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.

I never stay anywhere — parties , museums, meetings — longer than 3 hours.

I don't see myself as a great discoverer of artists, like Charles Saatchi.

To me, money is a means to do good. I reached a point in my life where I had enjoyed tremendous business success that afforded my family everything we could possibly want. My wife and I then decided that we could use our wealth to make a difference. So we created the Broad Foundations to do four things: to improve urban public education, to support innovative scientific and medical research, to foster art appreciation for audiences worldwide and to support civic initiatives in Los Angeles.

In high school, I would drive my teachers batty. They would make a statement, and I would say, 'Why is that?' They didn't want to be questioned.

School boards are, for the most part ,made up of political wannabes who see a board seat as a stepping stone for political office, or well-meaning parents who represent an ethnic group or geography, or have some other narrow interests. Few people on them understand what governance is about.

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