Phoebe Gates, the youthful offspring of billionaire tech titan Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, has embarked on a fresh professional journey. At just 22 years old, the self-declared "nepo baby" already presides over Phia, a venture that promises to revolutionize the online shopping experience. Yet, her ambitions didn't halt there; she has ventured into the realm of podcasts, courtesy of the Unwell network, founded by the former Barstool Sports sensation, Alex Cooper.
In the maiden episode of their new podcast, titled The Burnouts, Gates engaged in a heartfelt discussion with her confidant and business collaborator, Sophia Kianni, revisiting their Stanford days. During this intimate conversation, Phoebe opened up about the pressures she felt upon arriving at the prestigious university. "I was burdened with insecurity and a burning desire to prove myself," she confessed. "I felt, 'I possess so much privilege. I'm a nepo baby,' and that identity was wrapped in a shroud of insecurity."
Gates also reminisced about the moment she shared her vision for a sustainable fashion platform with her parents. She recounted her father's query, "'Are you sure you wanna do this?'" - a statement that seemed particularly ironic given his own decision to leave Harvard to found Microsoft. "I often approach decisions by ignoring the sunk costs," she elaborated. "It's easy to look back and see how studying subjects like law and human biology, which now seem tangentially related to fashion tech, were once part of our academic journey. Moreover, it's crucial for individuals to grasp that they have the freedom to pivot. One can always decide, on a whim, to pursue a path vastly different from their current endeavors."
Listeners can tune in to new episodes of the podcast every Tuesday.
