Mentorship Unfiltered: Derrick & Thando

A Ripples of Hope Series

When two people meet at the right time in their lives, there's a particular kind of magic that happens, when one person's experience becomes a roadmap for another's journey, and when that exchange flows both ways. For Derrick and Thando, a mentor-mentee pair in the Ripples of Hope Fellowship, that magic began with a Boston sweater and a hunch that they had more in common than geography would suggest. 

The Match

When Aletta paired Derrick Young Jr, the executive director of Leadership Brainery, with Thando Mzimela, current Fellow, she thought of their leadership and drive. When she first told Derrick about Thando, she painted a picture of a young man brimming with ambition, entrepreneurial, committed to education, a natural leader. Derrick was immediately intrigued. "I knew we would have a lot in common," he recalls.

For Thando, the news came with a different energy: nervous excitement. "Aletta told me Derrick and I had similar growth trajectories," he says. "I was curious to see if I'd recognize that in our conversations. There was a lot of anticipation, wondering if he'd see in me what she saw."

Both, approached that first call with curiosity. Neither knew they were about to step into something that would reshape how they thought about possibility, community, and growth.

First Impressions

When Thando logged onto their first Zoom call wearing a Boston sweater, Derrick couldn't help but smile.

"It showed intention," Derrick says. For Thando, that intentionality extended beyond wardrobe choices. What struck him most was how easy the conversation flowed. "I didn't know what to expect from the dynamic, but Derrick was incredibly welcoming. As someone who wasn't sure what to say or how to show up, he mentored me through the conversation itself."

Derrick, meanwhile, was taking stock of the young man on the other side of the screen—traveling, writing, innovating, building. His first thought? "Where does he find the time?"

Then it hit him: "I realized I was very similar at his age. That reflection left a special mark on me."

In that first conversation, both of them saw something of themselves reflected back, proof that mentorship, at its best, isn't a one-way transfer of knowledge but a mutual recognition of shared humanity.

The Moment That Matters

Every meaningful relationship has a moment when it shifts from transactional to transformational. For Derrick and Thando, those moments came quietly but powerfully.

Thando remembers a session during his final year university exams. He was anxious but, as is his tendency, hadn't shared that with anyone. "Our session happened to fall during exam week," he recalls. "I tend to keep those feelings to myself. But suddenly I had an outlet, a space where I could finally say it out loud."

Derrick encouraged him exactly when he needed it most. "That moment showed me the empathetic core of our relationship," Thando says.

For Derrick, his unforgettable moment was simpler but no less meaningful: that Boston sweater on the first call. It wasn't just a sweater, it was evidence of care, attention, and the kind of thoughtfulness that signals someone is all in.

These aren't the grand gestures that make headlines. They're the quiet acknowledgments that someone sees you, believes in you, and shows up when it matters.

What They Didn't Expect

Mentorship often delivers lessons neither party anticipates. For Thando, the surprise was philosophical: "Derrick taught me that there's no ceiling to your dreams. He doesn't come across as someone who's stopped evolving or chasing something. That's changed how I think about my own aspirations."

For Derrick, the learning was more practical but equally profound. Thando deepened his understanding of how higher education functions in South Africa. "It has expanded my global perspective," Derrick reflects.

But the bigger lesson for Derrick has been about leading across difference. "This is my first formal mentee who doesn't reside in America. I have to constantly reflect on what Thando's lived experience in South Africa may be before I offer advice. Our cultures, norms, and privileges differ. Leading with intention and care across those differences is a muscle I'm grateful to strengthen."

In One Word

When asked to describe each other in one word, both of them chose carefully.

Derrick chose "resilient" for Thando. "He remains hopeful, active, and forward-moving regardless of circumstance. That mindset is powerful and will continue to carry him far."

Thando chose "wise" for Derrick. "He thinks deeply about the world and its complexities. He doesn't offer surface-level advice, he sees the multiplicity in everything, and that groundedness is what makes his guidance so meaningful."

Resilience and wisdom. Forward motion and depth. Two qualities that, when brought together in a mentorship relationship, create something greater than the sum of their parts.

Ubuntu in Action

The Ripples of Hope Fellowship is built on the principle of Ubuntu: I am because we are. For Derrick and Thando, that principle moved from abstract concept to lived reality through one connection, and one name: Thabang.

Derrick introduced Thando to Thabang, a South African who studied at Harvard and now lives back home. For Thando, that first conversation was revelatory.

"When Derrick connected me to Thabang, I saw Ubuntu in action," Thando explains. "What seemed distant to me was someone else's reality, the fact that he had gone to Harvard and that conversation shattered my own limits. Here was someone who'd walked a path I thought was impossible, and suddenly it felt within reach."

But the power of that introduction didn't end with one call. Thabang became part of Thando's community. 

"Through Derrick's act of community building, I now have somebody who forms part of my own community," Thando reflects. "Thabang and I keep in touch. That relationship continues to shape how I think about what's possible. That's 'I am because we are’ in action. My growth is directly tied to the community he's building around me."

For Derrick, watching that connection take root and grow reinforced something essential. "He shared how meaningful the conversation was and how it led to continued dialogue. It reminded me how interconnected we truly are and how collective opportunity multiplies when we open doors for one another."

This is the ripple effect in practice: Derrick opens a door. Thando walks through. Thabang extends a hand. The community expands. One connection becomes an ongoing relationship, one conversation becomes many, and what seemed impossible becomes someone's lived reality, and therefore, possible for you too.

What They Want You to Know

Both Derrick and Thando have advice for future mentors and mentees entering this journey.

Thando's message is direct: "You never truly know the impact you're having. For Derrick, it might feel like just a conversation. But for me, it's someone who sees me, believes in me, and invests in me. Mentors—don't take that lightly. Fellows—show up fully, because this relationship will change you."

Derrick's advice is more practical but equally important: "Lean into the Ripples network when challenges arise. They are deeply supportive and committed to finding solutions and meaningful connections."

Both perspectives point to the same truth: mentorship isn't a solo endeavor. It's embedded in community, sustained by networks, and most powerful when both people bring their full selves.

The Ripple Effect

Perhaps the most profound shift for Thando has been recognizing that he's now called to pass it forward. "Because of this relationship, I now truly understand the value of mentorship, not just as a concept, but as lived experience. I want to mentor others the way Derrick has mentored me, to contribute to someone else's growth the way he's contributing to mine."

Derrick has always understood this. For him, mentorship isn't charity, it's investment in a future he'll never fully see but trusts will be better because of the seeds planted today.

That's the essence of Ubuntu. That's the power of Ripples of Hope.

One sweater. One Zoom call. One connection that became many.

Derrick and Thando didn't just build a mentorship; they built a blueprint for what's possible when two people commit to seeing each other, challenging each other, and growing together.

And the ripples? They're just beginning.

Derrick and Thando are part of the Ripples of Hope Fellowship, which connects young leaders from South Africa and the United States through mentorship, immersive experiences, and a shared commitment to building the beloved community.

Learn more about the Ripples of Hope Fellowship.