In this episode, I sit down with education powerhouse and Executive Director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Gugulethu Ndebele.Best known for her extensive work in both government and the private sector, Gugu reflects on the fascinating journey to landing her current role—including the rigorous eight-interview process and flying to New York to meet Oprah Winfrey. She candidly discusses the critical state of South Africa’s education system, the disconnect between policy and implementation, and why she believes in ”preparing the soil” before planting the seed of education.She opens up about her own academic setbacks, revealing the humbling experience of failing Grade 11 twice and being expelled during the apartheid era for leading student protests. Gugu explains how these failures dismantled her ego, taught her resilience, and shaped her belief that academic success is not the only measure of a child's worth.Gugu shares a raw and vulnerable look into her upbringing, discussing how her mother instilled in her a deep respect for education as a basic human right. She speaks on the heartbreaking reality of children dying in pit latrines, the lack of basic services in schools, and the urgent need for leadership that holds itself accountable to the youth.With her profound wisdom and no-nonsense approach to leadership, Gugu proves that fixing education requires more than just a curriculum—it requires restoring dignity, safety, and hope to every child.#RelebogilePod