Steve Wozniak, computer genius and co-founder of Apple alongside Steve Jobs, left his mark on the history of technology well beyond his technical innovations. A brilliant and self-taught engineer, he is the architect of the first Apple computer, created in a garage that has become legendary. His humanist vision of technology and his professional ethic shaped the beginnings of Apple, even if his name often remains in the shadow of that of Jobs.
A business philosophy inspired by HP
Wozniak's generosity has its roots in his experience at Hewlett-Packard, where he discovered a participatory management model. This company practiced quarterly profit sharing with its employees, creating a strong sense of belonging. This approach profoundly influenced his view of the role of employees in a company. In December 1980, when Apple went public with a stock price of $22, Wozniak put this philosophy into practice by distributing $10 million of his own stock to the company's early employees, including those who had been forgotten in the process. allocation of stock options.
A gesture that transcends Silicon Valley
This extraordinary decision illustrates a radically different approach to entrepreneurial success. Wozniak extended his generosity beyond the walls of Apple, sharing his wealth with his former high school classmates who had supported him in his early steps in computing. This recognition of the role of others in one's success contrasts with the individualism often associated with Silicon Valley success stories. Today, his relatively modest fortune of $140 million – compared to the colossal fortunes of other tech pioneers – is a testament to his choices. If he had held on to his shares until today, his wealth would have been astronomical. But for Wozniak, true success is not measured in dollars: it lies in the ability to maintain one's values in the face of success and to recognize the collective contribution to the development of a company.
The scope of this gesture particularly resonates with current debates on salary inequalities and the sharing of value in business. The story of Daniel Kottke, Jobs' employee number 12 and college friend, illustrates the stark contrast between two visions of leadership: while Jobs categorically refused him any stock allocation, Wozniak deliberately chose to share his wealth, guided by the belief that money should not corrupt his fundamental values.
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