As an entrepreneur, the latitude of failure and of success is directly correlated to people. I am growing more and more attentive to my first instincts, even if I can't justify them, as they apply to people.

The issue of women in the workplace is not a women's issue: it's an economic problem.

By saying that leaders - male or female - have to look or act a certain way to be respected as role models, we are not only hurting those individuals but also reinforcing rigid benchmarks for the next generation of passionate, aspiring leaders, who are watching.

Having women who are already successful take the leap of faith to help younger women is critical.

I feel that my job is to create an atmosphere where creative people can do their best work.

I have to be honest: in my career, I've really had to fight to come in the middle again. A lot of managers told me, 'You are way more comfortable as a winger than as a midfielder,' but I always kept my trust and confidence in what I knew about my qualities.

As an economist specializing in the global economy, international trade and debt, I have spent most of my career helping others make big decisions - prime ministers, presidents and chief executives - and so I'm all too aware of the risks and dangers of poor choices in the public as well as the private sphere.

No matter how happy or hopeful I am, I always tend to drift back to that. It's underneath all the music I've ever written... An artist is trying to tell you how he's feeling. And if that accidentally becomes entertaining, it becomes a career.