The biggest barrier we've seen to student progress is this: School policies and practices often prevent good teachers from doing great work and even dissuade some talented Americans from entering the profession. This needs to change.

I can imagine no more important contribution to our country's future than a long-term commitment to improving urban K-12 public schools.

Civilizations are not remembered by their business people, their bankers or lawyers. They're remembered by the arts.

Time is the most valuable thing you have - and I'm not just talking about the minutes for which you're paid.

A lot of executives act like their time is worth more than anyone else's. But I always respect an employee who guards his or her time, even from me.

The first dream I had was just to get a college education. I got through college in three years, taking extra classes in summer school.

Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven't been done before.