SimplyAbuDhabi XXXVII

His three children, Jennifer, 22, Rory, 19, and Phoebe, 16, sometimes travel with them. “Melinda does most of the parenting; she gets each child to stay with a family. I’ve travelled with them to slums they didn’t want to go to.” Whenever they arrive at a new destination, their father expects them to learn the GDP and population. “There are some basics stats I give them and some questions. I teach them how to be observant about countries that I find interesting.” 058 | SIMPLY INFLUENTIAL The children do, he says, realise their luck - not at their wealth, as they will only inherit $10 million each following their parents’ pledge to give away most of their assets - but because they have had access to education, conversations with inspirational adults and, unlike his childhood, the internet. Microsoft’s co-founder won’t condemn the online world, even as a parent. His passions at school in Seattle were computers and business magazines. He says, “I envy my children. My son can look up a court opinion online, so when he comes to the table he knows way more than I do. That’s power. My children make a playlist for me and there are benefits of social networking in terms of spreading information. It can create attacks on individuals and groups, but does that outweigh any positive benefit of families staying in touch at a distance?” He once ran the biggest tech company in the world - he founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975 - but he doesn’t miss it. “In your teens, twenties, thirties and forties, writing code personally, managing a software platform and telling the world that personal computers are the best thing that ever happened - for me, that was just perfect. I wasn’t very focused on the world at large. Then at 38 I got married and that started the process, because Melinda played a key role and we started having kids. Right now, where I get to talk to scientists and governments and go to Africa, is the most fun for me, and the best use for my unique interests and resources. So I don’t think now, I wish I was sitting there writing code and telling the other guys their code was garbage compared with mine. I’ve learnt management skills and I am a much better communicator.” I think this is code for, he used to shout at his staff but now merely sends terse emails occasionally. He could have gone into politics. It’s clear he can’t abide President Trump, not least because he isn’t a facts man, although he won’t slag him off now he’s a diplomat. “Politicians have limited terms; I get to stay for ever,” he explains. “I don’t have to campaign or raise money. Politicians have to know about 50 things. I have chosen to know a lot about a few things and I can get results faster.” “I have chosen to know a lot about a few things. I don’t multitask.” SIMPLY INFLUENTIAL | 059