Bill Gates is currently the co chairman and director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 1975, he co founded Microsoft with Paul Allen and led the company to become a global leader in commercial and personal software and services. In 2008, he began full-time focusing on the work of the Gates Foundation, committed to achieving the foundation's goal of promoting equality globally. In addition to his work at the foundation, he is also committed to promoting innovation in climate change and clean energy, Alzheimer's disease research and other medical issues, interdisciplinary education, and technology.