The Starbucks customer and the Teavana customer are two very different customers, two different need states that are highly complimentary.

Business leaders cannot be bystanders.

I'm optimistic about the country; I'm optimistic about the American people.

Authentic brands don't emerge from marketing cubicles or advertising agencies. They emanate from everything the company does.

More than anything else, technology will pave the way for innovative change at Starbucks. The bulk of Starbucks' innovation over the next several years will be technology-focused.

China traditionally has been a tea-drinking country but we turned them into coffee drinkers.

And with the right mentor, don't be afraid to expose your vulnerabilities. Admit you don't know what you don't know. When you acknowledge your weaknesses and ask for advice, you'll be surprised how much others will help.