About
Philanthropist, businesswoman, author, and global advocate for women & girls. Founder of…
Articles by Melinda
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What Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe Taught Me About Courage
What Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe Taught Me About Courage
By Melinda French Gates
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I Turn 60 Next Month. Here’s How I Feel About Getting Older.
I Turn 60 Next Month. Here’s How I Feel About Getting Older.
By Melinda French Gates
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To my foundation colleagues and alumni
To my foundation colleagues and alumni
By Melinda French Gates
Contributions
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How can mentors help you navigate your career path?
When I was at Microsoft, I had a boss and mentor who had a huge impact on me as I was getting my foothold in the professional world. Her name was Patty Stonesifer. Everyone wanted to work for her because she made people feel supported and empowered to try new things. On our team, she helped create a culture where we could be honest about our strengths and weaknesses—and most importantly, where we could admit “I was wrong.” That was a big deal back then. Seeing how effectively Patty did her job without compromising her values helped me learn how to be myself at work. I stopped trying to conform to other people’s expectations, and to my surprise at the time, that made me more effective at my job. It changed the trajectory of my career.
Activity
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As part of my Moments That Make Us series, I talked to tennis legend Billie Jean King about what it felt like to watch her win the Battle of the…
As part of my Moments That Make Us series, I talked to tennis legend Billie Jean King about what it felt like to watch her win the Battle of the…
Posted by Melinda French Gates
Experience
Education
Publications
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Foreword for "Family, Affluence and Morality" by Peter Singer
Oxford University Press
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The Moment of Lift
Flatiron Books
The first book from Melinda French Gates, available in the U.S. on April 23, 2019.
For the last twenty years, Melinda French Gates has been on a mission. Her goal, as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been to find solutions for people with the most urgent needs, wherever they live. Throughout this journey, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, invest in women.
In this candid and inspiring book from Flatiron Books…The first book from Melinda French Gates, available in the U.S. on April 23, 2019.
For the last twenty years, Melinda French Gates has been on a mission. Her goal, as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been to find solutions for people with the most urgent needs, wherever they live. Throughout this journey, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, invest in women.
In this candid and inspiring book from Flatiron Books, Melinda traces her awakening to the link between women’s empowerment and the health of societies. She shows some of the tremendous opportunities that exist right now to “turbo-charge” change. And she provides simple and effective ways each one of us can make a difference.
Convinced that all women should be free to decide whether and when to have children, Melinda took her first step onto the global stage to make a stand for family planning. That step launched her into further efforts: to ensure women everywhere have access to every kind of job; to encourage men around the globe to share equally in the burdens of household work; to advocate for paid family and medical leave for everyone; to eliminate gender bias in all its forms.
Throughout, Melinda introduces us to her heroes in the movement towards equality, offers startling data, shares moving conversations she’s had with women from all over the world―and shows how we can all get involved.
A personal statement of passionate conviction, this book tells of Melinda’s journey from a partner working behind the scenes to one of the world’s foremost advocates for women, driven by the belief that no one should be excluded, all lives have equal value, and gender equity is the lever that lifts everything.
Melinda will be donating all the amounts she receives from this book to charity.
More activity by Melinda
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In my conversation with Oprah and Gayle for the “Moments That Make Us” series, Gayle said something I haven’t stopped thinking about since: “Aging is…
In my conversation with Oprah and Gayle for the “Moments That Make Us” series, Gayle said something I haven’t stopped thinking about since: “Aging is…
Posted by Melinda French Gates
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Thanks to The New York Times' Lulu Garcia-Navarro for a thought-provoking conversation. We talked about my recent transitions, the role I believe…
Thanks to The New York Times' Lulu Garcia-Navarro for a thought-provoking conversation. We talked about my recent transitions, the role I believe…
Shared by Melinda French Gates
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Sonya Massey should be alive today. Like so many others, I am heartbroken and angry. Our country’s pervasive violence against Black women is…
Sonya Massey should be alive today. Like so many others, I am heartbroken and angry. Our country’s pervasive violence against Black women is…
Posted by Melinda French Gates
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Thanks to CBS Mornings and the lovely Adriana Diaz, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson for having me.
Thanks to CBS Mornings and the lovely Adriana Diaz, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson for having me.
Shared by Melinda French Gates
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I’m so excited to share “Moments That Make Us,” a series of in-depth conversations with iconic changemakers of all ages. Each of these women have so…
I’m so excited to share “Moments That Make Us,” a series of in-depth conversations with iconic changemakers of all ages. Each of these women have so…
Shared by Melinda French Gates
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I loved talking with Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Billie Jean King, Reese Witherspoon, Ava DuVernay, and Megan Rapinoe for my new…
I loved talking with Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Billie Jean King, Reese Witherspoon, Ava DuVernay, and Megan Rapinoe for my new…
Shared by Melinda French Gates
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There is so much riding on the election in November. We need a leader who will stand up for reproductive freedom. A leader who understands that…
There is so much riding on the election in November. We need a leader who will stand up for reproductive freedom. A leader who understands that…
Posted by Melinda French Gates
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I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity and privilege to serve the Ford Foundation over these past 11 years. I will be…
I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity and privilege to serve the Ford Foundation over these past 11 years. I will be…
Liked by Melinda French Gates
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