“To do what you wanna do, to leave a mark – in a way that you think is important and lasting – that’s a life well-lived.” – Laurene Powell Jobs
A powerhouse and influential person in the technology industry, Laurene Powell Jobs is one of the richest women in the world with a staggering fortune of $15.1 billion. While the world may know her as the wife of Steve Jobs, she has carved her own path and has emerged as the leading American businesswoman and executive. In this article, we will learn about her path to success and her contributions to society.
Early Life of Laurene Powell Jobs
Laurene Powell Jobs was born on November 6, 1963, in West Milford, New Jersey. Her father, who was a pilot, passed away in a plane collision when she was three years old. Her mother later remarried. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, where she earned her B.A. degree in Political Science. She also got a B.S. degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1985.
In her youth, Laurene learned the value of earning money through hard work. She took on various jobs to earn her own income, including delivering newspapers, shoveling driveways on snowy days, babysitting, lifeguarding, and teaching swimming. As a teenager, she worked as a busgirl and later as a waitress. When it came time for college, she utilized multiple sources of income, including loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities, and continued waitressing to fund her education. This early experience instilled in her the importance of self-reliance and hard work.
After graduating in 1985, Laurene worked in the finance industry for a few years. She started her career at Merrill Lynch Asset Management and then moved on to work as a fixed-income trading strategist at Goldman Sachs for three years. In 1991, she completed her M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Laurene met Steve Jobs in October 1989 at a lecture he gave at Stanford Business School. They later had dinner together that night, and two years later, they got married in Yosemite National Park. After Steve Jobs died in 2011, she received a substantial inheritance, mainly consisting of Apple and Walt Disney Company shares. This inheritance made Laurene Powell Jobs one of the wealthiest women in the United States and the world. Specifically, she received 5.5 million shares of Apple stock and a 7.3 percent stake in the Walt Disney Company, which initially made her the third richest woman in the United States and the fifth richest woman in the world.
Career & Business Ventures
Apart from being the face and brains of a company advocating for social justice, Laurene is a well-known name in the tech industry. She owns and runs several ventures and owns a luxury home in San Francisco. In the 1990s, Laurene co-founded Terravera, a company that specialized in natural foods, particularly organic grains and oilseeds. In 1997, she co-founded College Track with Carlos Watson. College Track is still in operation, helping students from low-income backgrounds with tutoring and mentorship as they prepare for college. Here are some of her other successful ventures.
1. Emerson Collective
Laurene Powell Jobs founded Emerson Collective in 2004. The organization focuses on education, immigration reform, the environment, media and journalism, and health. It is structured as a limited liability company (LLC) and utilizes philanthropy, impact investing, advocacy, and community engagement as tools to spur change in the United States and abroad.
In 2021, Emerson Collective announced that it would invest $3.5 billion into climate-focused initiatives over ten years, demonstrating a commitment to environmental causes.
2. XQ: The Super School Project
In addition to her work with Emerson Collective and College Track, Laurene initiated a $50 million project called ‘XQ: The Super School Project.’ This project aims to establish innovative high schools with a fresh approach to education. Currently, she serves as the chairwoman of the board of directors for XQ, overseeing its activities and initiatives.
Political Contributions
During the 2016 election cycle, Laurene Powell Jobs was one of the top 100 donors to federal campaigns. She contributed $2,305,072 towards federal-level campaigns. In California, she also contributed $808,200 to statewide candidates and California ballot measures. Her largest contribution in California was $500,000 to support Prop 62, which aimed to repeal the death penalty and establish life without parole as the maximum punishment for murder.
Laurene also contributed $250,000 to Maricopa Strong, a committee in Arizona that opposed the re-election of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In 2012, she gave $30,800 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In 2014, she contributed $500,000 to the Senate Majority PAC. She also gave $32,400 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and $25,000 to the pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC, Ready PAC.
The Legacy of Laurene Powell Jobs
Laurene Powell Jobs has made a significant impact on education, the environment, and social justice. Apart from being a philanthropist, she is a compassionate and bold woman who thinks for the youth and inspires them to be better and brighter. Her remarkable journey teaches us to contribute to the society and make a difference.
