The philanthropist, businesswoman, advocate for women and girls, and author speaks on embracing change, staying motivated and the universal lessons that have shaped her journey in her new book.
“Well, let me just say that I never expected to write a book like this. It is deeply personal, and to be honest, it doesn’t always show me at my best,” Melinda French Gates shares with FORBES AFRICA.
“…Throughout my life, I’ve benefited greatly from people who had the courage to share their stories and be honest about their experiences. Knowing how much their vulnerability helped me on my journey made me want to try to do that for someone else.”
Gates, the founder of Pivotal Ventures–which works to advance social progress and expand women’s power and influence in the U.S. and around the world–and co-founder of the Gates Foundation concedes that she has been through many changes over the past few years.
She adds that, in the toughest moments, she would reach for her bookshelf and find the wisdom she needed to make sense of everything happening around her.
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The foundation, which focuses on health, gender equality, global development and education, has reported around $92 million of support in Africa, has offices in Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa and has partnered with the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Union, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Amref Health Africa, among others.
In her new book, The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward, Gates shares a glimpse of the moments that shaped her, including her journey of becoming a mother, the end of her marriage and life after her departure from the foundation. The common thread? Embracing the uncertainty and navigating your way through it.
She also reflects on balancing several roles and how she stays motivated.
“I’ve learned how important it is to take time for myself and to prioritize friendships and family, and I’m very intentional about doing what I need to recharge and regroup. But honestly, I find the work that I’m doing right now extremely energizing… and I want to do everything I can to make a difference,” Gates explains.
“Anytime I meet with one of the amazing partners that Pivotal [Ventures] works with, I walk away with so much motivation and hope. They are forging ahead with such focus and ingenuity that it always inspires me to double down on my own commitment.”
Her philanthropic work alone has afforded her several moments that challenged and inspired her, and gave her the courage to use her voice, including meeting scientists in Senegal who are developing lifesaving vaccines and leading important research, while managing their responsibilities at home.
“[It] reminds me how many exciting innovations are taking place all around the world—and how much more we could unleash if mothers had more support.
“Most recently, on a trip to Cape Town, I was deeply moved by the women I met who are fighting the violence and injustice they’ve endured with so much bravery and resilience. All of these women, and countless others, are the reason I do what I do.”
Her advice for readers in similar periods of transition is to not rush through them: “I know that change can be scary, and it is so tempting to try to get it over with as quickly as possible and jump to the next thing that feels safe and familiar. But if there’s one lesson that I want people to take away from this book, it’s that lingering in the uncertainty can offer a lot of wisdom and perspective that you might not get otherwise. Just know that you don’t have to navigate it alone—you can let the people who love you be there for you. Trust me, they want to”.
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