Staying Human in the Age of AI with NVIDIA's Gideon Rosenberg

What Does “Human-First” Leadership Look Like Inside A Company Building The Future Of Artificial Intelligence?

No technology in history has advanced as fast as artificial intelligence (AI). In just a few short years, AI has leapt from research labs into every corner of our lives, transforming how data is processed, products are built, and decisions are made. Few organizations sit closer to that transformation than NVIDIA, the $5 trillion company powering the world’s AI revolution with its groundbreaking computing platforms.

But, behind that groundbreaking technology is a leadership culture that’s deeply human. In our most recent episode of A Podcast About Leadership, hosts Dr. Jonathan Kirschner and Dr. Joy Nissen sat down with Gideon Rosenberg — Deputy General Counsel and Head of HR for NVIDIA Israel — who shared that NVIDIA’s success is as much about empathy and meaning as it is about innovation.

You can watch the full episode below or listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple or anywhere else you stream podcasts.

1. Engagement Begins With Meaning

CEO Jensen Huang’s saying that people come to NVIDIA to do their life’s work sets the tone for a culture built on personal meaning and contribution. As Gideon Rosenberg explains, “It means you should be doing something that you think is meaningful, not that just we at NVIDIA think is meaningful.” This shared pursuit of meaningful work is what fuels long-term engagement, innovation, and belonging.

2. Empowerment Requires Clarity

NVIDIA’s approach to empowerment is both radical and practical: give people full ownership of their mission. Rosenberg describes a culture where even the newest employees can take command of a project’s direction. “It could be a junior employee who owns that mission,” he says, “and can tell a senior leader, ‘hey, this is what we’re doing.’” That empowerment only works because expectations are clear — each person knows their role, their purpose, and their authority.

3. Empathy and Excellence Can Coexist

At the heart of NVIDIA’s culture is a paradox that many organizations struggle to balance. “Jensen’s a very empathetic person,” Gideon notes, “but he’s also very demanding.” This balance of care and accountability is what creates a performance culture that’s both humane and exacting.

4. The Future Belongs to Those Who Embrace AI

Rosenberg is clear-eyed about the future: “We’re not going to lose our jobs to AI,” he says. “We’re going to lose them to people who know how to use AI better than us.” Those who learn to integrate AI thoughtfully into their work will unlock new efficiencies, insights, and creative potential. The opportunity isn’t to compete with machines, but to partner with them.

5. Stay Human

As the conversation closes, Rosenberg brings it back to first principles: humanity. “Just remember, we’re all humans. Embrace it, enjoy the ride, and don’t be afraid.” It’s a reminder that while technology may move at breakneck speed, our enduring advantage lies in curiosity, connection, and courage. Staying human, in the age of AI, may be the most powerful leadership skill of all.