During the University of Denver’s annual Korbel Honors celebration, philanthropist and businesswoman Melinda French Gates shared lessons on leadership, philanthropy, and creating lasting social change. After receiving the Josef Korbel Award, French Gates spoke about the importance of investing in women and explained that when women are empowered, the benefits extend to families, communities, and entire countries. Drawing from more than 25 years of philanthropic experience, she emphasized that meaningful progress requires placing women at the center of solutions rather than treating gender as an afterthought.
French Gates also discussed the importance of strategic philanthropy, explaining that charitable giving should encourage governments, businesses, and other organizations to invest alongside nonprofit efforts in order to maximize impact. Through her organization, Pivotal, she continues to support women entrepreneurs, advocate for paid family leave, and encourage greater representation of women in public office. She urged students to remember that philanthropy is not limited to financial donations, noting that people can make a difference by volunteering their time, sharing their skills, or using their professional expertise to strengthen their communities.