Melinda French Gates discussed the personal and professional rewards of moving forward following her high-profile divorce from Bill Gates in a recent interview with Vanity Fair
French mentioned a significant shift since her departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024. "When I get a meeting now, I know it's because of me, quite honestly, it feels quite good." she told Vanity Fair.
Reflecting on her newfound independence, the philanthropist expressed happiness with the professional respect she now received for her own efforts.
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She recounted past experiences of sexism during her tenure with the foundation, noting that discussions often defaulted to her ex-husband in professional settings.
"If I went into a president or prime minister's office and I was with my ex-husband, they would turn to him first," French Gates said. "Unless I interrupted the conversation, they could have just kept going for the whole meeting."
French Gates criticised the "false assumption" that her skills was overshadowed by her ex-husband, citing it as an example of misogyny. Despite her significant experience in philanthropy, she frequently found herself playing a supporting role.
With a $12.5 billion philanthropic fund, French Gates has subsequently focused on her own charitable organization, Pivotal Ventures, which addresses women's health issues and supports Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
She highlighted her excitement for this new era of her career, saying, "I am incredibly energized about the job ahead. It seems like this is the ideal time."
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