November 1987
In an exclusive interview with Macworld magazine, Apple Computer's Chairman and CEO John Sculley shared his vision for the company's direction and the future of personal computing. Under Sculley's leadership since April 1986, Apple has achieved record-breaking financial performance and secured its position among America's largest corporations in the Fortune 200.
The former Pepsi-Cola chief executive, who led that company to surpass Coca-Cola in supermarket sales, brought his marketing expertise and business acumen to Apple during a pivotal time in the company's history. His appointment came shortly before the groundbreaking introduction of the Macintosh computer.
Despite his current focus on business strategy, Sculley's background reveals an early passion for design during his studies at Brown University. This appreciation for innovative design continues to influence his approach to product development at Apple.
The wide-ranging interview coincides with the release of Sculley's new book "Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple - A Journey of Adventure, Ideas and the Future," which chronicles his career transition from the beverage industry to technology leadership.
During the conversation, Sculley discussed Apple's transformation under his watch, exploring the company's evolving business strategy and technological innovations. The discussion also delved into his predictions for personal computing trends through the remainder of the 1980s and into the next century.
The timing of this interview is particularly relevant as Apple experiences unprecedented growth and aims to strengthen its position in the competitive personal computer market. Under Sculley's guidance, the company continues to push boundaries in technology while maintaining its commitment to user-friendly design and innovation.
This interview appears in the November 1987 issue of Macworld magazine.