The article presents a part of the interview with the CEO and teacher-in-chief of the NYC Leadership Academy, Bob Knowling. Formally a high-tech CEO, Knowling says he was enticed by the idea of transforming the New York public school system because, as he says, most of the students in that system look like him. He explains how leadership development is the only intervention that matters, and how he plans to succeed at the riskiest business challenge of his career.