CEO to Tim Cook: you'd be a fool to join Apple
Video of the Apple Chief Operating Officer and acting CEO Tim Cook's commencement address at Auburn University (his alma mater) on May 14, 2010.
During his speech Cook tells a story (starting at around the 08:40 mark) about interviewing with Steve Jobs in early 1998:
"...no more than 5 minutes into my initial interview with Steve, I wanted to throw caution and logic to the wind and join Apple. My intuition already knew that joining Apple was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for the creative genius and to be on the executive team that could ressurrect a great American company."
At the time he worked for Compaq, the largest PC manufacturer in the world, and a CEO friend told him he'd "be a fool" to leave Compaq for Apple. Apple's stock price was around $25 per share in early 1998.
Cook's no Steve Jobs when it comes to public speaking, and I'm sure he'd admit the same, but his speech sheds a little light on the man that is Tim Cook. It's the most you've probably ever heard him speak outside of his regular duties on Apple's quarterly earnings call.
It's nice to learn a little more about the man running the ship, and who doesn't love that old quote from Michael Dell?
Tip: 9to5Mac via Pierce Case.