Sylvia's Open Road

SYLVIA MATHEWS

Executive Director
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

LEADER INFO:

INTERESTS:

Non-Profit Organizations

THEMES DISCUSSED:

Regrets Self-Reflection Choices Planning

TAGS:

england, guiding principles, mountain climbing, politics, proactive, scholarship, study abroad

BIOGRAPHY:

Sylvia Matthews is executive director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing health-care and technology to the poorest parts of the world. Sylvia studied in England for three years, and after school was done, she decided to get a job. She turned in applications all over, and landed a job in New York.After working for two years, Sylvia received a phone call and was faced with another job offer: To work on the Bill Clinton presidency campaign in Little Rock, Arkansas. She went on board the campaign working in the "war room." When Clinton was elected, Sylvia stayed with his people, and worked the entire Clinton administration. When Clinton's eight years as President were done, so was Sylvia. As Sylvia tried to figure out her next step, she got another phone call, this time from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. After looking into the Foundation, Sylvia accepted the job. Since then, Sylvia has put many hours of commitment and dedication into her honorable work. While Sylvia still doesn't know where she'll be in ten years, presently, she knows she is in the right place.