Marne Levine

“I definitely have not had a linear path. I have had more of a path where I've meandered with a sense of purpose. Really, what that means is it's about being true to your convictions and your passions but also leaving yourself open to opportunities when they come along.”

“When you put fear aside and follow your convictions, you get to try and achieve so many more things.”

“When I was at school, one of my teachers had two statements hanging from the board all year: 'Be observant' and 'Be empathetic.'”

“When I went to college in 1988, most people were probably trying to figure out how they were going to decorate their rooms, who was going to be on their floor, what classes they were going to take. My big preoccupation at that point was figuring out how I could get my absentee ballot so that I could vote in Ohio for Michael Dukakis at that time.”

“Be open about mistakes.”

“My senior project was about solid-waste management. They nicknamed me 'Trash Queen'.”

“I majored in political science and speech communication.”

“Through an image, people are able to communicate how they're feeling, making even the most invisible struggles more visible to friends and family.”

“Mentorship is important for everybody, but it can come in a variety of forms. It can come from your boss or another colleague who may be more of a peer, or someone who reports into you if they have a lot of experience or creative experience.”

“Listen to your gut. Are decisions more expansive or narrowing?”

“Video is just exploding on Instagram - motion is the new filter. We're going to help people use visuals to tell their stories.”

“I love coffee, but I don't photograph it. That's not who I am. I'm a social creature, so my subject should not be the coffee. It's about being together with friends.”

“My overall plan for Instagram is to continue to create a tool that will inspire people to use their visual voice.”

“I often ask people what I did wrong in the last meeting, because then others feel they have permission to own their mistakes, too.”

“I felt Facebook had a lot of what I appreciated about government - being around a collection of really bright, thoughtful people motivated to have a positive impact.”

“Instagram Stories. I am really excited about it. I think Instagram is such a great platform: It's so creative; it's so visual. It's an incredible way to experience the world through images, whether photo or video. I also think that our community is incredible, in the sense that it's such a passionate community connecting around shared interests.”

“Don't be afraid to learn on the job. No matter how much preparation you've done, the tech industry is changing so fast that we're all learning every day.”

“Say thank you. Say it often, and say it with meaning.”

“If someone on Instagram sees that a friend is in a harmful situation, they can report it.”

“My favorite question is 'Why?' I think it can be really helpful - I also think it can be annoying to people at times; I'll admit that. But I really do try to understand why are we approaching it this way, does it makes sense, is this the right answer, why is it the right answer, are there other paths to getting there, could those be better.”