Melinda French Gates, the co-founder of Pivotal Ventures, reminds us that we need to collect wisdom for times when we cannot afford to be foolish. At 60 years young, she’s begun curating quite the list of confounding quotes. They inspire her, especially as she faces her own challenges within the philanthropic landscape. She is not afraid to shoot for the stars with her long-term goals — like her pledge to invest $1 billion in advancing women’s rights issues around the world by 2026. On this inspiring quest, she finds perspective from the wisdom of giants such as Warren Buffett.
In a recent profile featured in the Wall Street Journal Magazine, French Gates divulged a compelling practice of hers. She ends her day by capturing quotes from people whose contributions speak to her and resonate most deeply. Among these quotes is one from Buffett, which she often reflects upon: “Find your bullseye of what you’re working on and let the other things fall away.” This mantra informs everything she does at Pivotal Ventures. The group hopes to continue moving women’s rights to the forefront in the coming years.
French Gates first met Buffett in 1991 with her then-husband, Bill Gates. Their collaboration has deepened over the years. From 2006 to 2021, Buffett served in perpetuity as a trustee of the Gates Foundation and donated a remarkable $36 billion into its initiatives by 2022. Those lessons that she learned from Buffett have really been invaluable as she’s charted her own course in philanthropy.
As she looks back on those ambitions, French Gates doesn’t shy away from the scale of what she aimed to achieve. She knows that big wins sometimes take 30 years to see realized. She says she finds strength in the positive reinforcement Buffett has given her. His encouragement keeps her grounded and prevents her from being overly self-critical.
“So don’t be so tough on yourself,” – Warren Buffett
French Gates draws inspiration from psychologist Ethan Kross, who once advised, “Get your act together, Ethan. You’re not going to fail.” This unique mixture of mentorship and personal vision informs her resolve to remain mission-driven.