Steve Jobs: A Leader from the Start

Watch the above video of Jobs introducing the first Macintosh.

A visionary from the very beginning, the late Steve Jobs has influenced each of us with his creative ideas. Many of the world’s influencers shared their reactions after hearing of his death. Here is what some had to say:

U.S President Barack Obama said in a statement: “Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs,” adding, “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”

Bill Gates: “Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to Steve Jobs’ family & friends.” And, “For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it’s been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely.”

Senator Chris Dodd, CEO and chairman of the Motion Picture Assn. of America: “The genius of Steve Jobs, a man I’ve known for 40 years, not only brought to life the visual magic and brilliant storytelling of Pixar, but brought the world one of the most innovative and successful platforms to make movies and TV available online at the click of a mouse. He was a pioneer, and helped all of us better understand how technologists and creators can work together to enrich and enliven our shared world. If anyone ever wonders whether one person can make a difference, the answer is Steve Jobs. He will be deeply, deeply missed.”

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg: “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”

Sergey Brin, Google co-founder: “From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration or vision and leadership, we need to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the MacBook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in Preston the few times we have met. On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much.”