🔍 Summary:
Melinda French Gates, now one of America’s wealthiest women, attributes much of her success to a pivotal moment early in her career when she chose to join a small startup called Microsoft instead of accepting a stable job offer at IBM. This decision came after an IBM hiring manager unexpectedly advised her to pursue the opportunity with Microsoft, despite it being a riskier move. French Gates took the advice and moved to Seattle, a decision that proved transformative. She quickly advanced at Microsoft, significantly contributing to its evolution from a modest business to a global tech powerhouse. Reflecting on her career, French Gates values the bold risk she took, which not only shaped her professional life but also positioned her as a prominent figure in technology and philanthropy. Today, with a net worth of $15.2 billion, she encourages others, especially women, to embrace career risks and pursue non-linear paths to success.