TSMC's 94-year-old billionaire founder Morris Chang on why leaving Texas Instruments was the important part of his success story

Morris Chang, the 94-year old billionaire and the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has revealed some the defining moments of hits storied career. According to a report by Business Insider, in an interview Chang stated that leaving Texas Instruments turned out to be a turning point for him and pushed him to build the world’s most valuable semiconductor company. As per the report, Chang spent almost 25 years at Texas Instruments. During his tenure at the company his rose to the position of group vice president. Chang also revealed that his decision to move from Texas Instruments was driven by the fact that his career has plateaued in the company. Chang also stated that despite his loyalty to the company he saw very less opportunity for further growth. “I was 54 years old, and I knew I had reached the ceiling,” Chang said. “Leaving TI was the most important decision I made for my future.”Chang stated that after leaving Texas Instruments, he was invited by Taiwan’s government. He was invited to build the country’s semiconductor industry. This decision of Chang led to the foundation of TSMC in 1987. It was the first company to completely focus on contract manufacturing of chips, rather than designing them in-house. Chang’s vision of a “pure-play foundry” revolutionized the global chip industry, enabling fabless companies like Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Apple to thrive. TSMC is considered to a cornerstone of the global tech supply chain. The company now produce advance chips that power almost everything.Chang’s story is now seen as a masterclass in strategic reinvention. His decision to walk away from a secure corporate role in favor of an uncertain opportunity not only transformed his own life—it reshaped the future of technology.