China is going to be one of Avon's largest market opportunities. It has a large geographic expanse, with hundreds of thousands of women in small villages really striving to make an earnings opportunity for themselves.

That was very much ahead of its time back in the 1880s and, not surprisingly, it was met with some resistance. [I]f you fast forward to today and the fact that we're the single largest source of employment for women (broadly speaking, as the reps are independent contractors), we've been an important creator of entrepreneurship for women.

It's an unbelievable responsibility to influence decisions, shareholder value and most important to me, people's careers and livelihoods.

There are pros and cons of experience. A con is that you can't look at the business with a fresh pair of eyes and as objectively as if you were a new CEO. Fire yourself on a Friday night and come in on Monday morning as if a search firm put you there as a turn-around leader. Can you be objective and make the bold change?

I feel like I'm part of history being made. I leave Apple board meetings thinking, 'I've got to do a better job.'

I think it's critical that you feel you're working for a person who is committed to advancing your career.

You know, you go home and you try on a new mascara, and I guess a male CEO can't do that.