What inspired you to become one?

I think it's quite a very interesting story because as a young girl, aviation was never a viable career choice for me.

I grew up during apartheid in South Africa, where I had limited career choices.

So growing up, I've never seen anybody that looked like me as a pilot.

So the closest I had seen a pilot was Tom Cruise on his movies on TV, and he did not look anything like me.

So initially, I set my sight on becoming a doctor because I was really good in the sciences, and I really loved science.

That was until one day when I was already studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree, and I was majoring in biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Cape Town, that I boarded a flight for the first time.

Do you see any other similarities in your stories? Does she inspire you in any way?

After we hear from Refilwe, stick around for her conversation with TED Fellows program director Lily James Olds.

[gentle music] Sometimes we tend to make people part of the problem only, but we don't make people part of the success.

We're quick to say, "Oh, these were my challenges," but we're not quick to say, "But this person removed this barrier, and this person removed this one." We need to start telling those stories.

My name is Refilwe Ledwaba.

I'm a helicopter and airplane pilot.

I'm also an educator.

I'm a founder of Girls Fly Africa, an organization that is teaching the next generation of young people, especially women, to learn how to fly.

[laughs]