losis and malaria that disproportionately affect people in poor
countries. Here in the United
States, our work is focused on
high-school education. Of the
typical freshman class, only one-third of students will graduate four
years later with the skills they need
to succeed in college. Another
third will drop out completely.
The prognosis is even worse for
black and Hispanic students. We
all need to commit to doing what
it takes to ensure that high-school
students around the country have
the opportunity to access a great
education that prepares them for a
successful life.
Melinda is a great partner to me
in the foundation’s work. From the
time we were dating, we talked
about how we could give back in the
most effective way. She continues to
be a central influence on me, and in
many ways the foundation’s work is
a journey we’re taking together.
DiversityInc: You said in a
speech to minority students who
were visiting Microsoft that you
were very lucky when your high
school got a phone connection to
a computer. Did that access
ignite your interest in computers
and does that story illustrate the
importance of educational access
for poor communities in the U.S.
and abroad?
computers and
accessing the
Internet are at a
huge disadvantage.
That’s why we
sponsor programs
like the National
Youth IT Challenge
in partnership with
the National Urban
League. The fact is
that for many of the
students who participated in this
program, this was
their first real exposure to the role that
technology plays in
everyday business
practices, and it was
also their first introduction to some of
the career options
that technology
offers. It’s great to
see that a number
of the students who
participated in the
Youth IT Challenge
are now enrolled in
college programs in
fields related to the
projects they did.
The Gates
Foundation
has committed
$100 million
to provide
Boys and Girls
Clubs across
the country
with computer
software.
Gates: Having access to a computer for the first time was really a
key moment in my life because it
opened the door to so many new
ideas and new opportunities. In
today’s society and today’s economy, access to technology is so much
more important than it was when I
was in high school because computer literacy and technical literacy are
essential skills for economic survival. Kids who don’t grow up using
DiversityInc: In a speech at a
conference of U.S. governors, you
said, “When I compare our high
schools to what I see when I’m
traveling abroad, I am terrified for
our work force of tomorrow.” How
can corporate philanthropy help
create a more inclusive and
diverse American collegiate student body? How can a company
justify that focus to its board and
shareholders?
Gates: Microsoft has a presence
in more than 100 countries around
the world. To serve our customers,
we need to have a work force that
reflects the diversity of the communities where we do business. It’s
really a matter of corporate survival.
In order to recruit a more diverse
work force here in the United States,
we need to ensure that women,
minorities and people with disabilities are better represented at colleges
and universities around the country.
So we donate to organizations like
the United Negro College Fund, the
Society of Hispanic Engineers, the
Society of Women Engineers and
the American Association of People
with Disabilities to support their
scholarship programs.
We can also take a more indirect
approach and promote interest in
careers in the technology industry.
For example, to foster greater diversity within our legal division, we’ve
partnered with other major corporations to help increase awareness
about careers in intellectual property law among women and minority
law students.
