… Nashilongo Gervasius sets sights on continental tech policy
By Feni Hiveluah
True leadership rarely follows a straight line—it builds bridges across industries.
This week’s Confident Women column features Nashilongo Gervasius, whose career has journeyed from local broadcasting and global tech policy to the university classroom, culminating in her permanent executive appointment as NUST’s director of corporate engagement and internationalisation.
This week, she reflects on the responsibility of institutional stewardship, navigating major career pivots, and her mission to shape Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
Q: Your background spans strategic communications, digital policy, and development sectors. Looking back, what early experiences or career moves first sparked your passion for these fields?
“I have always been curious about how societies function and how information shapes public perception. This naturally drew me to communication, specifically how individuals, institutions, and governments strategically frame messages to influence behavior and policy. Over time, my interest expanded to the systems and channels through which information travels—from traditional media to digital networks. Communication is never neutral; it is shaped by power structures and public interpretation. This intersection of strategy, technology, governance, and development has ultimately defined my career.”
Q: In 2022, you transitioned into higher education as a Lecturer. What motivated you to step into the classroom at that specific point in your journey?
“My academic journey began around 2017 when I started lecturing part-time at the University of Namibia while transitioning from broadcasting to the development sector. Teaching complemented this shift perfectly, allowing me to bridge communication theory with practical industry experience. My move to full-time academia in 2022 was catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The global shutdown forced me to reflect, and I realized academia offered the perfect platform to research emerging technologies, mentor the next generation, and produce evidence-based research to inform public policy without leaving active practice behind.”
Q: How did your time teaching and mentoring students in digital and corporate communication prepare you for the corporate realities of management?
“I didn’t initially see the connection, but classroom management is highly parallel to team management—both require guiding people toward a shared goal and empowering their growth. Long before entering executive management, I was already overseeing projects, budgets, and teams at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and through global consulting initiatives like the Internet Society in Namibia. Combined with leadership development programs and a strong sense of personal accountability, the transition to corporate leadership felt like a natural next step.”
Q: In July 2024, you took a major leap by stepping into the Corporate Engagement and Internationalisation portfolio in an acting capacity. What was the biggest internal adjustment you had to make when moving from a lecturer to a corporate leader?
“Stepping into the executive role of Acting Director of Corporate Engagement and Internationalisation meant shifting from a focus on knowledge generation to a holistic responsibility for the university’s reputation, financial sustainability, and long-term strategy. Coming from a development background, I initially viewed corporate communication through a narrow lens of marketing. However, I soon realized that for a public institution like NUST, managing public trust is deeply tied to its development mandate. Embracing this broader responsibility allowed me to successfully align institutional goals with my background in strategy and stakeholder engagement.”
Q: During your journey as Acting Director, you led the coordination of NUST’s first- decade milestone. On a personal level, how did guiding that major celebration shape your understanding of your own role within the university’s history?
“Guiding NUST’s tenthanniversary milestone was deeply personal for me. Having been a student at the Polytechnic of Namibia, a postgraduate student, and now part of the university’s leadership, I have witnessed various chapters of its evolution. Collaborating with students, academics, and long-serving staff reminded me that universities are built across generations. The experience reinforced that leadership is ultimately about stewardship—honoring the institution’s past while positioning it for its next decade of global impact.”
Q: Your recent official appointment marks a major milestone in your career. What does achieving this permanent executive position mean to you personally after years of navigating different industries?
“Personally, it affirms that having the courage to pivot across industries—from journalism and development to tech policy and academia—can open unexpected doors. It proves that institutions value demonstrated expertise, integrity, and purposeful leadership. Professionally, it comes with an enormous responsibility. Leading corporate engagement and internationalisation at NUST means safeguarding public trust in an institution central to Namibia’s development, especially within an increasingly competitive global higher education landscape.”
Q: You are recognized as a seasoned public policy and stakeholder engagement professional. How have you managed to successfully weave these different industries – academia, public institutions, and development – into one cohesive career story?
“I don’t view my career as moving between separate industries, but rather as applying core competencies— communication, strategy, and stakeholder engagement—to different contexts. My public policy work taught me how institutions make decisions, and the golden rule across all sectors is that people must be involved in shaping the choices that affect them. Careers are rarely linear; what matters is remaining curious, building versatile skills, and being willing to apply your experience wherever you can create the greatest impact.”
Q: Beyond NUST, you have actively participated in national, regional, and global discussions on digital transformation and technology governance. How did you go about building a reputation that extends onto the global stage?
“I never deliberately set out to build an international profile; it happened naturally by following my curiosity regarding rapid digital transformation, AI, online safety, and tech governance. As I consistently contributed to regional and global forums through research and publications, broader opportunities found me. Global organizations look for professionals who can connect technology and public policy with societal development. Reputation is built through consistent, meaningful contribution rather than intentional visibility.”
Q: Every career journey comes with its hurdles. What has been the most challenging transition in your professional life so far, and what did it teach you about your own resilience?
“The hardest transition was leaving my established, high-profile career in journalism and broadcasting, which heavily defined my professional identity. Moving into development communication, tech policy, and eventually academia brought moments of uncertainty, further complicated by the disruptions of COVID-19 and a growing family. It taught me that resilience isn’t about resisting change, but adapting to it. Each transition forced me to learn new skills and expand my perspective for opportunities I couldn’t have anticipated.”
Q: Now that your journey has brought you to this prestigious director seat at NUST, what is the next personal or professional boundary you are excited to break?
“I see this role as a platform for greater impact rather than a destination. Professionally, I want NUST to become even more influential in shaping national and continental conversations through strategic partnerships and thought leadership. Personally, I aim to contribute deeper research to Africa’s digital transformation agenda and mentor the next generation of African communicators. Ultimately, I want my career to be measured by the systems I left stronger and the tangible contributions I made to society.”
