Mondays might have a reputation for being tough, but for Melinda French Gates, they’ve become a highlight of her week.
In a conversation with Marie Claire for its 2025 Changemakers Issue, the 61-year-old philanthropist reflected on a long-standing tradition that has grounded her for decades.
“For the past 30 years, I’ve kept a standing date on Monday mornings to go walking with three of my best friends. We’re strict about it. If you’re in town, you’re there,” she shared.
She affectionately calls the group her “truth council.” “We consult each other about almost every major decision in our lives. That word truth is key,” she explained. “I have to be willing to tell them the truth about what I’m thinking and feeling. And then I know that they’ll tell me the truth, even if it’s a hard one I won’t want to hear.”
The mother of three said those friendships became especially important as she embarked on a new chapter — stepping away from the Gates Foundation to focus on her own philanthropic work through Pivotal Ventures.
“I knew I could have more impact by stepping away to focus on other issues, many of which were outside the foundation’s scope,” she told the magazine. “As I kept seeing women’s rights rolled back, I started to think differently about the last chapter of my career. I am simply not willing to accept that my granddaughters could grow up with less freedom than I did.”
“My intention is to help even the playing field,” she added. “I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to get more power in women’s and girls’ hands.”
Since leaving the foundation she co-founded with her former husband Bill Gates, French Gates has pledged $1 billion in support of women in the United States. It’s a commitment she says reflects her deepest values.
“I believe the only responsible thing to do with these resources is to give it away — as thoughtfully and impactfully as possible,” she said. “One of my core values has always been that to whom much is given, much is expected.”
