Pixar exec says former boss Steve Jobs called workers anytime, even at 3 a.m. and on vacation—but it's a red flag he won’t repeat

Steve Jobs (Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

• A Pixar executive said his former boss Steve Jobs would call “at any time, day or night, three in the morning,” even if “you’re on vacation, doesn’t matter.” It’s a leadership trait he doesn’t want to emulate at the $7.4 billion animation studio. Other CEOs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have fostered company cultures that expected workers to be “always on.”

While Steve Jobs may be best known for revolutionizing tech with the iPhone and iPod, few people may know about his double life bringing beloved films like Finding Nemo and Toy Story to life. He was one of the three founding fathers of Pixar Animation Studios, purchasing the group from Lucasfilm in 1986. But in helping lead the iconic movie company, Jobs had a certain habit that would drive any employee up the wall.