Sports was a great equalizer. It didn't have color. It didn't matter whether you were rich or poor, black or white. It really shaped me in many ways to be able to deal with a lot of different personalities and different cultures. Sports were the common thread.

Customers have different need states and life experiences.

In this ever-changing society, the most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart. They are real and sustainable. Their foundations are stronger because they are built with the strength of the human spirit, not an ad campaign. The companies that are lasting are those that are authentic.

I think if you're an entrepreneur, you've got to dream big - and then dream bigger.

You walk into a retail store, whatever it is, and if there's a sense of entertainment and excitement and electricity, you wanna be there.

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

Do I take criticism of Starbucks personally? Of course I do.