Samantha Barry:I want to delve into Malawi and the purpose of this trip.
But first, I want to talk about friendship.
One of my favorite quotes about female friendships is by you, Michelle.
Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates, Amal Clooney withGlamour’seditor in chief Samantha Barry.
Tell me about your friendship with these women.
Melinda French Gates:Thank goodness!
Obama:But I think thats where it began.
Michelle Obama, Melinda French Gates, and Amal Clooney meet withGlamour’s editor in chief in Cape Town, South Africa, November 2023.
Weve all encountered each other in different ways, but Melinda and I were like, We should talk.
We should hear about what we each are doingand the same thing with Amal.
These two are amazing powerhouses that are doing important things in the world on behalf of gender equality.
Amal Clooney and Samantha Barry at a pop-up legal clinic in the central region of Malawi
It seemed natural for us to come together, and from that a friendship has blossomed.
I think we understand each others unique issues and challenges.
Were on the other end of motherhood.
Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney and Melinda French Gates at Ludzi Girls’ Secondary School in Malawi
Amal is
Clooney:Theyre giving lots of parenting advice.
French Gates:Probably more than she wants, actually.
Shes got this totally.
Barry:Give me some insight into that.
I can imagine a dinner conversation with you three amazing women is pretty fascinating.
It was so warm and easy.
We were in Malawi for the last two days.
So Amals working almost top down in some ways.
[Michelle is] supporting in education with the after-school programs.
Were approaching it bottoms up, and were all collecting data.
The work we can do together can be so impactful.
You need education; you need health.
Obama:We talked the entire plane ride, literally from Malawi to Cape Town.
We threatened taking naps, but it didnt happen.
Clooney:I was very awake.
Barry:So youre the introvert, I think, sandwiched between two extroverts.
Would that be right in saying?
Clooney:I think we brought out the extrovert in Melinda.
I think Im probably more on the extrovert side.
Barry:I had the pleasure of being in Malawi.
Obama:Its the promise and possibility.
Those girls are powerhouses.
They are bold, brave, smart, resilient.
you’re free to hear their stories, but you dont see it on their faces.
They havent let their trauma break them down.
Thats part of what I want seen as we do these travels.
So thats what I take away every time Im with them.
They break my heart in all the right ways.
French Gates:It feels really hard.
I often go back to other countries, Michelle brought this up very eloquently about South Korea.
It was an aid recipient and now it gives aid.
Barry:Talking about daunting numbers, its expected that child marriage wont end for 300 years.
What does impact look like?
French Gates:Were going to change that.
Thats not going to happen.
Its clearly everyones issue.
So I hope this also sets that kind of example.
Why do you think theres not more of this?
Clooney:Honestly, I find it completely perplexing.
Like Amal said, people are just drilling down sometimes.
To work together, you have to know each other.
Clooney:Were even connecting our respective fellows.
The Obama Foundation has next-generation leaders.
French Gates:I want to add one thing too.
The gender space has been starved for resources for all of time.
We don’t fund women’s health.
Barry:How do you call in the men in your own life to be part of this fight?
Obama:Well, I think Im fortunate to have a man that’s already called.
I don’t have to call him in.
So we have our allies in men.
We just need more of them and we need all of them to take ownership.
Many men in this generation are raising their daughters to be leaders.
The opportunities are opening up.
Theyre looking at their little girls when theyre young, saying, you might be anything.
And I would answer that question and say no, it is not.
Not in your boardrooms or your C-suites or in your houses of parliaments or in your Congress.
There is misogyny all over the world.
The world isnt structured for womens dreams.
The world is not safe for women and girls, and that should hurt us all.
There are places they will not see because its not safe for them, and thats a shame.
That will stunt them.
Barry:You talked about your daughters.
Amal, you have young twins.
They care, but theyd still rather have their mom at home.
But Im very lucky; like Michelle, I have a partner who couldnt be more supportive.
My first trip as a working mom after having kids, George said, Ive got this.
Im driving them to school.
So I hope well succeed.
Barry:What does success look like and true impact?
French Gates:Well, I hope for the three of us its the beginning of a partnership.
Usually, when youre working on things, you tend to expand your scope over time.
So I think we still have space to dream beyond this original three-year partnership.
For me, it is child marriage, absolutely, but its also girls education.
Its girls having contraceptives so they can plan and space the births of their children.
What allowed women in the United States to grow in the workforce?
The invention of the birth control pill, and women are crying out for it on this planet.
More women in leadership roles because they move resources and make decisions.
More women in all fields.
We need far more women in technology and AI because thats changing our society.
So its actually crazy to even think that a generation ago and how its changed.
You guys have such accolades behind you.
What is the one word that people describe you as that just gives you pure joy?
Ill start with you, Michelle.
Obama:A mother, particularly a mother to two beautiful young women right now.
I am ambitious, Im an advocate, I care, Im a hard worker, Im strategic.
But my greatest achievement is raising two sane young women who are compassionate and empathetic and aware.
French Gates:Same.
I always wanted to be a mom.
So I would say a mother first, then I would say advocate.
Advocate for the girls and women who will come behind me in the next generations.
Clooney:Well, now if I dont say being a mom, theyll watch this one day.
I would say the greatest compliment would be if we can inspire someone younger.
Whether its our own children or, for me, students or young lawyers.
To try and move the needle in the right direction, then I think thats a great contribution.
