Steve Jobs (2015)
Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs (2015) is structured around three pivotal product launches: the Macintosh in 1984, the NeXT Computer in 1988, and the iMac in 1998. Instead of offering a conventional biopic, the film compresses the essence of Jobs into these backstage moments — where technology, ego, family, and vision collide.
Alongside his relentless pursuit of design perfection, the film portrays Jobs’s struggles with relationships: his complicated bond with his daughter Lisa, conflicts with Chrisann Brennan, and his tense but indispensable partnership with colleagues like Joanna Hoffman and Steve Wozniak.
In one of the film’s most powerful confrontations, Wozniak challenges Jobs about his actual contribution to Apple’s success. Jobs responds with a metaphor that defines the way he saw himself:
“Musicians play their instruments. I play the orchestra.”
This exchange distills Jobs’s vision: he wasn’t an engineer or coder, but a conductor of talent, able to harmonize design, technology, and storytelling into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Most interesting part: The film shows how Jobs’s strength was not in technical execution but in orchestrating people and ideas toward a unified vision.
What I learned: Leadership is not only about stage charisma but also about tough conversations, empathy, and the ability to enforce clarity of purpose.
Sparked my interest in: Apple’s history, large-scale product launches, and the psychology of visionary leaders.