Nicolò Boschi Colombo is not afraid to dream big

The size of your dreams must always exceed your capacity to achieve them. 
If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.

Meet Nicolò Boschi Colombo, an SHMS student not afraid to dream big.

Nicolò is a 21-year-old Bachelor of Arts student in his second semester at the Caux campus of SHMS. He is an outstanding student, not unlike most of his fellow students whose ambition, talent, and work ethic brought them to study at one of the top hospitality management schools in the world. 

Like many of his friends at the Caux campus, Nicolò can already boast of having an impressive amount and variety of international experience and cultural insight, even at his young age. What may set Nicolò slightly apart from some of his peers is his razor-sharp idea of what he wants out of his studies and for his future career.  

This wasn't always the case. In fact, Nicolò started university in Italy in 2023, studying Management for Business and Economics, but he relates that his former university was too focused on industrial companies, which didn't interest or excite him enough. Ironically, his part-time job in a restaurant during his first year at university in Italy planted the first seeds of his new direction. He knew he had found his place in the world when he attended a 'finding your career' workshop offered by SHMS at their Leysin campus in Switzerland. Although the first in his family to pursue a career in hospitality management, Nicolò knew that he was well suited for the field "since I love spending time with people and bringing positivity to everyone around me," he says.  

There was just one problem: Nicolò's father had already paid for his first year of university in Italy, and now, he must prove to his parents, particularly his father, the seriousness of his decision to pursue a career in hospitality. "My father taught me an invaluable lesson about responsibility and the importance of personal investment," Nicolò explains. "After financing my first year of studies in Italy, he asked me to contribute to my first year in Switzerland to show that I was truly committed to my choice. This agreement wasn't easy, but it motivated me to give my absolute best." 

Looking back, Nicolò deeply appreciates his father's support and wisdom, understanding the reasons for his request. "He wanted to teach me the value of money and the importance of making thoughtful, determined decisions," he says. "When he visited me on campus, he saw how happy and dedicated I was and realized I had found my path. He told me he was very proud of me and my decision. That moment was incredible for me. The trust and support from my parents inspire me every day to give my best. With parents like this, I'm confident I'll go far in life. I'm lucky and proud of them." 

This is not the only example of Nicolò knowing what he wanted and being smart and resourceful enough to make it happen independently. When it came time to choose his first international internship, Nicolò knew without a doubt that he wanted to go to Japan. He had fallen in love with the country on a family visit in April 2023. Asked about his fascination with the country, he reflected that the Japanese are welcoming and kind people, even to international people. 

"I really started getting into Japan when I went there with my family," says Nicolò. "I fell so much in love with it that I wanted to return. But my father said that I had to find my own way back there. That's why I started studying Japanese as soon as I got home from that unforgettable family trip." 

But why Japan for his first internship? It was never a question that he would try to get an internship there. "I had three main reasons for wanting to intern there," Nicolò explains. "First, I wanted to challenge myself, to get as far out of my comfort zone as possible; second, I wanted to learn more Japanese; and third, I wanted to learn more about their interesting culture."  

So when the time came at SHMS to find a first internship at the International Recruitment Forum, Nicolò headed straight to talk only to recruiters with a presence in Japan. He then contacted the Ritz Carlton in Osaka on his own initiative and was accepted for the internship. The fact that the General Manager was Swiss allowed Nicolò to benefit from the famous worldwide Swiss hospitality connection that SEG students and alumni enjoy. As one of only a few SHMS students to go to Osaka, he had an amazing experience because the internship allowed him to try many different things and learn about various areas. 

Fresh from the successful internship, full of confidence that comes from knowing he had set his sights on that experience and had made it happen on his own resources, Nicolò is now finishing up his second SHMS semester, working intensely with a team to plan an International Gala Dinner for around 100 guests. The theme is SPICES, and he is in his element as the bar manager. In the meantime, he also created a Mixology club at the school. Cauxmitè Mixologie, the club's name, runs the school's bar with its 20 members.  

Asked if he is still happy to have put his destiny in the hands of SHMS, he replies, "Yes, because it is one of the best hospitality schools in the world. I've learned a lot, found an amazing international environment, made a lot of connections, and, most importantly, made good friends. Moreover, I now have amazing work experience! As for the location, Montreux is small but full of students. The Christmas Market is amazing. And there is a very good Italian restaurant. With good friends, you'll never get bored here." 

As for his upcoming second internship, it won't be in Japan this time, even though he would love to end up there for a future job eventually. Not surprisingly, Nicolò knows exactly what he wants and where: "For my next internship, I want to learn French, so for this reason, I'll be looking for opportunities in Switzerland, France, Mauritius…all countries whose first language is French." Any alumni offering internship positions in a francophone location would do well to reach out to Nicolò for a first-rate intern who will certainly be an asset to any quality enterprise. 

When asked if he has a specific goal or dreams after graduation, the answer is a resounding YES: "I want to open a restaurant with an original and new concept. I already developed the plan last year. Now, I'm doing my best to be as ready as possible to get there after graduating. I don't care how much time I need; it must be perfect 👍. However, I remain open to any opportunities life offers me to keep growing and learning. It's important to have something pushing you without being blind to opportunities." 

And finally, what is the one thing he would love for all SHMS to know about him by reading his story? "I was lost before coming to SHMS," Nicolò reveals without hesitation. "I didn't have a dream or goal to fight for. I just had an idea about a restaurant I wanted to open and a lot of energy. And I wanted to change my environment. I was scared to take the step I took, but I did it anyway. I'm so glad I did. A quote helped me to take this step, and I still think about it every time I'm a little bit scared of taking a big step: 'The size of your dreams must always exceed your capacity to achieve them. If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough." 

Thank you, Nicolò, for sharing your words of wisdom that we see you live by every day.