I was interning in the CBS sports affiliate in Atlanta with Robin Roberts.... I was taking notes on a Braves-Padres game, and on the live feed came footage of these kids protesting and getting crushed during the Tiananmen Square uprising in China in 1989. In that moment I became like a lot of young people in this country today, horrified and inspired but confused as to what I might do.

Every working mother struggles with the BlackBerry, knowing the boss can call.

From Richard Holbrooke - and I miss him every day - I learned two things. One, prioritization: Never take your eye off the longer-term reforms. The other thing is, he was a hell of a schmoozer! So I should take advantage of my Irish love of beer and gift of the gab, and build relationships. That's a cherished part of the job, asking someone, "How did you get to be the Rwandan ambassador?" I try to take advantage of the fact that I hope to be here at least until the president's term ends getting to know my colleagues.

One of the things that a president needs in the face of genocide is resolve.

In general, my rule is find out where your heart is, then speak from the heart. People know the difference between that and something scripted.

Brokenness is the operative issue of our time - broken souls, broken hearts, broken places.

I like to think that as I get older I'm getting better at spending time with people who have qualities that make them worth spending time with.