Steve Jobs

An orphan, dreamer, dropout, Steve Jobs became an icon in business, innovation, marketing, design, music, art, education.  He was opinionated, driven, emulated, visionary, and inspiring as a futurist.  He lived and spoke as if every moment of each day mattered and every decision informed by uncompromising quality (and aesthetic).  His intensity and attention to detail resembled Howard Hughes' days of brilliance also burning bright and ending too soon.  Disney's Iger put it well in noting: "...it feels like he was just getting started."  His commencements speech at Stanford best showed an understanding and familiarity in his struggles.  With Pixar and Apple, Steve Jobs built company cultures of pursuing greatness, never less, and always moving forward.  Consumers remain in continual anticipation of the next wonder.  And for the tech industry, Jobs seemed to have exclusive access to the "crystal ball" to when and which new ecosystems were to spawn.  Forgoing market research groups, Steve was uniquely attuned to the human experience.  He looked past the digital and worked in ideas, emotions, and meaning to somehow distort reality and captivate.  Ultimately he was so effective in connecting and leading because he loved and was a true believer in what he did.