Service With a Smile
“A friend in high school started a business selling random necessities,” says the rising junior majoring in marketing and minoring in economics. “He was a middleman for companies but didn’t have the tools to sell himself effectively. He asked for my help since I have a knack for being very persuasive.”
Manirakiza came to the U.S. with his family from Tanzania as an infant “to seek asylum from the unstable government in the area at the time and to gain a better life,” he says. They first lived in California before moving to Dillon County, S.C., when he was 5.
“The College was always on my radar after hearing about it from peers,” says Manirakiza. “When I participated in an overnight visit, I loved the community, the people I met and how they kept in touch after my visit.”
People like Lancie Affonso ’96 (M.S. ’08), senior instructor of management and marketing, who was also a first-generation student from Tanzania.
“Danieri showed a strong desire to make a positive impact at the College,” recalls Affonso. “As a Meeting Street Scholar, he is already paying it forward as a mentor and student ambassador in our School of Business.”
Manirakiza knew Charleston’s dynamic business scene would open numerous opportunities, and one proved transformative: interning as a sales assistant/delivery specialist with the Mercedes-Benz dealership of the Baker Motor Co. of Charleston.
“Working at Mercedes has been one of the best experiences,” says Manirakiza. “I’ve learned so much about myself as a person and marketer. I’ve learned that marketing is much deeper than people think.
“I also get to meet people from all walks of life and connect with them as individuals,” he adds. “It’s been a fantastic networking opportunity.”
In addition to his internship, Manirakiza took a personal-growth class on intentionality taught by Ben Navarro, the Charleston businessman and philanthropist.
“The class taught me so much, especially how it connects to my current role at Mercedes,” says Manirakiza. “Plus, (Mr.) Navarro is someone I consider a mentor. He has so much to offer, and I aspire to be like him one day.”
Navarro says admires how Manirakiza embodies the power of intentionality – proving that our past does not dictate our future. “Through the class, Dani discovered he holds the pen to his life’s narrative,” he says. “He did more than absorb the lessons; he applied them to his everyday life. By embracing challenge, taking ownership and applying the principles of intentionality daily, he has ignited a meaningful and lasting shift in his mindset – one that will propel him toward his fullest potential and the life he chooses to create.”
Manirakiza is deeply grateful for the financial aid he has received at CofC, including the Knox Global Financial Need Scholarship and the R. Keith and Melissa G. Sauls Undergraduate Scholarship.
“As a first-generation student from a low-income background, I couldn’t be more thankful for all the support I’ve received,” he says. “My scholarships have made it possible for me to attend CofC without any debt or loans. One day, I want to give back to this place that has given me the confidence to be who I am.”