WILLIAM H. GATESOCTOBER 28, 1955

An entrepreneur of the personal computer revolution

GATES BIOGRAPHY

Gates was born in Seattle, Washington in Oct. 28, 1955. He grew up with his two sisters, Kristianne and Libby. His father, William H. Gates II, is an attorney, a layer. His late mother, Mary Gates, was a university teacher. Bill was married on Jan. 1, 1994, to Melinda French

Gates. They have three children.

GATES STUDIES

Gates attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. There, he discovered his interest in software and began programming computers at age 13.

He started studying at Harvard University in 1973 where he spent time with Paul Allen. Gates and Allen worked on a version of the programming language BASIC, the basis of the MITS Altair.

He didn’t graduated from Harvard University. He left in his junior year to start what was to become the largest computer software company in the world; Microsoft Corporation.

BILL GATES AND MICROSOFT CORPORATION

After dropping out of Harvard Bill Gates and his partner Paul Allen set about revolutionizing the computer industry. Gates believed there should be a computer on every office desk and in every home. 

In 1975 the company Micro-soft was formed, which was an abbreviation of microcomputer software. It change the way people use computers. 

The success of Microsoft began with the MS-DOS computer operating system that Gates licensed to IBM. Gates also set about protecting the royalties from computer software by fighting against all forms of software piracy.

Microsoft had revenues of US$69.94 billion and employs more than 90.000 people in 105 countries and regions.

"To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential."

Microsoft Mission Statement

OTHER PASSIONS

Gates published in 1995 “The Road Ahead”. Then, in 1999, he wrote “Business @ the Speed of Thought”. It shows how computer technology can solve business problems in new ways. It was published in 25 languages. Gates has donated the proceeds of both books to non-profit organizations that support the use of technology in education and skills development.

In addition, Gates founded Corbis, which is a comprehensive digital archive of art and photography from public and private collections around the globe. He is a member of the board of directors of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

He is Famous for being one of the richest man in the world, a cofounder of Microsoft, and for being one of the world's most generous philanthropists. Also, he is an avid reader, and enjoys playing golf and bridge.

BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

In this century our world has the opportunity to fulfill the great human promise that all lives have equal value.

In 1994, the foundation was formed as William H. Gates Fundation. Then, in 1999 it was renamed the Bill & his wife Melinda Fundation. It started with an initial stock gift of US$94 million. Later, Gates gave an additional US$126 million. Nowadays funding grew up to US$37,1 billion.The foundation's mission is to support philanthropic initiatives in the areas of global health and learning, with the hope that in the 21st century, advances in these critical areas will be available for all people.In 2006, Gates said that he would start working part-time at Microsoft to be able to word full-time at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates' last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008.

1: This is a family foundation driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family.2: Philanthropy plays an important but limited role.3: Science and technology have great potential to improve lives around the world.4: We are funders and shapers—we rely on others to act and implement.5: Our focus is clear—and limited—and prioritizes some of the most neglected issues.6: We identify a specific point of intervention and apply our efforts against a theory of change.7: We take risks, make big bets, and move with urgency. We are in it for the long haul.8: We advocate—vigorously but responsibly—in our areas of focus.9: We must be humble and mindful in our actions and words. We seek and heed the counsel of outside

voices.10: We treat our grantees as valued partners, and we treat the ultimate beneficiaries of our work with

respect.11: Delivering results with the resources we have been given is of the utmost importance—and we

seek and share information about those results.12: We demand ethical behavior of ourselves.13: We treat each other as valued colleagues.14: Meeting our mission—to increase opportunity and equity for those most in need—requires great

stewardship of the money we have available.15: We leave room for growth and change.

For more information, please enter to the website of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

THE 15 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

BILL GATES CRITICISM

Gates, with his great success in the computer software industry also came many criticisms. With his ambitious and aggressive business philosophy, Gates or his Microsoft lawyers have been in and out of courtrooms fighting legal battles almost since Microsoft began.The Microsoft monopoly sets about completely dominating every market it enters through either acquisition, aggressive business tactics or a combination of them. Many of the largest technology companies have fought legally against the actions of Microsoft, including Apple Computer, Netscape, Opera, WordPerfect, and sun Microsystems.

Here you will find Bill’s commencement speech at

Harvard University.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP5VIhbJwFs

Thank you very much for watching this presentation! I hope you had enjoyed it!

Sebastian Donzis