What you need to know
Mondays can be bad, but for Melinda French Gates, there’s always something to look forward to.
In a new interview with Marie Claire as part of the 2025 Changemakers issue, the 61-year-old philanthropist opened up about the weekly tradition that has been going on for decades.
“For the past 30 years, I’ve had a stand-up date where I go for a walk with three of my closest friends on Monday mornings. We’re strict about it. If we’re in town, we’re there,” French Gates said.
“I call them my truth council because we consult each other on almost every important decision in life. The word truth is the key,” she added. “You have to be willing to tell them the truth about what you’re thinking and feeling. Then you know they’ll tell you the truth, even if it’s a difficult story they don’t want to hear.”
The mother of three said she especially relied on her friends as she prepared to start a new chapter in her life. That included leaving the Gates Foundation to focus on his own philanthropy through Pivotal Ventures.
“I knew I could have a greater impact by stepping back to focus on other issues outside of the scope of the foundation. As I watched women’s rights continue to recede, I began to think differently about the final chapter of my career,” she told the magazine. “I simply don’t want to accept that my granddaughters may grow up with less freedom than I did.”
“My intention is to help even the playing field,” she added. “I plan to spend the rest of my life putting more power in the hands of women and girls.”
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After leaving the foundation she co-founded with ex-husband Bill Gates, she pledged to donate $1 billion to help women in the United States. This is a promise he previously told people, “because I believe so strongly in[this work].”
“I believe the only responsible thing to do with these resources is to distribute them as thoughtfully and impactfully as possible,” she added. “One of my core values is to always be the person to whom more is given and more is expected.”
