When Dr Keratiloe Mogotsi joined Wits Business School in March 2019, the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) was still finding its feet. “It was just Prof Bheki Moyo and myself,” she recalls. “CAPSI was a brand-new centre, and it was incredibly exciting to be part of something that was being built from the ground up.”
Coming from a corporate background in business analysis and project management, Dr Mogotsi did not initially see herself specialising in African philanthropy. But exposure changed everything. From her first days at CAPSI, she worked closely with non-profit organisations across the continent and encountered leaders whose passion and commitment left a lasting impression.
“I was blown away by the advocacy and the work that organisations were doing across Africa,” she says. “I realised very quickly that this was my lane.”
That realisation prompted a major shift. While already registered for a PhD elsewhere, she transferred to Wits Business School and reoriented her research towards African philanthropy. “I liked it so much that I changed my PhD topic,” she explains. “I never looked back.”
Dr Mogotsi’s academic journey was profoundly shaped by events unfolding across the continent. Just months after she joined CAPSI, Cyclone Idai struck Southern Africa, devastating communities in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The scale of loss and the urgency of the response deeply affected her.
“Disaster preparedness was almost non-existent,” she reflects. “Infrastructure took far too long to recover, and it really bothered me.”
Drawing on her business background, she began asking how principles used in the corporate sector—such as lean thinking and continuous improvement—could be applied to disaster response. That question became the foundation of her PhD research, combining business methods with humanitarian and philanthropic practice.
“This topic was born directly out of what I was seeing and experiencing at CAPSI,” she says. “It was about responding to real problems, not abstract ones.”
Her work exemplifies what she calls being a “pracademic”—someone who bridges theory and practice. “What’s the point of publishing research that just sits in journals?” she asks. “It needs to be shared back with practitioners and applied in the real world.”
This approach led her to engage directly with non-profit leaders through workshops and dialogues, including convenings with organisations such as the Southern Africa Trust. “Bringing practitioners into the research process is where impact really happens,” she notes.
Among her research interests—venture philanthropy, sustainable development and philanthro-capitalism—it is venture philanthropy that currently excites her most.
“In 2025 and 2026, relying solely on donor funding is very risky,” she says. “The funding landscape keeps shifting. Organisations need sustainable revenue-generating ventures if they want to survive and thrive.”
This conviction led to the development of a venture philanthropy masterclass through Wits Business School Executive Education. Her work in this area encourages African non-profit leaders to combine passion and advocacy with business thinking and financial sustainability.
Her perspective is informed by experience across sectors. Before entering academia, Dr Mogotsi worked in corporate and government environments, including roles at Eskom, Dimension Data and Nielsen. She believes this cross-sector exposure gives her a unique and practical lens.
“I’ve worked in business, government and the non-profit space,” she explains. “It allows me to offer holistic, realistic recommendations that actually make sense to the people affected.”
Dr Mogotsi describes herself as “The Key Kindler,” a phrase rooted in her belief in lighting the spark in others. “To kindle is to light something,” she says. “I want to spread light, warmth and fire wherever I go.”
In practice, this means prioritising experiential learning. She regularly brings practitioners into the classroom or takes students into real-world settings. “People may forget what you said,” she reflects, quoting Maya Angelou, “but they won’t forget how you made them feel.”
For her, learning must be felt, not just taught.
Her advice to young Africans pursuing research or careers in philanthropy is equally grounded: “Do research that matters to you. Don’t do it because others are doing it. You need to care deeply about what you’re researching, because it’s a long and difficult journey.”
Now based in the United States, where she continues her academic work as an Associate Dean and Assistant Professor at the School of Business and Enterprise, Chatham University. Dr Mogotsi remains reflective about purpose and presence. She draws inspiration from the stoic principle memento mori—remember that life is finite.
“It reminds me to make the most of every day,” she says. “When I’m teaching, I’m fully present. When I’m with my family, I’m there. When I’m researching, I give it my all.”
Her definition of success has evolved. “Success for me is enjoying the process and giving my best,” she explains. “Whether it’s writing a paper, teaching a class, cooking a meal, or spending time with my daughter—if I show up fully, that is success.”
Reflecting on her journey, Dr Mogotsi offers a powerful message to current Wits and CAPSI students: embrace your uniqueness.
“No two snowflakes are the same, and no two fingerprints are the same,” she says. “We all have something different to offer. Don’t waste your abilities trying to mimic someone else,” says Dr Mogotsi. “Find yourself. Find what you are passionate about. That’s where you’ll thrive—whether in research, practice, or both.”
From helping build CAPSI in its earliest days to shaping global conversations on philanthropy and sustainability, Dr Keratiloe Mogotsi’s journey stands as a testament to purpose-driven scholarship—rooted in Africa, responsive to the world, and committed to impact.
