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In An Unexpected Gesture, Steve Jobs Gave His Secretary A Jaguar After She Got Late Due To Car Troubles, Revealing A Surprising Side Of His Leadership
Not every late day at work ends with the delivery of a luxury car. But that is exactly what happened to a secretary at Apple during the 1980s, according to reports from a former director of the company.
The episode was recounted by Ron Givens, who served as Apple’s quality director from 1981 to 1986. In an interview with Wral News published in October 2011, Givens revealed curious details about the personality of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Jobs was known for his demanding personality. He hated delays and often started important meetings even in the absence of participants who did not arrive on time.
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This firm stance was part of his routine at the company. But at the same time, Jobs was also unpredictable. And that is exactly what happened with his secretary.
One day, the employee arrived late at the office. Jobs was already waiting for her. When questioned, she explained that she had trouble starting her car.
She apologized and went about her day normally. The situation, seemingly resolved, would have ended there. But to everyone’s surprise, Steve Jobs returned hours later with an unusual gift.
He handed the secretary the key to a Jaguar, a luxury car of the time, with a single instruction: “Here, so you never get late again.”
Ron Givens said that this type of attitude was not uncommon for Jobs. Despite his difficult temperament, he deeply believed in the importance of teamwork. For him, keeping the team motivated and focused on innovation was essential for Apple’s success.
“He always did these things, he surprised people,” Givens said. The gesture with the car was not an isolated act. It was just another way Jobs expressed his unique leadership style.
The story, although it does not appear in major biographies of Steve Jobs, such as the one written by Walter Isaacson, remains alive as an example of the unusual behavior of the businessman. A leader who demanded a lot but also knew how to recognize and support his team.
Amid the demands and pressures of the tech environment, a Jaguar delivered with a straightforward phrase became a symbol of how Jobs sought to remove obstacles so that his team could think solely about innovation.
With information from IGN.
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