2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper applies Linda Zagzebski’s Exemplarist Moral Theory to analyze the leadership of Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, through the lens of three central moral archetypes: the hero, the saint, and the sage. Su’s transformative impact on AMD and the broader semiconductor industry offers a case study in modern moral exemplarity. Drawing from her strategic decisions, commitment to ethical leadership, and technical insight, this paper explores how Su alternately and sometimes simultaneously exemplifies each virtue archetype. While she demonstrates heroic perseverance and calculated risk-taking in rescuing AMD from near collapse, she also models saintly virtues through her commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and ethical responsibility. As a sage, she blends deep engineering knowledge with foresight and intellectual humility to make complex, future-oriented decisions. However, not all of her actions fit neatly within these categories, prompting discussion of the limitations of these archetypes in capturing the full moral landscape of corporate leadership. The paper concludes by reflecting on how Su’s background as an engineer informs the development and expression of these virtues and proposes the potential need for a new archetype to better account for exemplars in technical and organizational contexts.