An Inspiring And Effective Force For Good: Melinda Gates
With all thy getting, get understanding
If you want relevant and stirring real-life lessons on achieving big things in the face of an uncomfortable corporate environment or winning the trust of people in tradition-bound societies to change age-old customs that hurt young girls or hold back women, you’ll be spellbound by this conversation with Melinda Gates.
I spoke with her earlier this year at The Executives’ Club of Chicago on the occasion of the publication of her bestselling book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. You’ll marvel at her preternatural wisdom in the ways she brings about reform. Her stories of the amazing individuals she has worked with who are engaging in courageous activities to make the words “opportunity” and “equality” a reality for hundreds of millions of women around the world will stir you. Her work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which she co-founded, has racked up astonishing results in fighting disease, improving agriculture and breaking down barriers to women.
Her journey has by no means been an easy one, but she has always displayed grit and perceptiveness.
What makes this interview especially timely is her announcement that she is committing $1 billion to promote gender equality. What is clear from her book and our conversation is that success here will profoundly benefit everyone around the world.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media
