About
Jean-Louis Gassée (born March 1944 in Paris, France) is a business executive. He is best known as a former executive at Apple Computer, where he worked from 1981 to 1990. He also founded Be Inc., creators of the BeOS computer operating system. After leaving Be, he became Chairman of PalmSource, Inc. in November 2004 and served as president and CEO of Computer Access Technology Corporation (CATC), a company which made network protocol analyzers, but left within a year (CATC was purchased in fall 2004 by LeCroy Corporation, a competitor). Gassée resurfaced as a general partner at Allegis Capital, a venture capital fund based in Palo Alto, California, from which he retired in 2022.
In 2009, he started contributing regularly to the Monday Note blog, a newsletter covering the intersection of media and technology. Gassée’s sharp and incisive analyses of his beloved tech industry has attracted many followers including well-known technologists.
He is also well-known for his famous one liners aka Gasséeism.
Gassée holds a Master’s of Science from the University of Paris and a Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics and physics from Orsay University.
He is married to Brigitte and has 3 children, Marie, Sophie and Paul.
Source: Wikipedia / The Computer History Museum
Exclusive Interview with Jean-Louis Gassée
Inside and insights from a Grateful Geek
by Tavo Reno Publishing / Sebastien Taveau
There is no need to introduce him so let’s dive into his recent actuality with the release of his memoir “Grateful Geek” and let’s ask some questions outside of the book content.
Ladies, Gentlemen and Gentlepeople, here is Mr Gassée unfiltered.
The Delivery Man (DM): Can you share a brief overview of your illustrious career in the tech industry and the pivotal moments that led you to become a tech legend? For the readers, Jean-Louis despises the word “tech legend” and prefer “tech veteran”. But what a better way to get some reactions.
JLG: Lots of strong words here … That said, in retrospect, I see a chain of pivotal moments: my childhood interest (1950s) in what we called radios, followed by being fired from the lycée, sent to a Breton boarding school where the Prefect of Discipline was a true geek and showed his recent acquisition, an OC 71 (germanium) transistor and encouraged my tinkering. Years later, in 1968, joining HP France to launch their first desktop computer, and finally being hired to start Apple France late 1980.
DM: In your latest book, “Grateful Geek,” you explore the intersection of gratitude and technology. What inspired you to write about this unique theme, and how do you believe it impacts the tech world?
JLG: I’m grateful for technologies such as the personal computer, the web browser, smartphones and more because they give wings to our minds and bodies. I’m not blind to the negatives, of course.
DM: Beyond the question above, how did you transition from your well-known tempestuous temper of your youth to becoming more spiritual and grateful?
JLG: Aging, meditation.
DM: You describe a scary episode in your book when Brigitte, your spouse, saved your life. Were you already on the path to enlightenment at that time or it was the pivotal moment?
JLG: I was ready, unhappy with my own assoholic ways.
DM: As a seasoned entrepreneur and executive, you have witnessed significant technological advancements over the years. What are some key insights from your journey that you believe would benefit aspiring tech innovators and leaders?
JLG: I was and still am extraordinary lucky, I was and still am curious. I’m not sure I possess insights other than constantly trying to share what I think I see and encourage others to share my joy.
DM: The tech industry is often associated with high pressure and rapid change. How have you managed to maintain a sense of gratitude throughout your career, and what role do you believe it plays in achieving long-term success?
JLG: I never felt I was working. As result, I always felt grateful for being able to pursue my dreams.
DM: In “Grateful Geek,” you discuss a topic a bit counter-intuitive to the competitive culture of Silicon Valley, the importance of fostering a culture of appreciation within tech organizations. Could you share some practical strategies for leaders to cultivate gratitude among their teams and employees?
JLG: Be an example. Do more, preach less.
DM: As a co-founder of Be Inc., you contributed significantly to the development of the alternative operating systems in the computing world. Looking back, what were the most valuable lessons you learned from the challenges and triumphs of that venture that may not be shared in the book?
JLG: I really didn’t see the downside of repeating my old job in my new circumstances.
DM: Your experience as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Product Development during a critical period of the company’s history is well-regarded. What were the most crucial decisions you made during your tenure at Apple, and how did they shape the company’s future?
JLG: Mostly just doing the obvious for the initially limited Mac: more memory, hard disk, color, better sound. That launched a succession of always improving models. I loved working with Cupertino engineers.
DM: Talking about Apple, there are so many stories that seem to have been omitted from the book. Was it intentional? Would you be willing to share one?
JLG: Sorry, no dirty laundry. Not for lack of material, we were all fallible humans.
(DM note: I tried :))
DM: Your relationship with Steve Jobs was mercurial like his persona. In the early days, we heard about the conflicts, and you mentioned the call you received from him when you were pushed out of Apple. How did the relationship evolve over time and in the last few years of Steve Jobs life?
JLG: I came to see how Jobs became an extraordinarily focused leader as he led Apple’s turnaround, the lack of which has never been seen in our industry.
DM: “Grateful Geek” seems to highlight the importance of balancing ambition and contentment in the tech world. How can aspiring entrepreneurs and tech professionals strike this delicate balance in their careers?
JLG: I really don’t know how to do it, it just happened to me. I probably lack the necessary insights for a How To. Think of Diet Recommendations, how obvious and how mysteriously impossible.
DM: You have seen numerous tech trends come and go. Which technological advancements or developments excite you the most currently, and how do you believe they will impact society in the future?
JLG: GenAI, AI For The Rest of US, is the fifth tech revolution, I’m happy to be alive to see it emerge, the fastest rise I’ve ever seen, faster than silicon semiconductors, personal computers, web browsing or smartphones.
DM: From your perspective, what are the most pressing challenges that the tech industry faces today, and how can we address them while maintaining a sense of gratitude and ethical responsibility?
JLG: Our most pressing challenges are political, how do we make our democracy, what’s left of it, more humane, less plutocratic.
DM: In “Grateful Geek,” you discuss the human side of technology and its implications on personal relationships and societal well-being. How can we ensure that technology remains a tool for progress rather than a detriment to our humanity?
JLG: Elect democrats, not people who sell themselves (and us) to deep-pockets lobbies.
DM: As an accomplished public speaker and thought leader, what advice do you have for individuals seeking to effectively communicate complex technological concepts to broader audiences?
JLG: Try, rinse and repeat, listen to feedback. Read Dale Carnegie and countless others.
DM: You are known for your Gasséism, how do you feel about this? Are there any that you regret? Any that you are proud of?
JLG: I love making love to language. Persphinctery, perfunctory statements from assholes.
DM: You have mentored and inspired many people throughout your career. Can you share a story of someone you mentored whose growth and achievements made you particularly proud?
JLG: Can’t answer: never take credit, always take the blame.
DM: “Grateful Geek” seems to blend personal anecdotes and industry insights. What was the most rewarding aspect of writing this book, and what do you hope readers will take away from it?
JLG: I write to figure out what I really think, ideas always look good under the shower, trouble starts when you couch them. You can figure out a more carnal version.
DM: Thank you so much for your time answering these questions, some silly, some serious. The book is doing very well, and the readers are discovering an intimate side of you. Any plan to write more?
JLG: Thank _you_. I’ve started a French language thriller: technology, love, romantic and explicit, spying, financial crimes, terrorism. Family members are amused and horrified, consider changing their name.
“Grateful Geek” is available in print, e-Book and audiobooks on