Apple CEO Tim Cook in a recent interview with news agency Bloomberg spoke on a number of topics ranging from company founder Steve Jobs, coming out to the public, and the thought of running for President of the United States.
Here are some excerpts of the interview
On joining the company
Steve (Jobs) had come back to the company and was essentially replacing the executive team that was there at the time. I thought, you know, this is an opportunity to talk to the guy who started the whole industry. Steve met me on Saturday. It was just minutes into talking to him... I want to do it. I totally shocked myself. There was a sparkle in his eyes that I’ve never seen in a CEO before.
On Steve Jobs
Steve had the vision that the workplace should facilitate people working together... having these common areas that people could work together and run into each other without planning on doing it... and that the level of ideas and creativity and innovation that would come out of that would be phenomenal. And we’re seeing that.
He was sort of turning left when everyone was turning right. On almost everything he talked about, he was doing something extraordinarily different than conventional wisdom.
On taking over after Jobs’ death
We have a really open company, so most of us could finish the other person’s sentences, even when we might disagree with them. So, it wasn’t a matter of Steve having a secret file or anything. He was always sharing his ideas — all the time. So, it was very different than that. Honestly, my view at that time was that he would be chairman and would do that forever, and we would sort of figure out the relationship change there. That’s what I thought. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way.
On being unaware of the company’s revenues
We view the stock price and revenue and profits as a result of doing things right on the innovation side, on the creativity side, focusing on the right products, treating customers like they’re jewels, and focusing on the user experience. I didn’t even know the numbers that you just quoted. It’s not even in my orbit, to be honest with you.
On Privacy and data sharing
We see privacy a fundamental human right. So, to us, it’s right up there with some of the other civil liberties that make Americans what they are…defines us as Americans. We see that this is becoming a larger and larger issue for people. Our tact on this is we take a minimum amount of data from customers… only that which we need to provide a great service. Then, we work really hard to protect it with encryption and so forth.
On coming out to the public
I did it for a greater purpose. I realised there were a lot of kids out there that were not being treated very well—including in their own families. Kids need someone to say “oh, they did okay in life, and they’re gay, so it must not be a life sentence in some kind of way.” We’re getting these notes… it would tug on my heart even more, and it got to the point, and it got to the point where I thought, I’m making the wrong call, by trying to do something that is comfortable for me, which is to stay private. I needed to do something for the greater good.
On entering politics or running for office
I’m not political. I love focusing on the policy stuff, but in the dysfunction kind of in Washington, between the legislative branch and so forth, I think I can make a bigger difference in the world doing what I’m doing. I appreciate the comment. You know, it’s something that you’d love to be President, but not ever run. That should never happen in our country, so that kind of eliminates me.
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 "Steve Jobs and Tim Cook")
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