Influence of Ex-CEO Steve Jobs's Personal Brand on Apple's Business Success

Abstract

The present study focuses primarily on the ex-CEO of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, and tracks the inter dependability of the organization's success story with his personality and leadership traits. A brief background is presented with an introduction to the concept of personal (personality) branding. The foundation history and formative years of Apple as an organization are elaborated. The key areas of growth and notable milestones in the organization's history are described. The success of the company is traced in line with Steve Jobs's contribution to Apple's growth story, and a narrative on his style and personality characters, etc. are presented, which may or may not have been beneficial for the organization. It is an attempt to analyze how people as leaders of organizations can be personal (personality) brands themselves, unique like product brands; and their traits, as distinctly identifiable brand elements, influencing the organizations they lead. Furthermore, it is explained how these traits also have an effect on their customers and or audience, and shareholders and stakeholders at large, to attempt to understand, how this can be applied to other organizations, and by other corporate leaders. A primary study is also conducted and findings described.