Lessons Learned from Steve Jobs' Former Intern

Exploring the Impact of Working with the Tech Icon

Chet Kapoor's journey as an intern under the mentorship of Steve Jobs is a testament to how exposure to industry leaders can shape one's career. Kapoor, now the CEO of generative AI company DataStax, reminisces about his time working with the iconic tech mogul and shares the valuable lessons he learned along the way.

Interning under Steve Jobs

As a young student with aspirations of making a mark in the tech industry, Kapoor's dreams came true when he landed an internship at NeXT, a software company founded by Steve Jobs. Despite initially feeling like a small part of the larger operation, Kapoor's proximity to Jobs allowed him unique insights into the visionary's thinking process.

Kapoor recalls focusing on the questions Jobs posed during company meetings, realizing the significance of understanding the thought process behind the decisions made. This exposure proved invaluable in shaping Kapoor's approach to leadership and problem-solving in the years to come.

Influence of Steve Jobs

Reflecting on his journey, Kapoor attributes a significant portion of his success to his time spent under Jobs' mentorship. Jobs' emphasis on product design and user experience left a lasting impression on Kapoor, influencing his leadership style in subsequent roles.

Kapoor highlights the culture of innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence that characterized Jobs' approach at NeXT. This dedication to creating remarkable products fueled Kapoor's own endeavors in the tech industry, including his role in the acquisition of Apigee by Google.

Cultivating a Strong Engineering Culture

One of the key takeaways from Kapoor's experience at NeXT was Jobs' commitment to fostering a strong engineering culture. Jobs' focus on creating exceptional products through meticulous engineering practices instilled in Kapoor a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Kapoor emphasizes that behind the sleek interfaces and user-friendly designs lies a foundation of rigorous engineering and disciplined work ethic. Jobs' philosophy of starting with a great product resonates with Kapoor's own approach to technology development, emphasizing the importance of a robust engineering framework.