A Conversation with Mrs. Graça Machel on Equality, Justice, and Transformative Leadership

Graça Machel is a globally revered humanitarian, liberation leader, and tireless champion for women’s and children’s rights. From Mozambique’s independence struggle—where she served as Minister of Education and raised school enrolment from 40 to over 90 percent—to her landmark 1996 UN report on children in armed conflict, her influence spans continents. As founder of the Graça Machel Trust and founding member of The Elders, she continues to advance women’s economic empowerment, justice, and remains an enduring moral voice for dignity, equality, and transformative leadership across Africa and beyond.Transcending Boundaries is a podcast hosted by Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, which features intimate conversations with exceptional leaders. Each episode explores value-based leadership by diving deep into the lives of extraordinary people who have changed their communities, their countries, and the world for the better.Learn more here: https://mastercardfdn.org/en/transcending-boundaries-podcast------------------------------------------------------------------The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.