Melinda Gates

Melinda Ann Gates is an American businesswoman, philanthropist and author best known for working with her husband Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, in founding the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This charitable organization has dedicated the majority of its donations to global health initiatives and programs for the underserved. In her own right, Gates has participated in a number of other humanitarian and business efforts, including co-founding companies and writing books on various topics from poverty and education to gender equality and opportunity.

Born in Texas in 1964, Gates was raised in Seattle and was a young and ambitious student growing up. She was accepted into Duke University, earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics in 1986. After graduating, she worked for a number of companies, including IBM and Microsoft, in marketing and development positions. After a few years, her and Bill Gates married in 1994 and the following year the two established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation became the largest private philanthropic organization in the world and Melinda has dedicated her life to it, having been the co-chair alongside her husband since its inception.

Outside of her work with the Foundation, Gates has become an advocate for establishing global opportunities for women. She’s given speeches at universities and institutions, such as the Clinton Global Initiative, on the topic while also guest speaking at a number of symposiums. Additionally, she co-founded TerraPower, a nuclear energy corporation, with her husband and in 2011 co-founded Pivotal Ventures, an incubator for projects and technologies in the social good market.

In 2019, Gates released her first book, “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World”, which talks about her own life experiences and the impact of empowering women in places such as Africa, India, and the United States. Gates explains in her book her personal journey and covers topics such as equal pay and education. She has appeared on television programs, such as Good Morning America and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, to discuss her book, as well as her work with the Gates Foundation.

As an author, activist, philanthropist, and businesswoman, Gates has earned international respect and recognition. She’s the recipient of a number of awards and honors. In 2006, the University of Cambridge awarded Gates along with her husband with an honorary degree for their work in philanthropy, and in 2012 Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom for her work in global health. Additionally, she’s been named one of the most powerful women in business by Fortune magazine and one of the most influential philanthropists by Time.

In addition to her efforts, Gates continues to use her platform and power to continue pushing a drive for change around the topics of education, health, and women’s rights. Her commitment, along with her husband’s, to improving our world is an example to all of us that philanthropy and charity can make a true and lasting difference in the lives of those in need.