Doing a 13-year career at PepsiCo, including six years as its president, John Scully prove to be something of a marketing genius.
If you’ve ever seen The Pepsi Challenge, well .. that was John Sculley’s idea.
Then he made the switch from selling flavored sugar carbonated water to selling personal computers.
In 1983 Scully became CEO of Apple. And soon, behind his marketing skills, Apple had rival i b m on the run.
In 1987, in the middle of his 10-year run at Apple, Scully wrote a book about his transition from Pepsi. And that’s when I met him.
Two things to note about this interview. No, three things.
First, John Sculley apparently had had the services of a consultant who told him to be sure and mention his book in every answer. So you’ll hear lots of references to the title of his book, Odyssey.
The second thing you need to know is that I learned a very important lesson in this interview. And that is, always check your microphone. It turns out that mine was basically turned off for the entire interview, and I didn’t realize it. That’s why it sounds a little strange.
But the third thing, the most intriguing thing, this is 1987. Very few people had personal computers, yet Scully is talking about things that today seem commonplace. It’s like we went back to the future.
So here now, from 1987, John Sculloey.
John Sculley is 82 now. He remains active in high-tech startups, as well as disruptive marketing strategies.
When three guys from San Francisco started Starbucks 50 years ago, in 1971, they probably had little idea of what the future would bring for their little coffee bean business.
By 1986 there were still only six Starbucks locations. But in 1987, they sold the company to Howard Schultz. And under his leadershipp, Starbucks grew to 46 stores by 1989, and in1992 the company went public,
Howard Schultz was CEO of Starbucks from 1986 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2017.
In 1997, Schultz wrote a book called “Pour Your Heart Into It,” and that’s when I met him.
Now, a couple of times in this interview, you will hear us refer to “the tragedy in Georgetown.” Just weeks before this interview, there was a vicious crime at a Starbucks in the Georgetown section of Washington DC, in which 3 store employees were murdered.
So here now, from 1997, Howard Schultz…
Today Starbucks has over 32-thousand stories in over 80 countries.
Howard Schultz will be 68 in July. He and his family live in Seattle.
In the early 1960s, the San Diego Chargers were a powerhouse in the American Football League.
In 1966, the franchise was purchased by a very successful California businessman named Gene Klein. He paid the them-princely sum of 10 million dollars.
But after running the team for 18 years, Klein solded in 1984.
And a couple of years later he wrote a book about his experience, which he called First Down And a Billion. And that’s when I met him.
I interviewed him just five days before Super Bowl XXI, so be sure and listen to the end to find out what his prediction was. And how accurate he was.
She’s been a top New York City real estate broker for many years, but you may know Barbara Corcoran best for her role that’s one of the investors pitched by entrepreneurs each week on the TV series Shark Tank.
What you may not know is that Barbara Corcoran is one of 10 children, and that her very strong mother inspired her to become a business success.
I met Barbara Corcoran in 2003, when she wrote a book about the wisdom her mother had passed along to her.
So here now, from 2003, Barbara Corcoran:
Barbara Corcoran is 72. She is still very active as a public speakler consulant and columnist.
