Heritage
Like branches on a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one
The Bekele Family
This is a reminder. Sophia is born in the Capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, the third of six children, to Ato Bekele Eshete WoldeMichael, a successful businessman whose ventures spanned multiple sectors of the Ethiopian economy — including travel, leather export, printing and publishing, information technology, hospitality, and financial services. He was also a Founder and Board Director of two of Ethiopia’s major financial institutions: United Bank and United Insurance.
Her mother, Sister Mulualem Beyene Engeda, built a long and respected career in nursing before establishing and running her own clinic. Now retired, she remains actively engaged in charity work through her church and divides her time between her home in the United States, Addis Ababa, and visiting her children abroad
Raised in an upper‑crest family, Sophia enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Addis Ababa and attended Nazareth School, a private primary and secondary institution, alongside her sisters. While studying abroad was common among families of similar standing — typically with the intention of returning home — the political upheaval of the Red Revolution, which overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, forced many families, including Sophia’s, to leave Ethiopia due to uncertainty. This period made the San Francisco Bay Area a “home abroad,” where Sophia completed her education and began her early professional life.
Most of her siblings now reside in the United States as well, while the family continues to maintain a strong base of business and personal ties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.