Melinda Gates shares “Good” Part in not working with ex-husband Bill Gates
In a recent media interaction, Melinda French Gates opened up on how her life has transsformed and her accomplishments now being acknowledged on her own merits.
Melinda seperated from Bill Gates three years ago and got divorced too
Melinda is a philanthropist and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and very recently recounted on her newfound independence and professional recognition after her 2021 divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Melinda’s divorce three years back marked the end of a decades-long bond, both personal and professional. The couple had collaborated on charitable ventures through their foundation, which has reportedly disbursed $77.6 billion in global aid since its inception. However, Melinda noted that, in many instances, people would still default to addressing Bill Gates first in meetings, assuming she had less to contribute — a frustrating reality she attributed to sexism.
She went on to reveal that she was aware that he was well-known and did great things in the tech industry, but why would they assume she knew less about philanthropy when we had been doing it together for almost 25 years?” she questioned. “Unless she interrupted the conversation, they could have just kept going for the whole meeting.
Chronicling herself as a “challenger,” Melinda recalled how she had to assert herself in meetings to ensure her voice was heard. She would speak first to make sure they listened to her.
In their early years, this high-powered was also highlighted in The New York Times recent biography of Bill Gates, which characterised him as a “mansplainer”
He would often cut Melinda Gates off in conversations, leaving her quietly fuming. However, as time passed, the dynamic shifted.
Melinda Gates’ commitment to philanthropy, especially showcased on women’s rights, health, and education, has remained steadfast even after her resignation from the Gates Foundation in May 2024.
Although the foundation remains a cornerstone of her work, Melinda has also expanded her influence through Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company she founded in 2015 to drive social progress, particularly for women and families.
In her new chapter of life, Melinda Gates is embracing a more flexible approach to philanthropy, stating that it’s essential to “place trust in the people and organisations we partner with and let them define success on their own terms.” She stressed the importance of humility in her team and her belief in standing behind movements rather than leading them from the front.
Warren Buffett, a longtime friend of the Gateses, previously called Ms French Gates “smarter” than Bill Gates in seeing the bigger picture. Mr Buffett stepped down as a trustee of the Gates foundation shortly after their divorce.
News Edit KV Raman
