Nico Smit
The Country Manager of B360 Namibia has a long history and works with B360 education partnerships for more than 10 years.
Profile
Name: Nico Smit
Country: Namibia
Current Occupation: B360 Namibia Country Manager
Former University Coordinator at NUST Namibia
How did you learn about B360?
I was introduced to B360 in 2015 when I took up the role of International Relations Officer at NUST. I was assigned coordination of the partnership between NUST and B360 until early 2026. As a result, I worked closely with the B360 team in Switzerland on the planning, coordination and implementation of the Northbound and Southbound programs at NUST.
Your story with B360 is long – what were the stages and how did you move from one to the next? What impact did B360 have on your (professional) life?
As International Relations Officer at NUST, I coordinated the partnership between NUST and B360, running recruitment for the Northbound program, supporting incoming B360 experts, and later helping plan the first Career Starter Week in 2017. By 2019, I was leading logistics for CSW independently and organizing public engagement activities with visiting B360 experts. That year, I also presented at B360's Annual Event in Zurich and met key partners and former mentors.
When Covid hit in 2020, our activities shifted online, and in 2021 I helped B360 launch the Virtual Internship Program to keep the momentum going without physical travel.
Working as B360 Coordinator at NUST shaped my professional development, teaching me structured, detail-oriented work and strong organizational skills, while connecting me with inspiring B360 Experts like Markus Hubscher, Marianne Egli, and others.
In mid-2025, conversations with Sabina Balmer about establishing a local B360 entity in Namibia led me to apply for the role of B360 Namibia Country Manager. I was selected, and B360 Namibia began operations in February 2026. The role has pushed me from operational to strategic thinking, with Sabina and the Swiss team providing invaluable support.
B360 has profoundly shaped my career, not only through this new role, but by giving me a platform to contribute to the development of young Namibians, continually challenging me to grow beyond my comfort zone.
What impact have you seen with young Namibians who have participated in B360 programs?
Working with NUST students before and after their Swiss internships, I've seen a consistent pattern: pre-departure briefings bring a mix of excitement and trepidation. For many, it's their first time flying.
Upon return, students visibly carry newfound confidence, along with some reverse culture shock as they readjust to life in Namibia. Exposure to different family dynamics – like parents treating children as adults, or women choosing careers over having children – broadens their worldview. Combined with early exposure to corporate life in Swiss companies, the experience shapes their understanding of professionalism and work ethics from an early stage.
Our rigorous selection process ensures we choose strong candidates, and the Swiss experience helps focus them and build genuine self-confidence, showing them what's possible if they stay motivated and keep working hard.
Can you describe a moment where you realized that your experience with B360 had an impact beyond yourself?
This became clear in 2019, during the first CSW for unemployed university graduates. Participants thanked me as if I had personally trained them, their gratitude was sincere and showed how much they valued the experience.
Another moment came earlier this year after a CSW for Health Sciences students at NUST, when the visiting B360 experts shared how meeting young Namibians had opened their eyes to a different way of life and given them a new perspective.
I've come to realize that B360 impacts both sides, and I feel fortunate to help bring these two very different worlds together.
Who is a person you met through B360 that left a lasting impression on you – and why?
Honestly, everyone I've met through B360 has left a lasting impression, because the people involved are truly remarkable. They give their time, effort, and resources, leaving families and jobs behind to travel across the world for young people they've never met.
The B360 staff, experts, host families, and funders have all impacted me deeply, through their work helping Namibians build better lives and a more sustainable future.
What kind of impact do you hope B360 will have in the next 10 years – and how do you see your role as Country Manager of B360 Namibia?
I hope B360 continues its impressive impact in Southern Africa, ideally growing further through new programs and expansion into new countries in the region.
As Country Manager of B360 Namibia, my role is to firmly anchor our work locally: expanding beyond Windhoek to reach underserved populations, extending our training beyond university students and graduates to include TVET trainees, and growing our network of corporate, non-profit, and education partners.
Above all, I see my role as serving young Namibians. Something only possible with the support of the B360 team and infrastructure behind me. In ten years, I hope we'll look back on a well-established Namibian organization with a strong reputation and an even stronger network.
