The success of the Starbucks has been based on this balance between profitability and a social conscience. Everywhere we're doing business, were trying to manage the business through the lens of humanity.

We will never-and I mean never-turn our backs on our employees.

I'm much more concerned about America than the Democratic Party.

We think of Starbucks not as a coffee company but a media company.

The companies that are lasting are those that are authentic.

I've traveled around the world, and what's so revealing is that, despite the differences in culture, politics, language, how people dress, there is a universal feeling that we all want the same thing. We deeply want to be respected and appreciated for our differences.

There's an energy and excitement when you're building a company. You have so much tail wind. You're planting new seeds. But it's also scary, because there's no safety net.