Time published its annual list of its 100 most influential people. This list is about influence, not about popularity, courage, or accomplishment. Near the top of the list is Apple CEO Tim Cook. He is introduced as “a courageous innovator” by John Lewis, a civil rights leader and Democratic Congressman from Georgia:
It could not have been easy for Tim Cook to step into the immense shadow cast by the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. But with grace and courage and an unabashed willingness to be his own man, Tim has pushed Apple to unimaginable profitability—and greater social responsibility. He is setting a new standard for what business can do in the world. Tim is unwavering in his support of an individual’s right to privacy and is not only embracing equality and LGBT rights but advocating for change through his words and actions. His commitment to renewable energy is also leaving our planet a little cleaner and a little greener for generations yet unborn.
Above all, he has shown that profitability and integrity can go hand in hand. Tim has done this while introducing, time and again, some of the most innovative products the world has ever seen. Tim Cook is proof that even the most successful companies can and should be judged by more than just their bottom line.
At the bottom of the page is a timeline you can scroll through to get a sense of the path that took Tim from his birth in Mobile Alabama to where he is today.
Also of note, Airbnb founder Brian Cheskey’s intro was written by Jony Ive.
As is the case with all lists, there’s plenty to argue about. Kanye West as the most influential person? I think that’s a stretch. But there’s plenty of interesting content here to go through.
[HT: Sébastien Page]
To be fair: Kanye has the influence to instantly anger Jim.
It’s clear that Tim needs to be on a list like this. Not even for what he is doing with Apple, but just for being a well-known CEO with a conscience.
The fact that Kanye is even on the list frightens me.
Seems Kanye snuck over from the 100 Biggest Idiot’s list…
Kanya West is no more influential than Jethro Bodine, or Snidely Whiplash.
On the other hand, is it a list of good influence, or influence? Because the latter could include Boris Yeltsin, Michael Dell, and the bozo who runs ISIS.
I didn’t get to far with the Time.com link, too many ads and it made my iPad crawl. But, I appreciate the article about Tim. He’s a great guy and deserving of all the accolades he’s been getting.
The best part? It doesn’t seem to go to his head. He keeps moving along, trying to not only better Apple, but himself in the process and by extension all things that Apple touches.
Which as of now, Is an awful lot. People can make fun of Apple all they want but I have a good feeling about them and have from the beginning.