Lebogang Ramafoko, MC/MPA

Ms. Ramafoko is the chief executive officer of Tekano Health Equity South Africa, a nonprofit organization nurturing leaders to promote health equity in South Africa.

From 2011 to 2019, Ms. Ramafoko served as the chief executive officer of Soul City Institute, a nonprofit organization using mass media, social mobilization and advocacy to advance health and social justice in southern Africa. As CEO, she led the transformation of the organization to focus on social justice for women and girls. Before becoming the CEO, Ms. Ramafoko worked for Soul City in various capacities, including directing the launch of a community reality show that would go on to become one of the organization’s flagship programs, and developing TV and radio programs and other behavior change materials.

Ms. Ramafoko also provided wide-ranging advice as “Agony Aunt” on a popular daily youth TV show. She currently co-hosts the Rise Talkshow, an intergenerational show that discusses critical issues that affect young women, including HIV.

In 2002, Ms. Ramafoko was part of the inaugural Clinton Democracy Fellowship at City Year in Boston. In 2009, she was awarded the Harvard-Mandela Fellowship. That year, she also became an Edward Mason Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she obtained a mid-career master’s degree in public administration.