Melinda French Gates on secrets: “Live an honest life, and then you won’t have any.”

Take it from Me: Spend an hour with Melinda French Gates It will restore at least a shred of your faith in humanity. The billionaire philanthropist, investor and longtime advocate for the rights of women and girls is the rare example of wealthy Americans who take seriously the responsibility their wealth affords.

In Gates’ case, she is now directing much of that responsibility – and billions of her own dollars – to Pivotal Ventures, a group of organizations focused on advancing the interests of women in the United States and around the world. Recently, Pivotal announced Prizes worth $250 million To women’s health organizations in 22 countries. Given the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on women’s interests, and diversity in general, as well as the miserable brooding taking place between tech industry leaders (Gates’ ex-husband, Bill, was part of that shift) and President Trump, it seemed like a particularly notable moment to check in with Gates about it all.

From her own path through the masculine “debate club” of Big Tech to the billionaire boys who won’t part with their deep pockets, I found myself pleasantly surprised, even a little inspired, by Gates’ candor in discussing the very real challenges of this very moment. So, if you caught the news and felt a little grumpy this morning, keep reading. It’s helpful to remember that not all billionaires are equal, and some are still pushing for more equality overall.