Mukuka Mulenga
The first ever B360 Northbound Intern from Zambia is now President of the Alumni Organization in Zambia and Member of our Advisory Board.
Profile
Name: Samuel Mukuka Mulenga
Country: Zambia
Current Occupation: Assistant Director – Quality Assurance, Risk & Change Management, Taxpayer Services & Education Department, Zambia Revenue Authority
Northbound Alumni, Internship at Credit Suisse in 2014
Member of the B360 Advisory Board
President of the B360 Alumni Organization in Zambia
How did you learn about B360?
I first came into contact with B360 through its Southbound program when Albert Zwicker gave a lecture to our Economics Department staff and to Economics Masters Students. It was a fascinating encounter and we learnt many new industry relevant concepts.
Later on, I saw an advert for an internship opportunity in Switzerland, which immediately captured my interest and attention.
What impact did B360 have on your (professional) life?
Before B360, my experience was mostly academic – the internship was my introduction to professional life. The most lasting lesson was the value of win-win situations: considering all parties' interests to create shared value.
Today, I manage projects and teams, and many habits I developed through B360 still shape how I lead, communicate, and deliver results. The program also brought lasting professional relationships and ongoing learning opportunities.
My relationship with B360 has come full circle: from mentee to mentor. It remains a platform where I learn, share my experience, and guide young professionals entering the workplace.
Can you describe a moment where you realized that your experience with B360 had an impact beyond yourself?
Seeing the Northbound Alumni community in Zambia grow from a small network to more than 43 young professionals made me realize B360's impact extends far beyond the individual. Watching quiet, uncertain students develop into confident leaders has been deeply personal – I recognize my own early journey in them.
B360's lasting value lies in the cycle it creates: people are given an opportunity, grow, and then create opportunities for others. I entered the program seeking mentorship myself; today, I'm privileged to support a community of professionals building careers and inspiring the next generation.
You are President of the B360 Alumni in Zambia and Member of the Advisory Board: What are the biggest challenges at the moment? What are your personal goals in these roles?
The biggest challenge is ensuring the long-term sustainability of B360's impact. As the Alumni community grows, so do expectations around mentorship, networking, and career support. The challenge is keeping the network active, relevant, and capable of creating meaningful opportunities.
My personal goal is to help build a sustainable B360 model with strong local ownership, effective partnerships, and a vibrant Alumni community: one that offers real value through professional connections, mentorship, and collaboration.
Beyond that, I hope to foster an Alumni culture where every beneficiary becomes a bridge for someone else. A living cycle of opportunity where growth is multiplied through service and shared responsibility, rather than kept by individuals.
Who is a person you met through B360 that left a lasting impression on you – and why?
Two people stand out:
Ms. Sabina Balmer impressed me with her passion, attention to detail, and remarkable ability to recognize potential and assess character. She taught me that passion is most effective paired with discipline and consistency.
Mr. Christian Suter, an instructor we met through our host parents, was a practical teacher with a strong sense of risk management. He showed me that good judgment isn't about avoiding risk, but understanding and preparing for it. A lesson that still shapes how I approach projects and leadership decisions.
Together, they taught me two key dimensions of professional growth: understanding people and managing risk, both of which continue to influence how I lead and make decisions.
What kind of impact do you hope B360 will have in the next 10 years – and what role do you see yourself playing in that?
I hope B360 will grow into a sustainable, locally rooted, and internationally connected platform for developing young professionals – an ecosystem of mentorship, networks, and practical learning that lasts well beyond individual placements. International internships, physical and virtual, should remain central, and I'd like to see them extended to fields like Education at the University of Zambia to shape future teachers.
My role is to help build the structures that make this possible: strengthening partnerships, expanding internship and mentorship opportunities, and growing an active Alumni community through the Advisory Board. Ultimately, I hope to serve as a bridge between those who benefited from B360 and those who will carry its mission forward.
