Additional Coverage:
- Melinda French Gates says she no longer cares if people don’t like her: ‘Maybe that comes with being 60’ (businessinsider.com)
Philanthropist and businesswoman Melinda French Gates recently shared some empowering words about self-acceptance and confidence. In an appearance on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show,” French Gates, 60, discussed overcoming imposter syndrome and finding comfort in her own skin.
For years, French Gates struggled with self-doubt, a feeling she acknowledged is common, especially among women in the tech industry. However, she revealed that with age, her perspective has shifted significantly.
She now confidently asserts, “I deserve to be where I am in life.” She attributes this newfound assurance to years of hard work and a deep understanding of herself.
French Gates emphasized that she’s reached a point where external validation holds less weight. “If people don’t like me or they don’t like what I’m saying,” she explained, “I’m kind of at the point in life where I’m like, ‘Take it or leave it.'”
French Gates believes this confidence is a benefit of growing older, recalling a conversation with her mother who experienced a similar shift in perspective after turning 60. Her mother’s newfound outspokenness inspired French Gates, leading her to believe that with age comes a comfortable confidence.
This self-assuredness extends even to her appearance. French Gates, who grew up in Texas where she felt pressure to always look perfect, now embraces a more relaxed approach.
She jokingly admitted to being “perfectly comfortable,” perhaps even “too comfortable,” leaving the house with unwashed hair. For French Gates, this freedom from external validation is truly liberating.