Exclusive dialogue Melinda: It is lucky to have wealth and give back to the society

When we give women attention, they can pass this concern to everyone around them. Therefore, for the next generation and future generations, if we want to have a better world, we need to invest in women.

Author 丨 Editor Qi Minqian 丨 Liu Xiaoying

If you become the world's top richest man, how will you allocate your wealth?

Consumption, savings and investment are the three most common wealth flows. However, when luxury homes, yachts and luxury goods have become acquired, the happiness and sense of accomplishment brought by consumption may be greatly reduced. Staying, leaving for future generations, or to invest in making more money, some top rich people have a different understanding of wealth.

In September, the exclusive dialogue of the "Face to the Changsheng", the co -chair and director of the Gates Foundation, Minda Frankage Gates. In this dialogue, Melinda shared her thoughts on her wealth and the power of women.

This is Yao Changsheng, a city publisher Yao Changsheng in 2019, once again exclusively interviewed Melinda.

Melinda is relatively mysterious, because we have heard a lot of speeches in Bill Gates, including in an interview with him in 2019, I feel that this is a standard science and engineering man. He treats the question he likes, that is, he answered with a smile, and he is unwilling to perfunctory the question that he doesn't like.

What style is Merlinda? We didn't know before this dialogue. But afterwards, Melinda was actually a very mature social activist. Because she has always smiled and treats any of you enthusiastically.

Equality of gender is an important area that Melinda pays attention to, and her experience is also an excellent sample for women's growth.

In 2000, Melinda and Bill Gates jointly established Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Gates Foundation). As of now, the two of them have donated $ 39 billion.

The way to treat wealth depends on everyone's outlook on wealth. Mel Linda said in her book "Women's Moments" that Bill Gates regarded "sweeping everything" as one of the essential elements of his success. It has nothing to do with hard work, but it is destined. "

Melinda himself also believes that people with wealth are lucky. Because of luck, people with wealth are more responsible for giving back to the society.

01. Walk from behind the scenes to front of the stage

Melinda was born in a typical American middle -class family. Her father was an aerospace engineer who had participated in the Apollo plan. Her mother was a housewife. Mel Linda was a school hegemony during his student days. He graduated from Duke University and studied at the popular computer major at that time. In the five years of university, she received two bachelor's degrees in computer science and economics, and a MBA master's degree.

During the job search, Mel Linda wanted to work in Hewlett -Packard, but when HP's interviewer heard that she got Microsoft's offer, she actively advised her to work in Microsoft at that time, because Microsoft was moving forward every day.

In Microsoft, Melinda also works well and manages a small department. Because I met and got married with Bill Gates later, for a long time, "Mrs. Bill Gates" was the most well -known label on Melinda, so that the outside world often ignored her excellence.

Like many women in the workplace, in 1996, Melinda gave birth to her eldest daughter, and she decided to leave from Microsoft and return to the family to take care of their children. But this does not mean the end of his career, and Melinda began to find new fields to play his creativity. How to help more women enter the technology industry is the most concerned about Meinda at the time. To this end, she began to provide computers to some public universities. This was her earliest charity action.

When the Gates Foundation was established, Bill Gates was still managing Microsoft, so Melinda took more in the daily operation of the foundation. However, because Bill Gates often face the public, he is still the "spokesperson" of the foundation, and Melinda is relatively low -key.

Melinda is a person who pays great attention to privacy in her life. She can even be said to be very shy in some aspects. She prefers to work behind the scenes, analyze data, and solve problems. Therefore, in the early days of the Gates Foundation, Melinda often visited the world, but rarely delivered speeches.

In 2006, Buffett announced that he donated most of his property to the Gates Foundation, and Melinda hosted the press conference. This has become a turning point in her career, and since then, she gradually walked from the edge of the stage to the middle.

Buffett also wanted to do a fund to do a charity at that time. Later, after talking to Bill Gates and Melinda, he decided to hand over his money to the fund to take care of it. Since 2006, Buffett has donated $ 35.7 billion to the Gates Foundation, accounting for about half of the fund's total funds.

Buffett's evaluation of Melinda was very simple, saying that she could master the direction.

02. Investing in women, the world will be better

Ewlogening for women, achieving gender equality has always been a key area for Melinda, and it is also an important factor that promotes her to the stage.

In the "Target Guardian Report" released by the Gates Foundation this year, Melinda mentioned: "Gender equality means that women have power, not just empowerment." In her opinion, when a woman has the power of power It means that she has money in her hands and can decide how to dominate by herself, so there is decision -making power.

Women want to "have money in their hands". In addition to basic survival and health, they also need to be educated, and they get the same work and entrepreneurial opportunities as men. Therefore, the Gates Foundation's assistance to women also promote autonomous fertility from basic guarantees and health, and gradually transition to women's education and women's economy. In 2011, when the Gates Foundation promoted independent fertility projects in a region in India, he encountered a little girl who picked up garbage in a slum. Sona gave a toy picked up in the garbage dump to the foundation staff, and then stared at the staff's eyes: "I want a teacher."

This shocked the staff and Melinda, and also made them start to pay attention to women's education in backward areas. There are still 130 million girls worldwide in the world.

"Education is an unparalleled rising channel." Mel Linda wrote in the book "Women's Moments" that education has an amazing role in promoting girls, so that they know that they have the same rights as everyone, and they must go to go. Defend the right. This consciousness is of great significance to promoting gender equality.

Melinda's enthusiasm for gender equality is derived from affirmation of women's power. "I think women are the epitome of society. When we invest in women, the whole world will become better."

This is because when we give women attention, they can pass this attention to everyone around them. The journal of Britain's "Nature · Human Behavior" published a research report. When sharing money with others, women's brain is more active compared to men, and researchers said that women are more "altruistic."

Under the epidemic, many people's livelihoods are affected, especially women. The impact of various factors of the epidemic is superimposed. The latest issue of the "Target Guardian Report" just released in September 2022 pointed out that women's economic rights and interests around the world are stopping.

However, Mel Linda is still optimistic about this. Technical innovation provides convenient conditions for women to have power. For example, "Even during the epidemic, as long as you can transfer cash transfers to women through mobile phones, even in Niger, one of the most poorest countries in the world, women's chances of going to the market and buying food have increased by 70%."

03. Create a beautiful world for others

As one of the richest women in the world, Melinda has many "identities", entrepreneurs, philanthropists ...

Among the many identities, Melinda most hopes to be remembered and recognized as: "A person who has created a better world for others."

Melinda's definition of success is not what kind of achievements and wealth accumulated, but when we leave the world, it is better than when we come, even if we only improve the lives of 1, 10 or 100 people.

By working in the Gates Foundation and another charity and investment institution he founded, Pivotal Ventures, Melinda hopes to make women and the entire society more progressive and better.

From Duke University's Xueba, to the workplace elites in Microsoft, to returning to the family to find the charity they love, and step by step from behind the scenes to the stage, Melinda's own experience is that women have gained power step by step to obtain power Wonderful interpretation. When she has power, through her influence, she helps more women get rid of the predicament and eventually forms a "upward power" of women.

Regarding the thinking of wealth and equality of gender, Melinda also talked a lot to us. The interview record is attached below:

Changsheng: I want to talk about your views on the epidemic and other major events that have occurred in the past three years. What is the biggest challenge for yourself and the Gates Foundation? What are the impacts on the strategic focus of the foundation and the direction of future development?

Melinda: The Gates Foundation releases the "Target Guardian Report" every year, showing the progress of global sustainable development goals. You just mentioned the epidemic, and the United Nations set a sustainable development goal in 2015. We have just gone half of the process, but the epidemic has caused global progress to retreat sharply.

At present, Bill and I are most concerned about the two issues: first, agriculture. Climate change has caused floods and droughts to be more frequent, and hunger problems in many places in the world. The second is the issue of gender equality. Global has encountered huge setbacks in gender equality and women's empowerment.

But we also want to convey such information: progress is possible. Before the emergence of the new crown epidemic, we continued to make progress in terms of gender equality and reduction of children's death. Therefore, we need to continue to increase investment to help people improve their lives worldwide, and it is still possible to achieve these goals.

Changsheng: So you are still optimistic. Your view is that we have to look forward and think that the goal can be achieved. We have the opportunity to reverse the current unfavorable situation.

Melinda: We need to reflect on what impact the epidemic has caused. The epidemic causes the livelihood of many people, especially the livelihood of women, and the living standards of many people retreat. But on the other hand, many unprecedented innovations have also produced in the process of fighting the epidemic. We must believe in human wisdom.

Taking mobile phones as an example, people all over the world get more information because they have mobile phones. Mobile phones also give a large number of women around the world a digital bank account. During the epidemic, governments of various countries sent social security funds directly to women through their mobile phones, so that they could go to the market to buy food for children.

We also see some innovative results that did not exist ten years ago. We believe that as long as these tools are used properly and are truly delivered to women, not just men, we can see substantial progress. Changsheng: You mean technology can bring a lot of innovation that changes women's lives and is playing a role.

Melinda: Indeed. We have observed that even during the epidemic, as long as we can carry out cash transfer to women through mobile phones, even in Niger, one of the most poorest countries in the world, women's chances of going to the market and buying food have increased by 70%. Women independently master this financial instrument, rather than cash, bringing them economic empowerment. This means that women have more decision -making power and determine who can enjoy food and who can go to school. Therefore, we clearly know the role of innovation.

Changsheng: This is a good news. I have the book you wrote in my hand. In my opinion, you not only have to share your thoughts with us in the book, but also want to share the thoughts behind these ideas, such as deep thinking about gender equality issues. I am curious, what makes you always adhere to such goals, always paying attention to and focusing on gender equality? Where does your enthusiasm come from?

Melinda: When we give women attention, they can pass this attention to everyone around them. Therefore, for the next generation and the future more generations, if we want to have a better world, we need to invest in women, which is an effective way. Studies have shown that when women have sufficient decision -making power and economic rights, they not only become richer, but also their families will become richer and healthy, and children can go to school. Therefore, I think women are the epitome of society. When we invest in women, the whole world will become better.

Changsheng: Women's priority. Women can top half of the sky.

Melinda: (laughs) is indeed.

Changsheng: In addition to your book, you also emphasized that "gender equality depends on women's power, not just empowerment." In your opinion, how can you have power?

Melinda: When a woman has power, it means that she has money in her hands and can decide how to allocate itself. This also means that she has decision -making power in family, communities, and governments, which is what I call. We rarely talk about the topic of women's power, but it is necessary to talk about it.

As mentioned this year's report, whether in the workplace or in an informal economic field, the new crown epidemic has impacted many women's livelihood. What's more serious is that our work progress in gender equality has encountered a backward retrogression. Therefore, we need to study why this situation occurs. One of the issues that need to be faceded is children's care. When a woman wants to find a job to make money to support her family, if the child cannot take a proper look, even if the work is paid well, they cannot accept the job. Therefore, we must pay attention to the economic rights and interests of women and help them do their best to get full empowerment.

Changsheng: In my opinion, the world is experiencing a difficult period today. How do you have any suggestions for the younger generation, how do you spend this moment?

Melinda: We need to ensure that women's operations are invested. If women want to set up a business or land in a business idea, their opportunities to get capital are far lower than men. Usually less than 4%of new capital flows to female leaders. We should open capital to ensure that women operate by women get investment. At the same time, we must ensure that women no longer worry about taking care of their children.

During the epidemic, we learned a great new children's care mode in Kenya, initiated by an organization called Kidogo to help "mothers entrepreneurs" open a care center for childcare or small children's care centers. This center is both cheap and safe, and women are willing to send children here. In this way, these staff responsible for taking care of children have an income, and women can also find a job of supporting their families. When women make money to support their families through work, or independent entrepreneurship, they can promote the economic growth of their own country and the world. Therefore, our investment in women must be more pronounced in way, and it is urgent in time.

Changsheng: As far as I know, you just returned from Africa. How many times have you been to Africa this year?

Melinda: I thought that I couldn't travel by the epidemic this year. Since the epidemic, this is my first trip to Africa, and has been to five African countries in total. However, from the establishment of the Gates Foundation, this should be that I went to Africa for the thirtieth time. Various changes in this land were a bit incredible. Looking back at 2000 to the present, the Gates Fund will witness the practical improvement of the African people's life and the changes in the African continent.

Changsheng: You have visited China twice, how do you view China's development in the past ten years? What are the progress of the Gates Foundation with China or local governments or other institutions?

Melinda: The Chinese office of the Gates Foundation has been established for fifteen years. We have widespread cooperation with the Chinese government in terms of medical system construction and AIDS prevention and control. We also jointly carry out the HPV vaccine project with China to ensure that China's women's performance has more opportunities to get HPV vaccines. At the same time, it is also ensured that China can pass the World Health Organization vaccine regulatory system evaluation, so that women in the African continent can also be vaccinated in China to produce in China. HPV vaccine. The proportion of women around the world died of cervical cancer. Many innovations have emerged in China, the United States, and the rest of the world. We hope that these innovations can also benefit the African continent.

Changsheng: Yes, we need to maintain global cooperation. I believe that in many things you have done, your charity is often mentioned. So what do you most want to be remembered? Entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs or charity?

Melinda: I hope people remember: a person who has created a better world for others.

Changsheng: This is a great dream.

Melinda: This is a dream from my high school. In my high school graduation speech, my definition of success is: when we leave this world, it becomes better than when we come, even if we only improve the lives of 1, 10 or 100 people. For me, this is the definition of success and what I hope to be remembered in the end. Through the work of Pivotal Ventures, another agency I found in the Gates Foundation and I founded, I hope I can do this. I especially want to improve women's lives, because many times, we do not pay enough attention to women's problems.

Changsheng: Very amazing. Let's talk about your book again. On page 19 of this book, you wrote: "I am a quiet person. I don't like to show up on the stage." But now you must stand on the center of the stage and also face the public. How did you complete these huge changes, and what prompted this change?

Melinda: I am indeed a person who likes quietness, but when I find that the situation of women needs to be really changed, they are not enough to pay attention, and few people care about how to ensure that more women obtain contraceptives or inoculate HPV vaccines At that time, I suddenly realized that I needed to speak for them. If I can use my identity in the Gates Foundation to a certain extent, using my voice to help improve the lives of others, or promote the government's involvement in investing more money, then I will definitely do this. Because of this, I eventually entered the current role.

Changsheng: We have learned that this year the Gates Foundation appointed several new directors. Do you now have changed the role of the foundation? What is your current division of labor with Mr. Gates? What are the focus of your work in the foundation?

Melinda: As the co -chair and co -founder of the Gates Foundation, our values ​​have been deeply imprinted in this institution. I am glad that we have established a council to make the Gates Foundation good management. Now it is time, after all, Bill and I are not young. We still make all the decisions of the Gates Foundation as a joint chairman. Whether it is strategic focus or resource allocation, these are the decisions we make together.

After the council, the directors helped us expand our thinking and ensure that resources are distributed reasonably. We have just held the first offline council meeting recently, and the atmosphere is very good. The establishment of the council was excited.

Changsheng: In real life, you are a wealthy woman. It can be said to be the richest women in the world, and the income is still increasing. On the other hand, you spend a lot of donations to spend money. We know that making money is not easy, but spending money is not easy, this is actually a art. We want to know what your value of money is like?

Melinda: I grew up in a typical middle -class family since I was a child. It is not easy for my parents to go to college. I know the value of education, and I am very lucky to be able to finish college with the support of my parents. I think I am very lucky to have these resources. At the same time, I hope to give back to the society to help improve the lives of others and allow them to improve themselves.

The vision of the Gates Foundation is to give everyone a chance to live a healthy and effective life. I want to make this world better with all my resources and all talents, which means that we must continue to invest in innovation and human wisdom.

Changsheng: That's right. I have read a letter you wrote to the rich. There is a saying like this: donating money that your family never needs money is not particularly noble. What do you want to express? Is it to challenge the values ​​of the rich and convince them to do similar things? Do these tasks achieve the effect you expected? What kind of result do you want?

Melinda: I want to say to everyone with wealth that you are lucky. You may have paid a lot of hard work to achieve today's achievements, but you are lucky at the same time, living in a country where you have the opportunity to start a business or gain wealth. You have the responsibility to give back to the society. You can help farmers cope with new seeds that will never use wealth, invest in girls' education, or invest in new seeds of drought resistance. Your dedication will make the entire community better, because people who get help will continue to pass this kindness and invest in other people. I think this is the way to treat wealth correctly.

Changsheng: Yes, I think wealth has such power.You have millions, perhaps hundreds of millions of wealth.This is the trust that society gives you, and then you spend these money and want to use it to help others' lives.Is this a decision to think about it?Melinda:

I believe that if you have wealth, you should donate at least half.I am deeply influenced by Wallen Buffett and my own parents. If you are lucky enough and have some extra wealth in your hands, then you should use this money to help others.Therefore, Bill and me, as well as Buffett, jointly launched a "donation oath" to affect other people with huge wealth and have a positive impact on society.If you are lucky enough and have a lot of wealth in your hands, you should donate wealth and invest in others.

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