| | | Massive loss for Qualcomm, Eric is starting at Intel next week.
From his Linkedin:
" Next week will be my last week at Qualcomm.
//wistful story mode
14 years is a long time, when I look at how much my kids have grown in that time: From elementary and middle school kids to amazing adults in college and graduate school/work. A lifetime already! From a work standpoint, I clearly remember my first day and first meeting. It has gone by so fast! Feels like just a few months (well, 164 months or so). I originally went to Qualcomm to learn about mobile, which I did, but I also learned so much more! I’ve worked on AR/VR, IOT, automobile and back to PC products. I’ve been able to grow the team 10x and deliver over 100 unique GPUs. I’ve been able to help deliver billions of products (>6B). One of my products went to another planet! How many GPUs have been to Mars? I learned so much about leadership as well. Not too shabby.
But sometimes the ground changes and becomes fertile for new opportunity. Seeded by some personal events as well as some changes at work, I surprised myself when I started listening to a few select calls in the last year. I hadn't really done much of that in the previous decade. Last summer, a very good one came around. Over months, it led me to make the decision I made, and to take the fork on my road.
As I think back on my years at QC, I feel bittersweet right now. I love the people I work with daily, and I will deeply miss working with them. As the team has grown, they’ve become like family. I take solace in knowing that the “new” leadership team will continue to do well and deliver amazing GPUs. They had better, I worked too hard to build it – I expect to see continued greatness!
On the other hand, I’m so thrilled to try something new, meet new people and achieve great things all over again! The challenge appears to be pretty good, but I love strategic problem solving. I love technical challenges where I can learn and lead a team to success. This feels like 14 years ago all over again.
//end story mode
So just a few more days until I make the right turn. My excitement is growing!
"
Next week will be my first week at Intel.
//Story mode for those inclined
I have two fun memories of Intel. First off, I should say that as a Teenager, I did not have pictures of bands on my walls. I had a picture of an Intel 80386 processor die! That accompanied a picture of a Gandalf from the animated LofR movie and an HP computer. Yes, I was and am, a nerd. Also, in 1991, while at Cornell, I interviewed with a variety of companies. One was Intel. I remember meeting the interviewer, who was from the server division, and me stating “I didn’t know Intel made server chips!”. I did not get an offer. So, desire was set but opportunity missed.
As I stated last week, personal events seeded the ground for change. One of those events is very memorable. In September, my wife Esther took us on a 3-day trip into the Julian mountains, near San Diego. During that great weekend (no devices, mostly talking), she asked me, “What’s our 10-year plan?”. Wow, what a question! It resonated so strongly in me! It got me to pull my nose out of the now, to consider the much longer outlook. It made some of the decisions that I made over the next few months,much easier. Good outlook to take when making big decisions. BTW, I didn’t have all the answers for her, but we’ll figure it out together.
Over the last few months, I’ve talked and met with Lip-Bu Tan several times. I’ve been impressed by him. Charming, intelligent and clearly strategic in his views on Intel. As well as so humble. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet a few leaders there as well. Throughout, I’ve been impressed by their confidence in Lip-Bu and upbeat view of things, even after some of the transitional events of 2025 that they went through. While I do have some friends there, everyone was friendly and I got a real sense of welcome and general excitement. That has got me also excited about working at the new Intel and participating in this continued turnaround. Nothing is easy, but this fresh start lines up perfectly with my hopes and plans.
//End story mode
So next week will be my first week. I’ll be working remotely, though I expect to visit the various teams, especially as my shoulder heals (I had should reconstructive surgery in November). I find myself like I was 14 years ago, excited for a new adventure!
Found my poster online: |
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