Building the Future of AI Infrastructure: Michael Wu on Innovation, Storage, and Scale

In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Michael Wu, President and General Manager of Phison Technology USA, to explore the technology powering much of today’s digital world and the leadership principles that have helped drive Phison’s remarkable growth. Michael shares the story of joining Phison USA as employee number one and helping grow the organization from a one-person operation into a thriving team of more than 80 employees across the United States. Along the way, he played a key role in transforming Phison from a behind-the-scenes technology provider into a recognized leader in NAND flash storage innovation and the launch of its enterprise-focused brand, Pascari. The conversation dives into the realities of leading global teams, bridging cultural differences between Taiwan and the United States, and building a company culture grounded in trust, accountability, and empowerment. Michael explains how effective leadership often requires acting as a translator between different perspectives, communication styles, and ways of working. Carly and Michael also explore one of the most exciting developments in artificial intelligence today: the growing demand for memory and storage infrastructure. Michael shares how a simple internal challenge led to a breakthrough innovation that uses NAND flash storage as an extension of AI memory, dramatically reducing infrastructure costs while expanding AI capabilities. This episode offers a fascinating look at leadership, innovation, AI infrastructure, and how questioning assumptions can unlock entirely new possibilities for growth and technology.   Key Themes: Innovation Begins with Better Questions: How challenging accepted limitations led to a breakthrough in AI memory and storage architecture. Leadership Across Cultures: Why empathy, communication, and cultural understanding are essential for scaling global organizations. Speed Creates Competitive Advantage: How rapid iteration and continuous improvement help companies stay ahead in fast-moving industries.   Memorable Quotes: “You sometimes lose by winning.” “You don't know what you don't know.” “Our goal is never to make the perfect device. We want to turn ten chips in a year instead of making the perfect chip.”   About Michael Wu: Michael Wu is the President and General Manager of Phison Technology USA and a respected expert in NAND storage technology with more than 20 years of industry experience. Over his 17+ years with Phison, he has held leadership roles including General Manager, Director of Global Customer Relations, and Project Manager, helping establish Phison as one of the world’s leading NAND storage solution providers. Today, Michael oversees Phison’s U.S. operations, driving growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships while helping shape the future of enterprise storage and AI infrastructure. Prior to Phison, he worked as a Verification Engineer at RF Micro Devices. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech.   Connect with Michael Wu: https://www.phison.com/en/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wu-a273694/ https://www.facebook.com/phisonUS/