At its core, I believe leadership is about instilling confidence in others.

Managing and navigating through a financial crisis is no fun at all.

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

We want passion for our business.. workers who can interpret and execute our mission, who want to build a career, not just take a temporary job.

We would take something old and tired and common - coffee - and weave a sense of romance and community around it. We would rediscover the mystique and charm that had swirled around coffee throughout the centuries.

Europe has always represented a major strategic opportunity to achieve our goal of creating and building an enduring global brand.

I honestly never dreamed at the time that I would one day own the Starbucks and or be in a position where we would have more than 10,000 stores around the world. It has just been an incredible journey for all of us.