Summer’s almost here—and with it, a moment to reflect on what it really takes to spark lasting, meaningful change. In a world where progress often feels slow and the stakes impossibly high, Dr. Rajiv Shah has spent his career proving that bold, system-shifting bets can work.
From leading global vaccine efforts at the Gates Foundation, to reshaping food security policy at USAID, to now powering innovation at The Rockefeller Foundation—Raj’s story is one of grit, vision, and conviction.
This conversation is a masterclass on making big bets: how to build unlikely alliances, act with urgency, and stay grounded in optimism—even when the odds feel stacked.
If you’re a leader wondering “Where do we go from here?”—this one’s for you.
Let’s dive in.
Timestamps / Key Takeaways
0:00 – Intro
01:32 – Key Takeaway #1: The 3 key elements of big bets:
04:38 – Key Takeaway #2: It is realistic to be optimistic about grand-scale changes.
09:22 – Key Takeaway #3: Keep taking the risks, keep reinventing.
12:05 – Key Takeaway #4: Crossing boundaries IS part of the process
15:08 – A powerful reminder: every billion-dollar move starts with conviction, clarity, and courage.
Dr. Rajiv J. “Raj” Shah was born to Indian immigrant parents who settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the late 1960s. He joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001, serving in a range of leadership roles including Director of Agricultural Development, Director of Strategic Opportunities, Deputy Director of Policy and Finance and Chief Economist. During his time in Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he was also responsible for developing the International Finance Facility for Immunization, which raised more than $5 billion for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
Throughout Obama administration, Raj was nominated to serve United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). As Administrator of USAID, he restructured $2.9 billion of global health investments to focus on cost-effective ways to save lives of children under the age of five in priority countries.
On January 5, 2017, Raj Shah was sworn to serve as the 13th president of the Rockefeller Foundation, continuing the mission of the foundation to improve the lives of humanity around the world.
In 2023, he authored the book “Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Occurs,”, offers insights into some of his experiences in philanthropic and public service work, as well as the lessons he has learned throughout his career on how to drive transformational change through a big-goal mindset.
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Rockefeller Foundation – Big Bets
https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bigbets
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