In this interview, Ryan Peterman interviews Philip Su, a Distinguished Engineer, about his career journey, starting with his early ambitions and intense work ethic at Microsoft, where he quickly rose through the ranks by working long hours and learning from talented colleagues. Philip discusses his transitions between management and individual contributor roles, his experience building Meta's London office, and his decision to join OpenAI, driven by a desire to be at the forefront of AI technology. He shares insights on career growth, the importance of continuous learning, and the value of generalist skills in smaller companies, while also reflecting on the trade-offs between career advancement and personal well-being, and emphasizes the importance of clear values and self-awareness in making career decisions.
