The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

About

Join us for an evening with Melinda French Gates in conversation with CNN’s Abby Phillip as they discuss Melinda’s book, The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward. Ticket includes admission for one and a hardcover copy of The Next Day.

In The Next Day, Melinda offers a rare window into some of her life’s pivotal moments, drawing from previously untold stories to offer a new perspective on encountering transitions. Melinda reflects, for the first time in print, on some of the most significant transitions in her own life, including becoming a parent, the death of a dear friend, her life after divorce, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. The stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends navigate times of crisis, embracing uncertainty, and more.

Each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are in life, is headed toward transitions of our own. With her signature warmth and grace, Melinda candidly shares stories of times when she was in need of wisdom and shines a path through the open space stretching out before us all.

Learn more at melindafrenchgates.com.

Melinda French Gates will be donating her proceeds from The Next Day to charitable causes.

This event is presented in partnership with Barnes & Noble Union Square.

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls. For over 25 years, Melinda has led efforts to unlock a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future. Today, she heads Pivotal, an organization she formed in 2015 that works to accelerate the pace of progress and advance women’s power and influence in the U.S. and around the world. Previously, she founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, where, for more than two decades, she set the direction and priorities of the world’s largest philanthropy. Melinda is also the author of the bestselling book The Moment of Lift and the creator of Moment of Lift Books, an imprint publishing original nonfiction by visionaries working to unlock a more equal world. 

Melinda grew up in Dallas, Texas and attended Duke University, where she received a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics and an MBA. She spent the first decade of her career developing multimedia products at Microsoft before leaving the company to focus on her family and philanthropic work. Melinda has three children—Jenn, Rory, and Phoebe—and lives in Seattle, Washington. 

Abby Phillip anchors NewsNight with Abby Phillip airing weeknights at 10pm ET. Phillip takes a smart and sharp approach to the day’s biggest stories, driven by the facts and pursuit of the truth. With her award-winning background in dogged Washington reporting, Phillip brings unique context to the complexity of current affairs. Phillip keeps the powerful honest in hard-hitting interviews and hosts interesting conversations with a variety of perspectives.

She was previously CNN’s senior political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday. She joined the network in 2017 to cover the Trump Administration and served as a White House Correspondent through 2019. In January 2020, she moderated CNN’s Democratic Presidential Debate in Iowa. She also anchored special coverage of Election Night in America surrounding the 2020 election. In January 2021, she anchored the CNN Special Report: Kamala Harris: Making History about the Vice President’s barrier-breaking career and the childhood experiences that helped shape her. Phillip has been an essential player in CNN’s Special Coverage of a range of political events, including election nights, State of the Union Addresses and the January 6th Committee hearings.

Phillip joined CNN from The Washington Post, she previously worked at ABC News and Politico. Throughout her career she has covered multiple presidents, campaign finance, lobbying, and several presidential campaigns.

Phillip was named to the Time 100 Next list in 2021 and she was the recipient of the National Urban League’s Women of Power award.

Phillip was raised in Bowie, Md. and is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in Government. When not on television, she spends time with her husband, daughter and their pup Booker T.