The great Audrey Hepburn, who was herself no stranger to success, noted that as you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others. As applied to Bill Gates, both his hands were tightly grasping onto our hearts, our souls, and our conscience. Though the march of time may one day diminish his image, leaving his voice just an echo and his presence just a memory; I doubt any one of us will ever forget how Bill made us feel. And I’m not referring to how proud he made you feel with his immense success, or how important he made you feel in his presence. I’m referring to how he made our problems his, and with his two outstretched arms, gripped our sentiments for decades. Three days ago, when we received the news, time ceased to exist. Hearts broke, tears fell, and minds raced. The world inhaled, sharply. Today our world is drowning in more sorrow than ocean water. Today I miss him a little more than yesterday. Today I am reminded of my relationship with this incredible man which was ten years in the making. Every second shared was precious.
I met him minutes prior to my job interview in 2009; I was a timid unqualified personal assistant, attempting to get my foot in the door, and struggling. Nervously I moved into the crowded meeting room, and that’s when I spotted him. I of course quickly stumbled through the set of doors, and for the first time in my life, shook the hand of the world’s richest nerd; the man who gave us Microsoft and then wanted to give away 80 billion dollars to save the world. I was 20, I was enthralled and, I thought he was the greatest. Describing how much he meant to me is challenging, to say the least; you had to live in his time, in his world. It’s honorable to acknowledge his success through numbers and statistics, but to interact with his passion, and experience the genius of his kind, was absolutely incomparable. Every one of his projects was a masterpiece, a technological venture analogous to that of listening to Mozart, viewing Picasso, or reading Shakespeare. My friend Bill lived his life content with small means, seeking elegance rather than luxury; refinement rather than imperfection; to be worthy and respectable; and wealthy not rich. He never lost those traits, even as he lost everything else. He studied hard, thought quietly, spoke gently, acted frankly, and listened intently. But he was so much more than a nerd as time went on. Who was there to bridge the educational gap? Who provisioned to enhance global health? Who invested their fortune into our futures? He was the first of a few, as independent as the sun, one who fulfilled absolute decree in simplicity. Prior to the interview, he peered at me through those big glasses of his and said, ‘You’ve got this.’ Which is what he said to me every day until the last moment I spoke with him.
Bill was constantly, consistently, and continually himself: optimistic and passionate. He’d often use remarkable rhetoric about the life and plight of those in need, which resonated strongly with a selection of other philanthropists. My favorite memory perhaps was in 2010. He had just convinced the world’s second richest man, Warren Buffet, to pledge 30 billion dollars of his fortune to the only man in the world richer than him; Bill Gates. It’s one of my favorite moments; I sort of got lost in his words, in the purpose in his eyes, in the intentional silences; in him. ‘Warren, there are moments that cry out to be fulfilled in life. Like, breaking the rules, telling someone you love them, or giving your money away, all of it. Your heart is beating, isn’t it? You’re not in chains, are you?’
As he stretched society's boundaries, Bill carried on, heart bleeding and fighting and dreaming for a world where life was golden and there was more quality, opportunity, and acceptance for those at a disadvantage. But Gates’ impact extended beyond the poverty-stricken and developing countries. Strictly speaking, programming is what he did. But he broadened that definition by viewing our responsibilities as his, accepting and leading battles on behalf of us, despite his personal beliefs and struggles. This world still needs him. It does. This world needs a leader motivated by the fairness and inclusion of all. Someone who will always work to bridge the social and economic divides. Someone who gives to those who have nothing to give to them.
Those are amongst the fondest of my memories with a man whom I deeply and sincerely admired. Now a decade later, I am still enthralled, and I am still convinced Bill Gates is the greatest of his time and ours. He was a beam of hope, shining with intensity in the middle of our darkest nights; illuminating the inequality, poverty, and potential of nations across the globe. This humble man excited us, confused us, and challenged us; but ultimately taught us that anything is possible. He may be gone, but his words will never die.