Raj Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of Obama’s United States Agency for International Development, shares a dynamic new approach for how individuals can influence global change, inspired by the fascinating stories of his own transformative adventures.

Raj Shah is no stranger to pulling off the impossible, from helping vaccinate 700 million children at the Gates Foundation to a high-pressure race against the clock to stop the spread of Ebola. His secret? A big bets philosophy—the idea that setting ambitious goals, solving problems in a way that can scale up, and open collaboration with partners who share your passion for the cause. Part career sweeping memoir, part inspirational and practical instruction, Big Bets offers a master class in decision-making, risk management, and changing the world one bet at a time.

Shah animates his strategic insights with vivid behind-the-scenes stories, memorable conversations with world leaders that helped shape his approach to creating change, and his own personal growth as a first generation American looking for a way to make an impact. He distills his battle-tested strategies for creating change, arguing that big bets have a surprising advantage over cautious ones: a bold vision can attract support, collaborations, and fresh ideas from key players who might otherwise be resistant. Throughout the book, Shah traces his path to the Rockefeller Center across the world and through some of the most ambitious, dramatic global efforts to create a better world.

Dr. Raj Shah serves as president of the Rockefeller Foundation, a global institution with a mission to promote the well-being of humanity around the world. The Foundation applies data, science, and innovation to improve health for women and children, create nutritious and sustainable food systems, end energy poverty for more than a billion people worldwide, and enable meaningful economic mobility in the United States and around the world. Dr. Shah is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Wharton School of Business. He has received several honorary degrees, the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, and the US Global Leadership Award. He is married to Shivam Mallick Shah, and they have three children.