Gates gets degree, urges Harvard grads to fight global poverty

Computerworld - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Bill Gates returned to Harvard University yesterday to address its graduating class and receive an honorary degree after dropping out of the college 33 years ago to found Microsoft Corp. He spent much of his address on the issues of global poverty and disease, advancing ideas on how to encourage more people to get involved in trying to resolve those huge problems.

"I've been waiting more than 30 years to say this: 'Dad, I always told you I'd come back and get my degree,' " Gates said to hearty audience laughter.

All commencement speakers are given an honorary Harvard degree, and Gates was awarded a doctor of laws degree. He has already received a handful of honorary doctorates from other universities around the world, most recently at China's Tsinghua University in April.

When Gates arrived at Harvard as a freshman in 1973, he was uncertain of his course of study but sure of his abiding passion for software. He quit Harvard in his junior year to focus full time on a software start-up, Microsoft, which he co-founded with his childhood pal Paul Allen.

Gates described how he encouraged Harvard buddy Steve Ballmer, now Microsoft's CEO, to quit business school and join the software company when it was only about 50 employees strong. "I'm a bad influence," the Microsoft chairman said. "That's why I was invited to speak to your graduation. If I had spoken at your orientation, fewer of you might be here today."

He also reminisced about his accommodations at Harvard, saying his particular lodgings had been a great place to live. "There were more women up there, and most of the guys were science-math types," Gates said, with a smile. "That combination offered me the best odds, if you know what I mean. This is where I learned the sad lesson that improving your odds doesn't guarantee success."

However, Gates was all seriousness and a fair amount of fervor during most of his 25-minute address, expressing his one big regret about his time at college. "I left Harvard with no real awareness of the awful inequities in the world," he said, adding that it took him "decades to find out" about the poverty and disease in developing countries.

Gates is transitioning out of a day-to-day role at Microsoft to spend more time on his global philanthropy work in the areas of health and education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He began that move in June 2006, and it's expected to be complete by July 2008.

"Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity," Gates said. He spoke of trying to find ways to develop "a more creative capitalism" that could help market forces work better for the disadvantaged.