I think my background, coming from Iran, which is a great country but is going through its share of troubles, really allows me to appreciate what we have here.

I think I wanted to be a doctor. In Iran, the engineering and medical professions are worshipped. My father very much wanted me to be a doctor. I was certainly eager to please as a young man - as a kid, I should say.

One of the early lessons that I learned in leadership is that it's the leader's job to always go against the flow.

The American dream is you come here, you believe in democracy, you believe in the Constitution, you work hard, you can make it.