The 48-hour rule

Melinda French Gates told Bloomberg's Leaders With Francine Lacqua podcast in March that if she is unhappy with work, employees will hear from her within 48 hours.

“If I'm unhappy with work you have done, you will hear from me within 48 hours.”

Being clear is kind

French Gates says her approach is about delivering criticism with honesty, integrity and grace. She explained that being clear is kind because it gives employees feedback so they can grow and become better.

“Being clear is kind, because I'm giving them feedback so they can actually grow and become better.”

The flip side of the clock

If the 48-hour window closes without feedback, employees can be confident the job they did was good. They will not get to their performance review with a surprise about past work.

“If they pass the 48-hour mark, they can be confident that the job they did was a good job.”

French Gates' leadership history

French Gates cochaired the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization, from 2000 until she stepped down in 2024, about three years after the couple's divorce.

Pivotal Ventures and new role

French Gates now runs Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company she founded in 2015.As part of her divorce settlement, she received 12.

Contrast with other approaches

Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates on radical transparency with unfiltered real-time criticism.Satya Nadella transformed Microsoft from a know-it-all to a learn-it-all culture grounded in humility and psychological safety, inspired by Carol Dweck's research on mindset.