Melinda French Gates — Founder and Co-Chairman at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mrs. Melinda French Gates is the Founder and Co-Chairman of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Mrs. Gates shapes and approves foundation strategies, review results, advocates for the foundation's issues and helps set the overall direction of the organization. After joining Microsoft Corporation in 1987, Mrs. Gates distinguished herself in business as a leader in the development of many of Microsoft's multimedia products. In 1996, she retired from her position as the Microsoft's General Manager of Information Products. Since leaving Microsoft, Mrs. Gates has focused on philanthropic work in the areas of global health and learning. She is a Trustee of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. Mrs. Gates served as an Independent Director of Drugstore.Com Inc., from August 1999 to August 2006. She has been a Director of The Washington Post Co. since September 2004. Mrs. Gates was the Co-Chairman of the Washington State Governor's Commission on Early Learning. She is a Member of the Duke University Board of Trustees. Mrs. Gates received a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Economics from Duke University in 1986 and an M.B.A. from Duke Universitys Fuqua School of Business, at Duke University in 1987.