'Build Community Based On Trust': Melinda French Gates Shares Munger-Inspired Advice With Stanford Grads

Quoting Munger, she said, "Charlie famously said that the highest form which civilisation can reach is a seamless web of deserved trust. Totally reliable people, correctly trusting each other. What a thing to aspire to."

Reflecting on how this lesson helped her through tough times, Melinda shared a personal story about supporting a friend whose husband died of cancer. This same friend later supported her when her 27-year marriage to Bill Gates ended.

She emphasised, "As a society, we aren't always set up to feel responsible for the person next to us or the person on the other side of a divide or debate. But we need each other. No matter who you are, there will be times when you need to be carried or when someone else will need you to carry them."

She also shared how her friend's support was crucial during her period of grief and adjustment. "When my good friend John died at age 37, I was one of a small group of people who tried to carry his wife Emmy to the other side of her grief. Three years ago, when my marriage ended, she was one of the people who carried me to the other side of mine. That bond between us is incredibly profound," she said.

Her speech encouraged the graduating class to build a community based on trust and support. "Yes, you are graduating into a broken world, but it is the community that rebuilds things. You've already started building that community here, and together is how you'll make the broken things whole again," she concluded.

She also offered advice on approaching life's transitions with open-heartedness and flexibility. Melinda recounted her own experiences with change, such as starting her career at Microsoft, losing a friend to cancer, and ending her marriage. In each case, she emphasised the importance of staying true to oneself and remaining open to new possibilities. "You will encounter possibilities you haven't imagined yet. Be willing to let what you learn shift your thinking about what you’re on this earth to do," she advised.

Charlie Munger, who passed away last year at the age of 99, was not only a successful businessman but also a source of life wisdom for many, including Melinda. His teachings continue to inspire those who strive to make a positive impact in the world. Melinda fondly remembered Munger’s influence, saying, "Charlie was amazing at offering life advice as well as managing Berkshire Hathaway. His wisdom has been a guiding light for me and many others."