Melinda French Gates Knows Exactly How Her Career Ends

It's been one year since the philanthropist left the Gates Foundation, and while she's still figuring things out, there's one cause she's committed to for life.

- BY ANDREA STANLEY

Tell me about your decision to move on from the Gates Foundation.

It was a difficult one. But I knew I could have more impact by stepping away to focus on other issues, many of which were outside the foundation's scope. 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. And so I stepped away from the foundation because I wanted to devote all my time and resources to that fight. There are so many brilliant leaders committed to advancing women’s rights, but they don't have as much support as those committed to reversing them do. My intention is to help even the playing field. I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to get more power in women’s and girls’ hands.

Whom did you turn to for advice as you prepared for your new chapter?

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. I call them my truth council, because we consult each other about almost every major decision in our lives. That word truth is key. I have to be willing to tell them the truth about what I'm thinking and feeling. And then I