‘A woman has to be well to do well in life’ @melindafrenchgates joined @itsanitarani in the Woman’s Hour studio today and spoke about why she thinks women’s health needs to be better funded. The philanthropist is most well-known for co-founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with her then husband, Microsoft founder Bill Gates. But since their divorce, she has left their joint enterprise and set up her own, Pivotal Ventures, which has one purpose: To put power into the hands of women. Her company, along with the non-profit Wellcome Leap, have committed $100 million to women’s health research. Melinda told Anita why she felt so passionate about focusing on this, and what she hopes will change. Listen to the full interview on @bbcsounds – it’s the Woman’s Hour episode from 3 October 🎧 . . . #bbcwomanshour #bbcradio4 #womenshealth
@melindafrenchgates’ work isn’t finished yet. Last year, French Gates made the “difficult” decision to move on from the Gates Foundation. Since then, she’s refocused her energy on other issues—namely, women’s rights—saying, “I am simply not willing to accept that my granddaughters could grow up with less freedom than I did.” In our Changemakers Issue, Marie Claire spoke with the philanthropist about her new ambitions, the secret benefit of transitions, and the Monday morning tradition she’s been doing for 30 years. Tap the link in bio to read the full interview.
@melindafrenchgates’ work isn’t finished yet. Last year, French Gates made the “difficult” decision to move on from the Gates Foundation. Since then, she’s refocused her energy on other issues—namely, women’s rights—saying, “I am simply not willing to accept that my granddaughters could grow up with less freedom than I did.” In our Changemakers Issue, Marie Claire spoke with the philanthropist about her new ambitions, the secret benefit of transitions, and the Monday morning tradition she’s been doing for 30 years. Tap the link in bio to read the full interview.
Last week in London, I had a very moving and memorable night at #TheAlbies, an event hosted by the @clooneyfoundationforjustice named after the anti-apartheid activist and legal expert Justice Albie Sachs. I met Justice Sachs in 1997 on my first trip to South Africa. While I was in Johannesburg, I visited Constitution Hill, the infamous prison complex that, over the course of its dark history, held both Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. A guide walked me through the complex and told me about both the horrors that took place there and the heroism of the men and women who somehow emerged with the courage to continue their fight. As the day went on, I started trying to draw out more of my guide’s story. He hadn’t said much about himself, but he was willing to answer my questions. Eventually, he told me about his own activism against the apartheid regime. How he was arrested. Held in solitary confinement. Exiled. Nearly assassinated. How he lost his arm and part of his sight after South African security forces bombed his car—but still returned to South Africa to write equality into the law. It turned out that my guide that day was Justice Albie Sachs himself. He made an unforgettable impression on me. Frankly, it felt a bit surreal to be receiving an award at an event named for him and sharing a stage with an incredible slate of honorees: Darren Walker, José Rubén Zamora, Fatou Baldeh, and Marty Baron. Justice Sachs, it was wonderful to see you there. I’m glad I had the chance to give you a hug and tell you that, all these years later, I still look to you as a guide. And thank you, Amal and George, for the important work you do in the world and for shining a light on the brave women and men who are continuing Justice Sachs’ march toward justice.
I used to be a therapy skeptic. It’s not that I was against it—I knew plenty of people who swore by therapy, and I didn’t hesitate to suggest it to loved ones. But I thought of it as something for other people. A good friend helped me see it differently. One day, years ago, when it was obvious I was feeling stretched thin, she pulled me aside and gently asked: Are you talking to a therapist? I wasn’t, but I told her I’d consider it. The first therapist I went to wasn’t a fit, and I started making excuses to postpone or cancel our sessions. But when the issues I was dealing with escalated, and I had a particularly terrifying panic attack, I knew I owed it to myself—and the people around me—to try again. Thankfully, the second therapist I saw changed everything. (In fact, I still see her almost every week—ten years later!) It took time and a lot of effort and patience on my part, but she helped me reconnect with the inner voice I had lost touch with over the years. Learning to trust that voice not only empowered me to show up more authentically at home and at work, but it helped me navigate some of my hardest moments with clarity and conviction. Therapy isn’t the same for everyone, and it can take time to see how it works for you. If you’re a therapy skeptic like I used to be, I get it. But I’ve learned that sometimes we owe it to ourselves to try the thing we’re unsure about. I did, and I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong. I write about the role therapy played in my life in my new book, The Next Day, which you can learn more about at the link in my bio.
I used to be a therapy skeptic. It’s not that I was against it—I knew plenty of people who swore by therapy, and I didn’t hesitate to suggest it to loved ones. But I thought of it as something for other people. A good friend helped me see it differently. One day, years ago, when it was obvious I was feeling stretched thin, she pulled me aside and gently asked: Are you talking to a therapist? I wasn’t, but I told her I’d consider it. The first therapist I went to wasn’t a fit, and I started making excuses to postpone or cancel our sessions. But when the issues I was dealing with escalated, and I had a particularly terrifying panic attack, I knew I owed it to myself—and the people around me—to try again. Thankfully, the second therapist I saw changed everything. (In fact, I still see her almost every week—ten years later!) It took time and a lot of effort and patience on my part, but she helped me reconnect with the inner voice I had lost touch with over the years. Learning to trust that voice not only empowered me to show up more authentically at home and at work, but it helped me navigate some of my hardest moments with clarity and conviction. Therapy isn’t the same for everyone, and it can take time to see how it works for you. If you’re a therapy skeptic like I used to be, I get it. But I’ve learned that sometimes we owe it to ourselves to try the thing we’re unsure about. I did, and I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong. I write about the role therapy played in my life in my new book, The Next Day, which you can learn more about at the link in my bio.
I used to be a therapy skeptic. It’s not that I was against it—I knew plenty of people who swore by therapy, and I didn’t hesitate to suggest it to loved ones. But I thought of it as something for other people. A good friend helped me see it differently. One day, years ago, when it was obvious I was feeling stretched thin, she pulled me aside and gently asked: Are you talking to a therapist? I wasn’t, but I told her I’d consider it. The first therapist I went to wasn’t a fit, and I started making excuses to postpone or cancel our sessions. But when the issues I was dealing with escalated, and I had a particularly terrifying panic attack, I knew I owed it to myself—and the people around me—to try again. Thankfully, the second therapist I saw changed everything. (In fact, I still see her almost every week—ten years later!) It took time and a lot of effort and patience on my part, but she helped me reconnect with the inner voice I had lost touch with over the years. Learning to trust that voice not only empowered me to show up more authentically at home and at work, but it helped me navigate some of my hardest moments with clarity and conviction. Therapy isn’t the same for everyone, and it can take time to see how it works for you. If you’re a therapy skeptic like I used to be, I get it. But I’ve learned that sometimes we owe it to ourselves to try the thing we’re unsure about. I did, and I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong. I write about the role therapy played in my life in my new book, The Next Day, which you can learn more about at the link in my bio.
‘At 60… I’ve stepped into my full power’ 🙌 Philanthropist @melindafrenchgates joined us in the Woman’s Hour studio last week and spoke about the impact of turning 60. Melinda told @itsanitarani that her self-confidence has boomed and that she’s found her voice since her divorce from her former husband, Microsoft founder Bill Gates. She also spoke about the importance of embracing times of transition, as she thinks those are the times when real growth can happen 👀 Listen to the full interview on @bbcsounds – it’s the Woman’s Hour episode from 3 October 🎧 . . . #bbcwomanshour #bbcradio4 #wednesdaywisdom
Okay, this was surreal 😊 So excited to see my new book in print—and even more excited to share it with all of you when it comes out on April 15! Hope to see many of you during my upcoming book tour, which kicks off on April 14. Get your tickets at the link in my bio.
I am so excited to share that my YouTube series, Moments That Make Us, is back for a second season! I sat down with four incredible women—@serenawilliams, @robinrobertsgma, @jamieleecurtis, and @amandangocnguyen—to talk about some of the most formative experiences in their lives and how they’ve shaped who they are. I can’t wait for you to watch these conversations. A link to the full series on YouTube is in my bio.
When I saw that this year’s theme for International Day of the Girl is about recognizing the leadership of girls and lifting up their voices, I thought back to a conversation I had with a group of teenage girls in Nashville earlier this year. Thanks to nonprofits like @girlsinc and @halfthestory, these young women are developing a healthier relationship with technology and thinking critically about their use of social media—because they know that, if used correctly, it can be a powerful force for good. All around the world, girls like them are confronting the challenges they face with curiosity, imagination, and a commitment to build a better way forward. Their voices are the ones we need, and their leadership gives me a lot of hope. #internationaldayofthegirl
My new book, The Next Day, comes out next week, and I’m so excited to share it with you! And starting April 14th, I’ll be heading to New York, Nashville, Washington D.C., Austin, Chicago, and Seattle to talk about the book with six women I admire—I hope you can join us! Get your tickets at the link in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Women’s health is chronically underfunded and chronically under-researched—and, as a result, women everywhere in the world are suffering. Last week, @pivotal_ventures and @wellcomeleap announced a joint commitment of $100 million toward accelerating breakthroughs in women’s health. With Wellcome Leap’s proven model, we expect to see outcomes like new tools, diagnostics, and treatments years—even decades—sooner than we would through other approaches. Learn more about this work to benefit women everywhere at Wellcome Leap’s website, linked in my bio.
Sometimes, the most innovative solutions can come from people who have lived the problems they’re trying to solve. They see what’s missing, and they care enough to fix it. Sandra Abrevaya and her husband Brian Wallach are perfect examples of this. On the day they brought their second daughter home from the hospital, they got a call that changed everything: Brian was told he had ALS, and only months to live. After hearing “there’s not much we can do” one too many times, Sandra and Brian decided to build the care they couldn’t find. They founded @synapticurehealth, which offers virtual care to improve the quality of life for patients like Brian, caregivers like Sandra, and families who have been impacted by neurodegenerative disease. I’m proud to invest in Synapticure. Learn more about its approach—and Sandra and Brian’s touching story at the link in my bio.
“I want to see more women leading—making decisions, directing resources, and shaping policies at the highest levels of society. That requires us to make sure they’re not facing unique barriers along the way to positions of power.” @melindafrenchgates of @pivotal_ventures discussed the WIN Challenge, workplace barriers, and the future of work with @fortunemag’s @kristinstoller. Read more at the link in our bio.
“I want to see more women leading—making decisions, directing resources, and shaping policies at the highest levels of society. That requires us to make sure they’re not facing unique barriers along the way to positions of power.” @melindafrenchgates of @pivotal_ventures discussed the WIN Challenge, workplace barriers, and the future of work with @fortunemag’s @kristinstoller. Read more at the link in our bio.
“I want to see more women leading—making decisions, directing resources, and shaping policies at the highest levels of society. That requires us to make sure they’re not facing unique barriers along the way to positions of power.” @melindafrenchgates of @pivotal_ventures discussed the WIN Challenge, workplace barriers, and the future of work with @fortunemag’s @kristinstoller. Read more at the link in our bio.
“I want to see more women leading—making decisions, directing resources, and shaping policies at the highest levels of society. That requires us to make sure they’re not facing unique barriers along the way to positions of power.” @melindafrenchgates of @pivotal_ventures discussed the WIN Challenge, workplace barriers, and the future of work with @fortunemag’s @kristinstoller. Read more at the link in our bio.
“I want to see more women leading—making decisions, directing resources, and shaping policies at the highest levels of society. That requires us to make sure they’re not facing unique barriers along the way to positions of power.” @melindafrenchgates of @pivotal_ventures discussed the WIN Challenge, workplace barriers, and the future of work with @fortunemag’s @kristinstoller. Read more at the link in our bio.
