No one in my family had a retail or marketing background. They were professionals. They didn't understand just what I was doing by going into retailing. After I started, though, it got into my blood. I knew this was what I wanted.

Since I'm a mother and a wife, I have to have passion or the frustration would win out. But I love managing people. The product is second to managing the people. And marketing to consumers is so challenging because it is evolving constantly.

Talent is the No. 1 priority for a CEO. You think it's about vision and strategy, but you have to get the right people first.

I can only have dinner with my girlfriends once a month instead of once a week.

There's obviously a correlation between an economically empowered woman and the investments she makes. That leads to her social and moral conscience for bettering her community.

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

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