It’s Time to Land the Plane

The nature vs. nurture debate fascinates me.?As an adopted child,?I don’t have a clear answer; however, I lean toward the power of nurture. Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by strong people, including my parents. They taught me?many things, and in some cases I charted my own path.?

My dad?joined the?US Army Air Force?(later USAF) in 1946 and he?lived to fly. He piloted B-29’s?in 37 combat missions?in Korea?and served on the front lines during the Cold War, coordinating large-scale operations. Having survived harrowing experiences, including being shot up by Russian MiG-15s, he was obviously brave. But, more notably, my dad was humble and kind. He instilled those characteristics in me and would often relay a life lesson, saying, “Tyson, you need to know when to land the plane.”?

To me, “landing the plane” means finishing what you start and leaving it in quality shape for the next crew. I’ve done this throughout my career.??

From my time as a chip designer to now CEO of Silicon Labs, I’ve followed a proven lifecycle for success:?

• Clearly set the vision, mission and objectives
• Do the hard, upfront work of determining a long-term strategy
• Build the best team possible
• Innovate?and execute boldly – not being afraid of calculated risks
• Know when it is time to do it all again or move on to another challenge

Today, I’m?announcing?my decision to “land the plane” and retire as Silicon Labs CEO.??

I’ve dedicated nearly 25 years – almost my entire adult life – to Silicon Labs. Since joining as the tenth employee in 1997, I’ve believed whole-heartedly in the power of connectivity. Through a variety of engineering and management roles, including CTO, COO and CEO, I’ve worked with others to simplify the complexities of wireless technology from silicon to the cloud. So, humor me while I reflect on our Silicon Labs journey.??

In the early days, we focused on developing breakthrough technologies for personal computers and mobile devices. As the market consolidated, we divested?our mobile?business and used our wireless expertise to enter new applications?including?radios,?TVs, cars, industrial automation,?and?high-speed?communications?networks. When I became CEO in 2012, I led the transformation of the company from semiconductor provider to world-leader in wireless solutions for the internet of things (IoT).?

The last decade, we focused on winning the IoT market, and we never sacrificed long-term potential for short-term gains. As Silicon Labs’ founder and Board Chairman Nav Sooch taught me, there are no shortcuts. While this strategy occasionally led to debate (and maybe even a few arm-wrestling matches), it was the right thing to do. Staying the course helped us achieve a proven track record of growth?and position us for sustainability and long-term leadership in one of the most exciting markets of our lifetimes.?

In the process, we also created an industry-leading wireless development platform, unmatched product portfolio, award-winning security technology and?a?renowned ecosystem. Our innovations now?empower more than 20,000 customers globally to create thousands of applications that transform industries, grow?economies,?and improve lives.??

And I didn’t do it alone – not even close. During my time here, I’ve built countless friendships and life-long memories. From pulling all-nighters in the lab to celebrating our IPO to working around the clock in a tight supply chain environment, my colleagues made every experience – big and small – amazing. Together, we built a strong company culture not only measured by?awards but?demonstrated in every interaction. We put people first, including our neighbors and fellow community members. We valued creativity, simplicity,?authenticity,?and diversity before they were buzzwords.?

So why retire now? Well, we are entering a new era. With the?divestiture of our Infrastructure and Automotive business complete, Silicon Labs is now a pure-play leader in secure, intelligent wireless connectivity. We have a strong IoT roadmap and just?announced?outstanding financials. With the company in a strong position, it’s the ideal time for an orderly transition of leadership.?

Last week, I informed the board of directors of my decision to retire?from Silicon Labs effective January 1, 2022. Silicon Labs’?President?Matt Johnson?will become our next CEO at that time.?Since he joined the company in 2018,?Matt and I have worked closely together to?reinforce?our company’s purpose and promise;?to build out?our leading?IoT?wireless platform and product portfolio; and,?most importantly,?to?reinforce our belief that people belong at the center of everything we do. I’m confident Matt will continue to demonstrate our values, the foremost of which is to “do the right thing” for all stakeholders.?

To all my Silicon Labs colleagues past and present, I want to thank you for almost 25 years of awesome memories and accomplishments together. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything – they were the best years of my life. Over the next five months as we close out 2021,?we will collaborate to ensure a smooth transition both internally and?externally and?will have plenty of time to reminisce and celebrate.?After that, I will carry on my service with Silicon Labs as a member of the Technical Advisory Board.

I’ll also continue?to carry forward?our mission of “building a more connected world.” This promise starts by spending quality time with my?family. As they can attest, I can’t rest for long. I get bored after?about?two days on the beach, and I don’t play golf. I’ve never been more passionate about using my time and talent to address the?challenges?facing our communities?and the world.??

After all, I’m still an engineer at heart. I love to solve tough?problems?and achieve measurable results. I will maintain leadership positions at several key organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, the Austin Area Research Organization,?and the Texas Black Caucus Foundation?…?to name a few.??

So today, I officially begin the initial descent of my Silicon Labs journey. This transition is an opportunity to take on new challenges bravely,?humbly?and kindly, like my dad would have done.?And while my time in the cockpit is?coming to an end,?the?adventure isn’t over. Now is the time to look toward the horizon at the bright future ahead!??