We employ a novel, three-pronged approach to demonstrate Albert Einstein’s bold scientific and personal intuition and leadership, especially concerning the development of the quantum theory. (1) We present some of Einstein’s personal history, his four 1905 Annus Mirabilis research papers and some thoughts on the nature of his genius. (2) We describe Max Planck’s use of Ludwig Boltzmann’s notion of a harmonic energy-level discontinuity in his Black-Body Radiation theory, and we examine Einstein’s 1905 analysis of the Photoelectric Effect, focusing on his revolutionary proposal of the quantum of radiation, E = hv. (3) We provide the story of Einstein’s tenacious leadership and milestone contributions during the following 20-year journey to Schrödinger’s wave mechanics.