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Tim Cook talks childhood, activist efforts at George Washington University commencement speech (Video)

As expected, Tim Cook this weekend gave the commencement address at George Washington University’s graduation ceremony. Cook, who also received an honorary doctorate for public service during the ceremony, was selected by the university after being suggested by students.

During the speech, Cook discussed a variety of topics and offered up advice to the recent college graduates. Cook spoke about his first meetings with Steve Jobs and how he taught Cook that you could make great change in the world while also being successful in your career. Cook stated that now more than ever you don’t have choose between “doing good and doing well.”

Also during his commencement speech Cook talked about his childhood and growing up in Alabama. Cook addressed his interest in technology and politics as a child and his goal from the beginning to make change in the world.

As you would expect, Cook wrapped up the commencement address by taking a picture of the crowd at George Washington University’s graduation ceremony with his iPhone. A video of Cook’s commencement speech can be seen below. Cook gave a similar commencement speech at Auburn University back in 2010.

(Images via Twitter and Mashable)

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Comments

  1. rogifan - 9 years ago

    I got to say the speech really didn’t do much for me. I don’t think giving speeches is one of Tim’s strong suits. Go listen to Tim’s remarks at the Apple employee memorial for Steve. And then compare them to Jony Ive’s shorter remarks at the very same event. Ive’s was moving and memorable, Tim’s not so much.

  2. sunsetbernie - 9 years ago

    Anyone get irked by Tim’s use of “exspecially”? It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me every time, worse than GWBush’s “nucUler”… Ughhhhhhhh. And he sucks at public speaking, great CEO though!!

  3. vxxxcv - 9 years ago

    Values?Start paying fuckin taxes gaycook

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      He probably pays more taxes in one year than you ever will in your entire life

      • vxxxcv - 9 years ago

        Still not pays what the should

    • iipostino - 9 years ago

      Wow! You really suck at life you miserable snake.

    • charismatron - 9 years ago

      vxxxcv: by using “gaycook” as some kind of derogatory term, you’ve flagged yourself as a homophobe. Thanks for doing the world a favour by making it perfectly clear you’re an utter moron, excelling only at informing the general public how thoroughly you’re committed to sucking at life.

    • Wow! Gaycook?
      Are there still homophobes in 2015?
      You must be 65. How old are you Mr. VXXCV?

      And at least Gaycook isn’t hiding behind nickname such as VXXCV.

      • I am not defending VXXCV at all, but for you to be surprised that there are still people who are anti-gay in 2015 is naive. There are a lot of people who are against homosexuality. It doesn’t mean that VXXCV should be saying that stuff, but it’s a fact. I’m hoping you were joking or simply trying to show your disgust for his comment.

        And as far as the taxes, Tim Cook is wealthy. Wealthy people have people who are experts at exploiting tax loopholes. Tim Cook is no different than thousands of other millionaires. This comment was for VXXCV.

    • Ray Hu - 9 years ago

      Please respect everyone. There is nothing that troubles you. Why do you use words such as gaycook and f** to show your poor and miserable education?

  4. bunim1 - 9 years ago

    He doesn’t use a 6+?

    • charilaosmulder - 9 years ago

      His hands were more shaky than I expected so the stabilizer would’ve helped the photo. Although I believe the 6 is a great choice for him because the CEO should be seen with the iPhone “for the rest of us”.

  5. Ilko Sarafski - 9 years ago

    Why on Earth he speaks about iPhone on that speech? Seriously? I mean, I like him as a CEO, he made some very nice and bold moves, but as rogifan said earlier – he’s not the best as a speaker. His speech, I guess, was written by someone else? He is constantly reading, even when he is talking about… himself and his past? Whatever, it’s not a speech we’ll remember anyway. Not even close to SJ’s 2005 one. And yet, Cook is awesome!

  6. bellevueboy - 9 years ago

    Cook is awesome because he is being cook and not trying to be jobs. Those of us who liked jobs and apple under jobs will continue(for the most part) to like apple. But cook I m sure has made apple more personable to others and that’s the reason for his greatness. Most imp he is not trying to be great or showing it or showing it and failing miserably.

  7. ziongpham - 9 years ago

    Excellent speech!

  8. mytawalbeh - 9 years ago

    It’s GREAT speech . I liked how did he spoke about himself and connected that to the segregation and then speaking of Apple as a company changed the world and the like individually you can too.
    Finally, he must talk about and show the iPhone, otherwise that’s not the CEO of a company!

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com