Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson Profile Photo

Author, Shop Different

Apple Store creator Ron Johnson is a sought-after speaker, board member, and author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple’s Genius (September 22, 2026 / Harper Collins). He also founded Enjoy, the first mobile retail store, and served as the CEO of J.C. Penney. He is best known for creating the Apple Stores, working directly for Steve Jobs while serving as a member of Apple’s executive team. Prior to his time at Apple, Ron was highly regarded for the work he did with Michael Graves to bring good design to all as a merchant leader at Target; their collaboration set the stage for the brand’s hundreds of later design partnerships and cemented Target as America’s premier upscale discount retailer. Ron lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Sept. 21, 2026

Shop Different: Lessons From How Apple Reinvented Retail

In this episode of Daily Creative, we explore the art of tuning into the signals that matter and eliminating the noise that distracts us from meaningful work. Legendary retail leader Ron Johnson joins us to discuss his personal and professional journey—from turning down Wall Street offers to starting at the bottom in retail, to leading the creation of the Apple Store alongside Steve Jobs. His new book is Shop Different. We reflect on how breakthroughs often emerge from unexpected signals, the...
Guest: Ron Johnson