Inside government buildings in New Delhi and along crowded streets in India’s capital, University of Alabama business student Charles Makobongo encountered a side of leadership he had not studied in classrooms. As part of the Gandhi–King Scholar Exchange Initiative, he sat in on meetings at the U.S. Embassy, navigated heightened security and listened as diplomats and executives discussed global affairs. These moments reshaped how he understood responsibility, culture and influence.
“That program specifically has been one of the most transformational programs I’ve ever participated in,” Makobongo said. “That whole experience drastically changed my life.”
Selected as one of 20 students from the United States and India, Makobongo spent two weeks traveling through Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi after hosting Indian participants in Alabama during the program’s U.S. residency. The focus of the initiative is to advance civil rights, social justice and inclusion locally, nationally and internationally by examining the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and how those ideas translate to modern civic life and diplomacy. The trip challenged assumptions and expanded his worldview.
“It was surreal being in the moment of just what it entailed,” he said. “Seeing how diplomatic relations work, understanding different people’s motives, cultures, goals, what motivates them, intrinsic desires… there’s just so much that was taken away from the trip that is applicable to the career and business, but also just how you interact with people in life in general.”
Makobongo is all about discovery and new environments as well as personal growth. It’s a big reason he chose to leave his hometown of Lewis Center, Ohio, and enroll at UA.
“In high school I knew I wanted to change as a person,” Makobongo said. “And a big thing that plays into that is the environment that surrounds you. I fell in awe with the Southern hospitality and beyond that of what UA and specifically Culverhouse offered with their business programs.”
He arrived as a finance major and later added accounting, now studying both with a concentration in professional accounting. After graduation in May, he plans to stay at UA to pursue a Master of Accountancy at Manderson Graduate School of Business, sit for the CPA exam, and enter financial or transaction advisory.
Long term, entrepreneurship remains central to his vision.
“I do see myself pursuing entrepreneurship and having a business of my own,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to look like, but I definitely would want to merge that finance and accounting background that UA has tremendously helped me with.”
That entrepreneurial spirit began in high school with a sneaker-reselling venture that evolved into selling multiple products through Amazon fulfillment programs. The experience, he said, was formative.
“Entrepreneurship is a huge test of personal development,” Makobongo said. “The marketplace will violently showcase your deficiencies. You have the ability to control how you react to that.”
Internships with Sam’s Club, Aramark and Consolidated Financial further sharpened his professional outlook, especially when it came to collaboration.
“I think on a business standpoint, there’s so much power in people,” he said. “One person can’t do it all. Being able to rely on others to divide and conquer in a certain area is so powerful.”
With leadership roles across campus and a calendar he admits is tightly scheduled, Makobongo approaches each commitment deliberately.
“We make time for what we prioritize,” he said. “I think it comes down to intentionally planning out your calendar,” he said. “I’m really motivated to be able to make an impact upon others.”
His commitments are numerous and do have an impact. He serves as an associate justice on the student judicial board, which is part of the Student Government Association. In this role, he advocates for students in their conduct cases on a weekly basis, ensuring an equitable environment conducive to student growth. He is a mentor and supports underclassmen through UA Bridge, fostering personal growth, academic success, and a strong sense of community on campus. Makobongo is a student coach and ambassador for the Kelly LEAD program, where he introduces students to industry professionals in the workforce throughout the semester to help them set goals, develop leadership traits, and navigate personal and academic challenges to maximize their growth.
“Across these roles, I am able to make a meaningful impact because I actively seek out diverse experiences, embrace opportunities to learn from others, and use my perspective as an upperclassman to empower students and strengthen our campus community,” he said.
From international diplomacy to business analytics to student leadership, Makobongo continues to build a multifaceted path. It’s one helped shaped by a summer that took him far beyond Alabama and permanently widened his view of the world.