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Magogodi Makhene
“Following the end of apartheid, we South Africans learned that political freedom is incomplete without economic opportunity.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Four-year College or University: Neumann College
- Graduate School: New York University
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Biography
PROFILE: Growing up under apartheid in South Africa in the government-designated ghetto of Soweto, Magogodi Makhene and her sisters were often excluded from school because their fees were past due. But that did not stop her from learning. Magogodi read banned books, in which she learned about Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas. She was so inspired that by age 16 she had written to every American exchange program she could find, and was finally accepted to one. When she learned that the travel would cost $7,000, she campaigned publicly for support.
“With my mother’s help, I landed on Good Morning South Africa. Kaizer Motaung, owner of a soccer club, watched from his home. Before nightfall, he offered me sponsorship. I had my ticket to America.” It was not all smooth sailing after that generous gift. After studying in Minnesota, Magogodi’s funding ran out. She supported herself in Philadelphia—where she saw another side of America. In her long journey to a fulfilling education, she has faced culture shocks and thrived, and is highly motivated to promote social philanthropy and entrepreneurship in her native land.
INSPIRATION: Magogodi is inspired by and grateful to her mother, who sacrificed everything to put her and her sisters through school, and has been a mainstay of emotional support throughout her life.
ASPIRATION: Magogodi plans to work in social entrepreneurship with a focus on private equity, development, and Africa. “My goal is to establish a venture capital and private equity fund with portfolio companies in Africa.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: While in Philadelphia, Magogodi worked with the Bright Lights Initiative, a youth development program. She authored grant proposals, grew capacity by ten percent, and managed events for over 400 children in three schools.
ACCOLADES: Magogodi took first place in the 2007 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics for her essay, “The Ethics of South African Identity.” She is a recipient of the Reynolds Fellowship and graduated summa cum laude.
INTERESTING FACT: Magogodi worked as a flight attendant for US Airways Express.
Other Scholars Like Magogodi
Jolyn Zwemer
Graduate Scholar
University of Wyoming
Arthur Robinson Williams
Graduate Scholar
University of Pennsylvania
Brian Brush
Graduate Scholar
Columbia University
Marcus Ostermiller
Graduate Scholar
New York University