Days After Her Equestrian Daughter’s Massive Career Milestone, Bill Gates’ Ex-wife Melinda Makes an Appeal to New Graduates: “Remember How Special You Are”

In an awe-inspiring series of events, Jennifer Gates, has been forging her path to success. After welcoming her first child, a daughter, in April, the accomplished equestrian graduated from the esteemed Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, recently in May. Through it all the eldest child of Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda Gates remains an embodiment of determination, balancing her multiple achievements.

Drawing inspiration from her daughter’s success, Melinda Gates took the opportunity to impart invaluable wisdom, empowering the next generation to reach for the stars. She stepped up to the podium with a precious gem from the mother-daughter playbook.

Melinda Gates shares empowering advice to new graduates

The American philanthropist took to Instagram days after her daughter’s graduation, sharing a nostalgic post that featured a photo of her own graduation with her parents by her side. Melinda, who grew up in Dallas, Texas, achieved a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics, followed by an MBA from Duke University. In her message to the future graduates, she shared her mother’s advice, stating, “My advice to new graduates is the same advice my mom gave me as a little girl: Set your own agenda, or someone else will.”

Recognized as a powerful force, Melinda consistently ranked among Forbes’ top 100 Most Powerful Women, securing the third spot in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017. As a ‘Power Woman’, she recognizes the need for agency and freedom to make one’s own decisions. Addressing the existence of people “who have strong opinions”  and emphasizing the importance of personal choice, she stated, “There’s only one person who truly knows what’s right for you: you.”

Read More: All About Bill Gates’ Equestrian Daughter Jennifer Gates’ Education and Medical Career

Amidst her journey, Melinda Gates made a pivotal decision, turning down a job at IBM to follow her convictions and join the smaller software company, Microsoft. As Microsoft thrived into a Fortune 500 powerhouse, the now 58-year-old’s unwavering belief in doing what was right for her, cemented in her heart.  Emphasizing the significance of individuality, she reminded graduates, “Remember how special you are to this world. No one else has your unique set of perspectives and experiences.” For Melinda, her remarkable efforts which have left an indelible mark on various fronts, speak for herself.

Melinda Gates: A visionary advocate empowering women worldwide

The French Legion of Honour awardee, served as a Board of Trustees member for Duke University, contributing her expertise from 1996 to 2003. In early 2019, she unveiled her influential book, “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World,” shedding light on the inequality faced by women at work.

Committed to addressing pay inequality and supporting women founders, she founded Pivotal Ventures, leaving a lasting impact in the United States. Apart from pay parity, she has voiced her opinions on birth control. Despite controversy from Catholic bloggers, Melinda Gates championed contraception as a means to empower women, sharing her unwavering commitment to promoting equality.

While the mother of three looks to empower the upcoming generation through her heartfelt Instagram post, her philanthropy and efforts towards wholistic living conditions, make her the embodiment of practicing what we preach.

Watch This Story: Derek Jeter’s Wife Hannah Jeter Once Bagged a Six-Figure Deal to Feature Alongside a Talking Horse in a Weird Commercial