the principles that define a great leader.