ReThinking: Melinda French Gates on navigating change

ReThinking: Melinda French Gates on navigating change

Worklife with Adam Grant · 2025-04-15
30:39

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, business leader, advocate, and self-proclaimed “recovering perfectionist.” In her new book, The Next Day, she opens up about the lessons she’s learned about change, from getting divorced to leaving the Gates Foundation that she co-founded and co-chaired for decades. Melinda and Adam discuss how derailment can become an opportunity for growth and emphasize the importance of a strong support system. They also dig into Melinda’s perspective on philanthropy, and debate whether it’s best to give with your head or your heart.


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Host: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)

Guest: Melinda French Gates (Instagram: @melindafrenchgates | LinkedIn: @melindagates | Website: melindafrenchgates.com/


Links

The Next Day by Melinda French Gates

gatesfoundation.org


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Worklife with Adam Grant

You spend a quarter of your life at work. You should enjoy it! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. From learning how to love your rivals to harnessing the power of frustration, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again. Produced in partnership with Transmitter Media.


Follow Adam on Instagram @adamgrant, LinkedIn at @adammgrant

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