John Sculley's decade as Apple CEO saw the company achieve massive financial growth while also navigating the complex ousting of Steve Jobs. The former PepsiCo executive joined Apple in 1983 after being recruited by Jobs and Mike Markkula, who were seeking someone to replace Jobs as CEO. Sculley brought marketing expertise from his successful Pepsi Challenge campaign but lacked technology background.

His tenure included both triumphs and failures. Sculley championed the Newton, Apple's pioneering personal digital assistant, but also made the controversial decision to delay its launch. He insisted on raising the Macintosh's price to fund an expensive marketing campaign, contributing to its initial struggles. The relationship between Sculley and Jobs deteriorated despite early promises of collaboration, with Jobs reportedly telling Sculley 'you're like one of the founders of the company' before their partnership collapsed.

Sculley's legacy remains complex. While criticized for decisions that led to Apple's financial crash in the early 1990s, he also pushed innovative ideas that only now are coming to fruition. His marketing background helped Apple reach new consumers, but his lack of technical expertise created tensions with Apple's engineering-driven culture. As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary, Sculley's tenure represents both the promise and peril of bringing outside leadership to a technology company.