Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Smee.
Hi Craig, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story really begins in South Africa, where I spent years leading in the banking and telecommunications industries. I learned early on what it means to guide teams through change, manage high expectations, and build systems that serve people well. At the same time, I was deeply involved in church leadership, which gave me a sense of purpose that went beyond just business results.
About ten years ago, my family and I made the big leap to move to the United States. We left behind everything familiar with the dream of starting fresh, but also with the conviction that we could make a real difference in people’s lives here. Adjusting to a new culture was not always easy—there were plenty of moments where we had to learn, adapt, and even fail forward.
Then, just as we were finding our place, COVID hit. Leading a church community through a pandemic in a new country stretched me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But it also confirmed what I’d always believed: when you focus on people, connection, and hope, you can build something meaningful even in uncertain times.
Even while building a new life here in Houston, I’ve stayed connected to Africa. I still have a heart to invest in leaders and communities there, making sure my story bridges both continents.
From leading in corporate boardrooms to guiding a church through crisis, my journey has been about using every season—whether in South Africa or the U.S.—to help people find belonging, purpose, and hope.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Immigration is one of the toughest journeys a family can go through. Uprooting a young family and moving halfway across the world meant that everything was new all at once—new culture, new terminology, new systems, and no built-in networks to lean on. Let alone the legality and cost of immigration.
Balancing all of that with raising kids and leading in a new environment was a constant challenge. I’ve always believed that family must come first, but keeping that priority while building a career, a ministry, and a new community was not easy. There were seasons when work demanded everything, and I had to deliberately choose to slow down and protect our family’s rhythm.
Another struggle was learning how to adapt to the changing environment in the U.S. while also navigating the immigration process itself—it’s long, draining, and often uncertain. It forced us to live with faith and resilience in the waiting.
One of the hardest but most rewarding lessons has been the need to create new networks—what I call ‘momentum makers’—people who believe in you, push you forward, and open doors in unfamiliar territory. Without that, you can feel isolated very quickly.
So yes, there were struggles, but they’ve shaped me. They’ve made me more intentional about balance, more adaptable to change, and more grateful for the people and opportunities God has placed along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work has always been about helping people step into their purpose. At heart, I’m a strategic thinker. I’ve taken everything I learned from my years in international business and banking and used it to create momentum in non-profits, churches, and communities.
What I love most is bridging the gap between need and solution. Too often, good ideas stall because they don’t connect with real needs—or they burn out because they’re not sustainable. I specialize in creating synergies that last—systems and partnerships that keep moving forward simply because they serve people well and work well.
I’m most proud when I see others grow into their purpose. Whether it’s a young leader stepping into confidence, a community coming together around a vision, or a project gaining traction that once felt impossible—those moments remind me why I do what I do.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just think about vision; I think about structure. I want the idea to breathe, but I also want it to keep breathing. So I bring a blend of corporate strategy and pastoral heart—making sure what we build not only inspires people but also sustains them for the long haul.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is seeing others walk out their purpose with passion. I believe every hurt and past struggle can become a strength when it’s shaped in the right way. Helping people discover that truth and then live it out is what drives me. For me, success isn’t just what I achieve—it’s watching others step into who they’re meant to be and thrive. I often say, ‘I have yet to see someone promote others onto greatness and not see greatness themselves.’ That’s the principle I try to live by.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nimble.curch
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigsmee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CraigSmeeOfficial
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsmee/
