He collaborated with him in developing educational software, such as the well-known Oregon Trail, which was then installed in more than 110,000 schools.
Kevin O’Leary, a Canadian entrepreneur known for his participation in Shark Tank, recalled his time working with Steve Jobs in the 1990s in an interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast. According to O’Leary, he collaborated with Jobs on developing educational software, such as the well-known Oregon Trail, which was installed in more than 110,000 schools at the time.
O’Leary suggested to Jobs that they conduct market research to improve and update the product, with an estimated investment of between £12 and £15 million. But, according to O’Leary, Jobs flatly refused: ‘I don’t care what students want or what parents think. It’s what I want,’ he said in a room full of people.
‘I said, “Steve, you sound like an idiot. You have no idea what that sounds like.” And he replied, “No, that’s the way it is, Kevin. Are you making money with me? Haven’t we been incredibly successful and continue to be so? Then shut up and do what I tell you,”’ O’Leary said of Jobs’ way of addressing his collaborators.
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During the conversation, the businessman made it clear that Jobs had no qualms about asserting his authority: ‘That’s how he talked to you. 100%,’ he said, emphasising that he didn’t care about the opinions of students, teachers or parents, only his own vision of the product.
The figure of Apple’s founder continues to be the subject of debate years after his death, and testimonies such as O’Leary’s fuel new interpretations of his character and legacy.
