Silicon Valley’s longest-standing CEO: 37 Years leading Micrel

Silicon Valley’s longest-standing CEO: 37 Years leading Micrel

From MarsBased podcast - Life on Mars by MarsBased

December 23, 2025 · 53 min · Season 2 · Episode 108

About this episode

Ray Zinn discusses his 37-year tenure as CEO of Micrel and the lessons learned in Silicon Valley.

In the volatile world of Silicon Valley, where the average CEO tenure is often less than five years and startups burn out as quickly as they rise, Ray Zinn stands as a monumental exception. For 37 years, Zinn served as the CEO of Micrel, the semiconductor company he founded in 1978, holding the record as the longest-serving CEO of a publicly traded company in the Valley. His tenure wasn't just about longevity; it was a masterclass in disciplined consistency. Under his leadership, Micrel achie...

People in this episode

Guest: Ray Zinn

Topics covered

  • CEO tenure
  • Silicon Valley
  • leadership
  • semiconductors
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • CEO
  • Micrel
  • Ray Zinn
  • Silicon Valley
  • leadership
  • entrepreneurship
  • semiconductors

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Micrel

Places: Silicon Valley

More episodes of MarsBased podcast - Life on Mars

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the MarsBased podcast - Life on Mars podcast page.