Phoebe Adele Gates grew up in a world filled with ambition, innovation, and global change-makers. As the youngest child of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, she had no shortage of role models. But when it came to carving out her own identity, Phoebe turned to something deeply personal: education.In June 2024, Phoebe graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in African Studies, a degree earned in just three years. It wasn’t just an academic achievement; it was a reflection of the purpose she had been quietly shaping for years.
The making of a purpose-driven scholar
Phoebe’s academic journey began at Seattle’s prestigious Lakeside School, the same school her father attended decades earlier. But while tech innovation ran in the family, her interests drifted toward human systems, health disparities, and the lives of women around the world. She wasn’t drawn to software or business plans. She wanted to understand the body, society, and the power structures that influence well-being.By the time she arrived at Stanford, she had already begun to think globally. Choosing Human Biology as her major gave her the freedom to study science in context—linking biology with public health, gender, policy, and human rights. Her decision to add a minor in African Studies reflected a desire to look outward, to understand health and equity across borders and cultures.
Learning beyond the books
For Phoebe, education wasn’t confined to the classroom. At Stanford, she sought real-world experiences to match her studies. One summer, she traveled to Rwanda to intern with Partners In Health, working on grassroots healthcare initiatives. The experience left a lasting impression, exposing her to the power of community-driven health systems and the need for culturally grounded solutions.She also attended high-level global events, including sessions at the United Nations General Assembly, where she listened to policymakers, activists, and scientists discuss the future of reproductive health and gender equity. These weren’t just networking opportunities—they were learning labs where she saw how academic ideas translated into real-world policies.
A graduation with generational meaning
In June 2024, Phoebe crossed the stage at Stanford, completing her degree in just three years. The ceremony carried personal weight: her mother, Melinda French Gates, delivered the commencement address that day. It was more than a proud-parent moment. It was a passing of the torch—from one global advocate for women’s rights to another.Phoebe’s education had equipped her not just with knowledge, but with clarity. She knew the issues she cared about, and she was ready to act.
Turning education into impact
After graduation, Phoebe co-founded Phia, a digital fashion platform dedicated to sustainability and ethical consumer choices. The idea had been born in her Stanford dorm room, alongside her roommate, Sophia Kianni. Blending climate advocacy with tech, the platform aimed to help users shop more mindfully, proving that fashion and purpose could go hand in hand.Not long after, the duo launched The Burnouts, a podcast focused on the struggles and realities of being young women building startups in a high-pressure world. Through raw conversations and industry insights, they gave voice to a generation navigating both ambition and anxiety.At the same time, Phoebe remained active in reproductive rights advocacy, working with major organizations and using her platform to raise awareness about issues often sidelined in mainstream discourse.
A new kind of graduate
Phoebe Gates is not following in her parents’ footsteps, she’s walking beside them, but in a different direction. Her Stanford years were not just about academic milestones; they were about self-discovery, experimentation, and building a foundation for meaningful work.In a time when many students feel uncertain about the future, her journey offers a quiet yet powerful message: Education, when guided by purpose, can be the strongest catalyst for change.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
