Melinda Gates
Melinda Gates
Melinda Ann Gates, DBE is an American businesswoman and philanthropist...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionEntrepreneur
Date of Birth15 August 1964
CountryUnited States of America
growing-up thinking back-to-work
[Bill Gates] wanted me to stay working at Microsoft, but I didn't think he could be CEO and we could have the family life that we both had growing up, which is what we envisioned. I knew I would go back to work at some point later to some profession. I just didn't know what.
depression suicidal thinking
I felt suicidal. I couldn't stop crying. I remember thinking, wouldn't it be great if the car crashed and I died?
college goal way
I realized that the only way to get into a good college was to be valedictorian or salutatorian. So that was my goal.
kids two ipods
But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids.
decision gates
We [with Bill Gates] started to make decisions about what we'd invest in. Then I actually started traveling for the foundation. I've probably been to India now eight times at least and Africa numerous times.
past men agendas
In the developing world, it's about time that women are on the agenda. For instance, 80 percent of small-subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are women, and yet all the programs in the past were predominantly focused on men.
children polio-vaccine vaccines
Having children made us look differently at all these things that we take for granted, like taking your child to get a vaccine against measles or polio.
meaningful generosity inspire
Deep human connection is ... the purpose and the result of a meaningful life - and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.
baby mean kids
Childbearing, I mean, if there's no place to go to deliver your baby, then you're the one that's delivering in those unhealthy circumstances. Or if you can't get access to family planning, your chances of surviving and being able to bring your kids up if they come one right after the other, that locks you into a cycle of poverty.
children love-you parent
As a parent, the responsible thing to do - if you love your child - is to vaccinate your child.
want economy lifts
If you want to lift up an economy in Africa, you basically start with the women.
girl passion voice
When girls are educated and free to pursue their passions, they contribute more to a thriving society. When women have a voice, they raise it to demand a life that is greater than what they've been told they have a right to expect. And these demands change the future for everyone.
Now we just really need to do the work, which we're doing, to get contraceptives out to women worldwide.
real believe opportunity
We started our foundation because we believe we have a real opportunity to help advance equity around the world, to help make sure that, no matter where a person is born, he or she has the chance to live a healthy, productive life.