A deep footprint in the region

The history of INCAE begins in 1963, when the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, visits Costa Rica and holds a summit with the Central American presidents. Under the banner of economic and social progress, regional leaders highlight the need to strengthen business education in the region.

This is how, in 1964, at the initiative of the governments and the Central American business community, and supported by Harvard Business School, INCAE was founded after the graduation of the first class of the Senior Management Program-PAG, in Guatemala.

For almost six decades, INCAE has transformed the way of doing business in Latin America, positively impacting the present and future of the region. The school will continue to revolutionize its learning methods to respond to market needs, staying true to the ethical values of responsible leadership.

Timeline

1963

1963

Conference between the Presidents of Central America and President John F. Kennedy during his visit To Costa Rica. In its opening speech, President Kennedy talks about strengthening education in Central America. The Declaration of Central America, issued on the second day of the conference, documents the interest of the presidents in strengthening the institutions that would train and integrate the leaders of the public and private sectors in the Central American region. In a meeting With President Kennedy arranged by Murat Williams, United States ambassador to El Salvador, prominent Salvadoran businessman Francisco de Sola speaks of the need to have a business school in Central America in order to prepare executives to compete globally (18- March 20).
Teodoro Moscoso, coordinator of the Alliance for Progress, write to Dean George P. Baker of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration (HBS) on the development of a high-level management program in Central America (March 22).
President Kennedy write George Baker, Dean of the Harvard Business School, asking him to investigate the possibility of establishing a management program in Central America (April 10); the dean answer back (April 29th).
USAID (ROCAP) - Harvard Business School contract begins to establish INCAE as a permanent graduate business school (June 15).
INCAE's administrative office was organized and located in the city of San Salvador, El Salvador (September).
The Dean of Harvard Business School, George P. Baker, accepts an invitation to jointly organize and sponsor a Senior Management Program in Guatemala with INCAE (October 29).
INCAE acquires legal status in Guatemala (December 4).
INCAE's Board of Directors is constituted with Francisco de Sola, a Salvadoran businessman, as president (December 15).

1964

1964

FirstSenior Management Program (PAG) in Antigua, Guatemala, with 45 participants. It is the first public event of INCAE. Harvard Dean George P. Baker delivers the inauguration speech and its closing The founding act is signed (July 1 - August 7).
NB Senior Management Program (PAG) is the equivalent of Advanced Management Program (AMP).

1966

1966

Main and table of contents of the report The Harvard Business School - INCAE Project 1963 - 1966.
INCAE officially settled down with its headquarters in Managua, Nicaragua (October 24).

1967

Clark Wilson assumes the Rector of INCAE on January 1, being the first Rector in the history of the institute. (January 1).
Invitation to tender for the construction of the central buildings and residences of the Institute (April 10).
Harvard Dean Baker attends the groundbreaking ceremony (July 1).
The INCAE Library begins with 459 books chosen by the Baker Library at Harvard Business School (August 28).

1968

1968

The first Master's Program in Business Administration (MAE I) with 42 students from six countries. Students stay at the Lido Palace Hotel in Managua. Classes are held in the Centra Bankl (January 8th).
Ernesto Cruz assumes the post of second Rector of INCAE (July 1).
End of the first contract USAID (ROCAP) - Harvard Business School. Support for INCAE continued under another contract (October 15).
Note The MAE (Master of Business Administration) and MBA (Master in Business Administration) degrees refer to the same academic degree.

1969

1969

Meeting from the Board of Directors and members of the National Committees with Dr. George F. Baker and professors from HBS and the Rector and professors from INCAE, on the occasion of the first graduation from the MAE program (June 19).
Inauguration of the INCAE campus (June 20).
First graduation ceremony of INCAE (MAE I) with 29 students (June 21).

1970

1970

First executive program outside of Central America, PAG IX, in Medellín, Colombia.
The Agroindustry Management Program begins.
MAE II graduation with 18 students from seven countries. George P. Baker, Dean Emeritus of Harvard Business School (HBS), receives the title of Honorary Doctorate (June 13th).
Delivery of Completion Report by Charles H. Savage Jr., first Academic Director of INCAE (October 7).

1971

1971

Francisco de Sola receives the Distinguished Service Award from the Harvard Business School Association in part for his role in establishing INCAE (June 11).
Arrival of INCAE's first permanent librarian, Thomas Bloch (October).

1972

1972

USAID grants INCAE a loan of US $ 3,9 million, for a forty-year term.
End of USAID contract with Harvard; HBS-INCAE advisory relationships are established through a permanent Advisory Committee (June 30).
An earthquake devastates Managua (December 23).

1973

1973

INCAE publishes the study Preliminary assessment of damage caused by the earthquake which was key in bringing foreign aid to Nicaragua (January 5).
Creation of Counseling Center; contract with the Government of Nicaragua, with the advice of the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) (March).
The Family Planning Program Administration program begins.
The Banking and Development Finance Program begins.

1974

1974

The Public Management Program begins.
First Andean PAG (PAG XVI) in Ibarra, Ecuador (July).

1975

1975

The library began to organize the Historical Archive.
First PAG (PAG XVIII) in the Caribbean, in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic (July 13-August 9).

1977

1977

George FF Lombard, Associate Dean Senior from Harvard Business School (HBS), receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the MAE IX graduation (June 18).

1979

1979

The Sandinistas seize power in Nicaragua (July 19).
Start of publication of the INCAE Magazine (October).

1981

1981

Harry Strachan assumes the position of third Rector of INCAE (January).

1982

1982

Marc Lindenberg assumes the position of fourth Rector of INCAE (January).
Establishment of INCAE in Costa Rica: Agreement between the Government of Costa Rica and the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE) (4 May).
The Montefresco campus is named after Francisco de Sola Campus (FdS) (December 3).

1983

1983

The government of Costa Rica authorize the donation of the property where the Alajuela Racquet Club, in favor of the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE) (January 14).
It was laid with the first stone of what would later become the Walter Kissling Gam campus of INCAE in Costa Rica, a parchment signed by Luis Alberto Monge as President of Costa Rica and Francisco de Sola as President of the Board of Directors of INCAE (January 15).
Three programs financed by the Inter-American Development Bank are started: Non-Traditional Exports Management, Policy and Management of Energy Resources, and Small and Medium Enterprises.
AID makes a donation to INCAE to establish the library in Costa Rica. This was followed by donations from the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
Walter Kissling Gam, a Costa Rican businessman, assumes the presidency of the Board of Directors of INCAE (September).
The MAE XVI (second year) begins in Costa Rica (October).
The Postgraduate Program in Functional Administration (PAF) begins at INCAE Nicaragua (November 6).

1984

1984

The Cooperatives Management Program begins.
The Bank Administration Program begins.
MAE XVII (first year) begins in Costa Rica. The MAE will not be offered again in Nicaragua until 1996 (January).
Inauguration of the campus from the Central American Institute of Business Administration INCAE, Alajuela, Costa Rica (April 1).
Luis Alberto Monge, President of Costa Rica, 1982-1986, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate INCAE during the inauguration of the campus (April 1).
Ecuador becomes a member country of INCAE (June 23).

1985

1985

First Program for University Teachers (PDU), Costa Rica (June).

1987

1987

The Policy Center Program begins.
Marc Lindenberg, Rector of INCAE, 1982-1987, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate (June 27th).
INCAE signs an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank for US $ 2.010.000.00 to be used for scholarships, the Master's program in Business Economics and research programs for small and medium-sized companies (August).
Melvyn Copen assumes the position of fifth Rector of INCAE (September 12).
The Master's Program in Business Economics (MEE) begins in Costa Rica (September).
INCAE, together with the Catholic University and with the support of the United States National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), offers the first of three MAE programs in Asunción, Paraguay (November).

1988

1988

For the first time, INCAE hosts the meeting of the Central American Presidential Summit, Costa Rica (January 15-16).
Oscar Arias, 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, President of Costa Rica, 1986-1990 and 2006-2010, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers keynote speech for graduation (MAE XX), Costa Rica (June 25).

1989

1989

The Political Leaders Training Program begins.

1990

1990

INCAE 25th anniversary celebration at the Costa Rica campus, with the participation of Derek Bok, President of Harvard University (March).
A Senior Banking Management Program (PADB) is carried out in Uruguay and a Senior Management Program in Paraguay (November).
The Economic Studies and Training Program (PROGRESEC) is established in Ecuador to promote dialogue on economic policy (November 13).

1991

1991

The Political Parties Program begins.
The Women's Program begins.
Hernando de Soto, a Peruvian economist and ideologist, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers the keynote speech for graduation (MAE XXIII, MEEIII), Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (June 29).
Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Nicaraguan poet and ideologist, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers the main graduation speech (PAF VIII), Campus Francisco de Sola (FdS), Nicaragua (July 6).
Brizio Biondi-Morra, academic and businessman, assumes the position of sixth Rector of INCAE (September).
First graduation from the Executive MAE Program (MAEX I), Costa Rica (December 5).

1992

1992

The Master's Program in Natural Resource Management (MARN) begins (September).

1993

1993

An agreement is signed between INCAE and the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Foundation of Venezuela, to train students and masters teachers from that country (May).
Swiss businessman Stephan Schmidheiny receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers the main graduation speech (MAE XXV), Costa Rica (June 26).
The Master's Program in Industry and Technology Administration (MAIT) begins (September).

1994

1994

Celebration of INCAE's 30th anniversary at Harvard Business School (May).
George Cabot Lodge, professor at Harvard Business School and a key person in the founding of INCAE, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers the main graduation speech (PAF XI), Campus Francisco de Sola (July 1).
The Research Center is established.
INCAE receives accreditation from SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).

1995

1995

At the graduation of the MAE XXVII, MEE VII, MARN II and MAIT I programs, the majority of the 131 graduates came from outside Central America and Panama (June 24).
Michael Porter's first visit to Central America, organized by INCAE (October).
Michael Porter meets with the presidents of the Central American countries at INCAE, Costa Rica, and then at Harvard (November).

1996

1996

Return celebration of the MAE Program (MAE XXX) to Nicaragua, which will be offered at the same time as the MAE Program in Alajuela. It will be an intensive MAE of 15 months (February 26).
INCAE is the venue for a meeting for a Central American presidential summit, on the occasion of a visit by Michael Porter, Nicaragua (June 20).
Michael Porter receives the title of Honorary Doctorate and delivers the keynote address for graduation (MAE XXVIII), Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (June 22).
Foundation of the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development (CLACDS) (September 1).
Laying of the first stone of the Stephan Schmidheiny Building, Costa Rica (November 30).

1997

1997

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, the first woman president of Nicaragua 1990-1997, receives the title of Doctor Honoris Causa and delivers the main graduation speech (MAE XXX), Campus Francisco de Sola (June 28).

1999

1999

Roberto Artavia assumes the position of seventh Rector of INCAE. He is the first MAE graduate from INCAE to assume this position (April).
Brizio Biondi-Morra assumes the presidency of the Board of Directors of INCAE (April).
INCAE receives accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) (April).
Walter Kissling Gam receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the graduation of MAE XXXIII and MEE XI (May).
Presentation of the Central American Agenda for the XXI Century in a meeting between CABEI, INCAE and Harvard for academics, government leaders and entrepreneurs, Costa Rica (June).
Inauguration of the Stephan Schmidheiny Building, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (June 18).

2000

2000

Appointment of the Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua, as permanent headquarters of the Executive MAE (June).
Inauguration of Residential Building No. 8 on the Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua. Carlos Pellas delivers the inaugural speech (July 12).
Fifty PAG (PAG L), Costa Rica (July 10 - August 4).

2001

2001

INCAE and five other Latin American management schools, Harvard Business School and AVINA found the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network (SEKN) (January).
Graduation from MAE XXXVII as the only INCAE master's degree offered in Costa Rica. The last graduation from the MEE as a master's degree was in 2000 and from the MAIT and MARN as a master's degree was in 1998 (May 26).
Publication of the eight-volume study CLACDS-HIID-AVINA-CABEI on Central America.
Visit of President Gustavo Noboa of Ecuador to the INCAE campus in Costa Rica, an occasion that serves for the government of Ecuador to decorate the INCAE pavilion with the Order of Merit, in the rank of Knight, for INCAE's contributions to the development of said nation (December).

2002

2002

The Costa Rica campus is called Walter Kissling Gam Campus (February 21).
CLACDS and the MIT Media Lab announce the formalization of the Digital Nations research agreement to promote the development of Central America (February).
INCAE students, along with students from HBS, the Stockholm School of Economics and the Riga School of Economics, Latvia, participate in a virtual course on the microeconomics of competitiveness taught by Michael Porter and coordinated by CLACDS (February- March).
An agreement is signed with LASPAU (an organization affiliated with Harvard University and the OAS) through which scholarships are awarded to outstanding Latin American students (September 12).
INCAE is the venue for the Central American Presidential Summit meeting, Costa Rica (September 26).
Se inaugurates at the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua, the "F. Alfredo Pellas" Student Academic Center (CAE), with study rooms donated by Central American companies (October 11).

2003

2003

INCAE offers eight MAEX: Guatemala (1), Nicaragua (2), Panama (2), Ecuador (1), Venezuela (1) and Peru (1), the latter jointly with the Business School of the Adolfo Ibáñez University. Likewise, INCAE offers in Costa Rica the Master of Medical Management program jointly with Tulane University and in Nicaragua the executive program Legal Aspects of International Business, this being the third joint program with the Georgetown University Law Center.
The celebration of the 40 years of INCAE begins with the Meeting of the National Committees in La Antigua, Guatemala. At this meeting INCAE receives the "Rafael Landívar Order", the highest decoration awarded by the city. Forty years earlier, La Antigua had declared the members of INCAE's First Senior Management Program as Guests of Honor (July 18).
The magazine AmericaEconomy rates INCAE as number one in its ranking Annual Business Schools in Latin America (August 15).
INCAE establishes the Walter Kissling Gam Chair (October 5).
Stephan Schmidheiny chooses INCAE as the place to announce the creation of the Viva Trust (October 9).
INCAE signs its first double degree agreements with the Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western Reserve University (May), ESADE (May) and Leipzig Graduate School of Management (December).

2004

2004

The Microfinance program begins.
For the first time INCAE appears in the ranking of the Financial Times of the most important MBA programs with international experience (January 26).
INCAE receives EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (March 31).
The "Alberto y Roberto Motta C." Student Academic Center (CAE) is inaugurated at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus in Costa Rica, with study rooms donated by Central American companies (May 21).
Presentation of the Fund of Luis Poma Academic Development and inauguration of the Luis Poma Forum, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (May 21).
Celebration of the 40 years of INCAE, Costa Rica and Nicaragua (May 21 and 28).
For the second year in a row, the magazine AmericaEconomy rates INCAE as number one in its ranking Annual Business Schools in Latin America (August 28).
Presentation of the book My car from Nicaragua; or how I got to know the land of Güegüence, written by Forrest D. Colburn, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (November).
INCAE begins to use a new logo (November).

2005

2005

The Software AG Chair in e-government begins.
The Latin American Network of Universities for Quality and Sustainable Development is established, directed by INCAE (February 2005).
Signing of the alliance between INCAE and the Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) (May 21 in Costa Rica; February 20, 2006 in Monterrey, Mexico).
Inauguration of the MAE VIII Classroom, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (May 27).
Alberto Motta Cardoze, Panamanian businessman, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the MAE XLV graduation, Campus WKG, Costa Rica (May 21).
Roberto Motta Cardoze, Panamanian businessman, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the MAE XLV graduation, Campus WKG, Costa Rica (May 21).
F. Alfredo Pellas Ch., Nicaraguan businessman, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the MAE XLVI graduation, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (May 28).
For the third consecutive year, the magazine AmericaEconomy ranks INCAE as the number one school in its ranking Annual of Business Schools in Latin America (August 19).
First Indian Students Enroll (MBA XLIX) (September 5).
Inauguration of the first section in English of the MBA Program in the history of INCAE (MBA XLIX). Possibly this is the first MBA in Latin America to be taught in English (September 5).
INCAE hosts a meeting for a Central American presidential summit, Costa Rica (September 12).
For the first time INCAE appears in the ranking international business schools The Wall Street Journal, at number 10 (September 21).
The Carlos F. Pellas Classroom is inaugurated on the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua (October 7).
Agreement signed BATCCA (British American Tobacco Caribbean & Central America) - INCAE that establishes a research chair called "BATCCA Chair of Social Enterprise and Corporate Social Responsibility" (October 21).

2006

2006

The businessman Carlos Pellas agrees to give scholarships for $ 2.5 million for students who want to pursue their master's degree at INCAE in Nicaragua (January).
INCAE and the Poma Foundation sign an agreement that creates the Poma Foundation Chair for the alleviation of poverty in the Central American region (March 21).
The Cobirsa Real Estate Classroom is inaugurated on the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua (May 26).
INCAE joins the Latin American Case Consortium (LACC) established to coordinate and share translations of Harvard Business School cases among member schools (June).
For the fourth consecutive year, the magazine AmericaEconomy ranks INCAE as the number one school in its ranking Annual Business Schools in Latin America (August 18).
INCAE and the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Chile sign a cooperation agreement (September 18).
The magazine is launched INCAE Business Review, vol. 1, number 1, July-December (October 1).
The Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua is inaugurated on Entrepreneurship Center Arnoldo Solórzano Thompson. It will host the Michigan State University mission in Nicaragua, known as PFID (Partnership for Food Industries Development). The inauguration ceremony was chaired by the President of Nicaragua, Enrique Bolaños Geyer (October 26).
First PAG South. (Tarija, Bolivia, October 15 - 28; Tucumán, Argentina, November 19 - December 1).

2007

2007

Inauguration of the Manuel Jiménez de la Guardia Classroom, WKG Campus, Costa Rica (March 9).
Inauguration of the Huber Garnier O. Classroom, WKG Campus, Costa Rica (May 2).
Arturo Condo assumes the position of eighth Rector of INCAE (June 1).
Inauguration of the CEFA and Norval Garnier Oreamuno Corporation Clinic, Campus FdS, Nicaragua (July 13).
Inauguration of the Ing. Lorenzo Giordano Beccaria Classroom, Grupo Sur, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (August 17).
PAG (Senior Management Program) in Paraguay (September-November).
Presentation of the book Memories of INCAE 1979-1982, written by Harry W. Strachan, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (October 11).
Inauguration of the Juan U. Maegli and Grupo Tecún Classroom, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (November 22).

2008

2008

The Board of Directors visits China (February 29 to March 7).
Arturo Condo, Rector of INCAE, is nominated for the Young Global Leader Award by the World Economic Forum (March 8).
Founders' Circle First Event, Nicaraguan Embassy, Washington, DC Among the guests were George Cabot Lodge, professor emeritus from Harvard Business School and a key person in the founding of INCAE and Jean Kennedy Smith, sister of John F. Kennedy (March 27).
Presentation of the book Baar's essays, written by Roberto Artavia, Rector of INCAE from 1999 to 2007, with the assistance of Dr. Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica (August 18).
Inauguration of the Argüello Arellano Forum and tribute in honor of Dr. Xavier Argüello Carazo, Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua (October 2).
Tribute to Werner Ketelhöhn Escobar, unveiling of the plaque of the park that bears his name, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (October 3).
Presentation of the book Mergers and acquisitions in practice, written by INCAE professors Nicolás Marín Jiménez and Werner Ketelhöhn Escobar † (October 23).

2009

2009

Appointment of the Dr. Roberto Brenes Guzmán and Mrs. Flora Castro de Brenes Study Room, Walter Kissling Gam Campus (February 6).
Second event of the Founders' Circle, Antigua, Guatemala. During the meeting George Cabot Lodge presented a article written by Wickham Skinner, James E. Robison Professor Emeritus at Harvard Business School, and one of the first professors to teach at INCAE (April 23).
El ranking international business schools Financial Times Executive Education ranks INCAE among the 50 business schools with the best executive education in the world (May 11).
Inauguration of the Duilio Baltodano Pallais Cafeteria, Campus FdS, Nicaragua (July 30).
Signing of the Steve Aronson - INCAE Agreement, through which the Steve Aronson Chair of Agribusiness Strategy will be created, with a donation of $ 1 million from Mr. Aronson, WKG Campus, Costa Rica (December 10).

2010

2010

Among the MBA students there are 19 nationalities represented, in addition there are 6 nationalities among exchange students.
Presentation of the book INCAE Business School. The First 45 Years: Vision and Passion written by Raúl E. Barragán and Roberto Artavia Loría, with the collaboration of Róger Quant P.,preliminary pages Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (March 4).
El ranking international Financial Times Executive Education ranks INCAE among the 60 business schools with the best executive education (May 10).
Meeting of the president-elect of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, with her future government team, Campus Walter Kissling Gam, Costa Rica (April 23 and then with her as president on May 22).
Meeting of the Nicaraguan government with the private sector at the Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua (May 26).
The magazine AmericaEconomy ranks INCAE as the number two school in its ranking annual business schools in Latin America. INCAE has been in first or second place in the rankings de AmericaEconomy for the last ten years (June 7).
Third event of the Founders' Circle, Panama City. The Rector of INCAE, members of the Founders' Circle, PAG II graduates and family members participated, as well as members of INCAE's national committees (July 1).
The World Bank announces its support for a training program managed by INCAE that will strengthen the capacities of Central American public officials (July 20).
The President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, inaugurates the 2010 PAD Senior Management Program for Leaders of the Cooperative Movement, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (September 10).
EMBA Global 2010 visits China (September 9-15).
The Board of Directors meets in India (3-9 October).
El ranking EMBA of Financial Times places INCAE in position number 80 (out of 100) (October 27).

2011

2011

The first module of the Regional Economic Integration Program (PIER) begins. PIER is a joint effort of INCAE Business School, the World Bank, the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Spain and the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern, Switzerland (January 24) .
El ranking Global MBA of the Financial Times places INCAE in position number 77 (out of 100) (January 31).
El ranking EMBA of Financial Times places INCAE in position number 78 (out of 100) (October 24).

2012

2012

Fifty students from the Carlson, Rollins and Thunderbird business schools, together with the 110 first-year MBA students from INCAE, participate in a seminar on sustainability fundamentals, Campus WKG, Costa Rica (January 3-14).
Launch of the INCAE Alumni Magazine (January 25th).
El ranking Global MBA of the Financial Times places INCAE in position number 76 (out of 100) (January 30).
INCAE appears among the ten best business schools in the world in two areas: corporate strategy and economics, according to the classification of alumni of these schools for the Financial Times (March 1).
Roberto Artavia Loría assumes the presidency of the Board of Directors of INCAE. Carlos Pellas Ch. Is appointed vice president. It is the first time that a vice president of the Board of Directors has been appointed. Brizio Biondi-Morra is appointed President Emeritus (March 6).
Launch of the fundraising campaign Illuminate (March 6 in Nicaragua; March 8 in Costa Rica)
El ranking international Financial Times Executive Education ranks INCAE among the 50 business schools with the best executive education (May 14).
Franklin Chang Díaz, a Costa Rican astronaut, receives the title of Honorary Doctorate during the 2012 MBA graduation, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (May 18).
The magazine AmericaEconomy ranks INCAE as the number two school in its annual ranking of business schools in Latin America. INCAE has been in first, second and third place in the rankings de AmericaEconomy during the last fourteen years (May).
43% of the 117 students who start their MBA at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica, are women, the highest percentage in INCAE's history (August 13).
Presentation of the book Promoting Silicon Valleys in Latin America; Lessons from Costa Rica, written by Luciano Ciravegna, INCAE Visiting Professor, and published by Routledge (August 30 in Nicaragua and September 19 in Costa Rica).
INCAE accepted as a member of PIM (Partnership in International Management), a network of international business schools that encourages student exchange and other forms of international cooperation (October 19).
274 students from other institutions participated in INCAE's exchange programs, seminars, etc., a record number.

2013

2013

El ranking Global MBA of the Financial Times places INCAE in position number 90 (out of 100) (January 27).
INCAE faculty members and directors take the 360 ° Personal Branding Program. The 360 ° feedback method on which this program is based was invented by Clark L. Wilson, the first rector of INCAE (March).
INCAE Business School and the Inter-American Development Bank carried out the Central America Forum in Costa Rica. The Forum was attended by presidents of Central America and on Saturday, May 4, the president of the United States, Barack Obama. The rector of INCAE, Arturo Condo, led the presentation of the Forum's recommendations to the president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, to President Obama and other guests (May 3-4).
The magazine AmericaEconomy ranks INCAE as the number one school in its annual ranking of business schools in Latin America. INCAE has been in first, second or third place in the rankings of AmericaEconomy during the last fifteen years (May).
Unveil portrait of Dr. Ernesto Cruz, second rector of INCAE, Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua (June 3).
INCAE's Harry Strachan Chair in Philanthropy and Social Investment is established (July).
A memorandum of understanding is signed with the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, formalizing the creation of a double-degree master's degree, the Master of Arts in International Strategy and Management SIM (for its acronym in English) (18 de October).
Miller Center Forum: Retrospective of the Kennedy Presidency and his legacy in Latin America. With the participation of Dr. Arturo Condo, president of INCAE (October 21).
El ranking of the EMBA (which was carried out jointly with the Adolfo Ibáñez University) of the Financial Times places INCAE in position number 77 (out of 99) (October 21).
El ranking Global EMBA of the Financial Times places INCAE in position number 91 (out of 99) (October 21).
Susana de Sola Funsten makes a donation to the INCAE MBA Oath Club on behalf of Francisco de Sola, her father and founder of INCAE (November 11).
Inauguration of the INCAE Britt Shop on the Walter Kissling Gam campus, Costa Rica (November 11).

2014

2014

A PAG starts for the first time in January. From now on the PAG program will be offered three times a year (January 20).
INCAE 50th Anniversary Celebration, Francisco de Sola Campus (March 6).
A cooperation agreement was signed at the Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua, between INCAE Business School and the multinational company Cargill (April 3).
INCAE 50th anniversary celebration at Harvard Business School. The purpose was to recognize the founders who contributed to the development of INCAE. It was one of eight such celebrations (October 29).
First Euro-American Forum of Women Leaders - Diversity as the key to success. The United Alliance to Grow for integral development is created.

2015

2015

Meeting of the Young World Leaders of the World Economic Forum with the participation of the president of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, which maintains a tradition that each president of Costa Rica has visited the WKG campus at least once since its foundation in the year 1982 (February 10).
Inauguration of the construction of the residences of the INCAE Executive Development Center. The president of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, as well as leaders of the Central American Private Sector Initiative (CAPSI), participated in the event (Campus WKG April 13).
Enrique Bolaños Abaunza assumes the position of the ninth Rector of INCAE, being the first non-academic rector of the institute (May 21).
Inauguration of the Gloria de Kriete Foundation Recreational Center at the Francisco de Sola Campus.
INCAE redesigns its MBA including new double degrees with Yale and Michigan universities.
Graduation of the first students with the new Global MBA model.
The accrediting AACSB indicates that INCAE graduates will be recognized as influential leaders.
Through a contest between students, graduates and INCAE staff, the jaguar as official mascot of INCAE.

2016

2016

Inauguration of the new Executive Residences Building.
Launch of the Latin American Center for Entrepreneurs, with a forum that seeks to deepen the impact of entrepreneurship in Latin America.
The Center for Collaborative and Women's Leadership is relaunched in collaboration with Cargill, as a new founding partner.
INCAE signs an agreement with the Mexican-Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce.
INCAE Global EMBA and Babson College present their new module “Innovation and Entrepreneurship”.
INCAE updates its graduates with the Lifelong Learning program.
INCAE / CLACDS and the SPI form a strategic alliance to promote social progress in Mesoamerica.
Celebration of the legacy of Carlos F. Pellas Ch. And 10 years of his scholarship fund.
INCAE modernizes its logo.

2017

2017

INCAE's Executive MBA is # 1 in Latin America, by the Financial Times.
INCAE's MBA is # 1 in Latin America, by the Financial Times.
INCAE announces an alliance with CNN en Español to publish studies on the region, such as Entrepreneurship and Gender in Latin America, Social Progress of Women in Latin America and Disruptive Cities.
INCAE and Mastercard join forces in the LEADS Mujer project, for Central American women entrepreneurs.
INCAE graduated its first generation of Global MBA, at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus and welcomed the first generation of students in Entrepreneurship.
Inauguration of the Dr. Ernesto Cruz Rectoral Gallery, on the Francisco de Sola Campus.
The First INCAE Networking Night was held.
INCAE signs an agreement with the Peruvian Exporters Association, also with COHEP to provide opportunities to Hondurans and with the American University of Nicaragua.
The III Euro-American Conference of Women Leaders 2017 was held.
Creation of the René Morales Carazo Chair of Entrepreneurship

2018

2018

The third edition of TEDxINCAE is held at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus.
INCAE received the AMBA (Association of MBAs) accreditation, positioning itself within the 2% of business schools in the world that hold the “Triple Crown” of accreditations (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS).
CEO Magazine 2018 places INCAE among the best Business Schools.
INCAE and Philip Morris sign a cooperation agreement to promote entrepreneurship and sustainability in the region.
CNN Expansion Magazine 2018 ranks INCAE MBA and Executive MBA # 1 in Latin America.
According to the ranking published by the Financial Times, INCAE is consolidated as number 29 in the world in executive training.
The Latin American Center for Entrepreneurship launches the INCAE Entrepreneur Award competition, which promotes entrepreneurship in the region.
INCAE's MBA is # 1 in Latin America according to Eduniversal ranking.
The opening of the new Executive Master in Marketing and Digital Transformation is announced.
INCAE assumes the coordination of the Ibero-American Academic Network.
INCAE joins forces with the recruiter PageGroup Peru.
INCAE places for the first time a Master's program in the top 50 in the world and the first in Latin America, according to the Financial Times ranking of the Executive MBA.

2019

2019

National Dialogue between the Government of Nicaragua and the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy, at the Francisco de Sola Campus.
INCAE and Fundacao Getulio Vargas organize the 8th International Conference on Strategic Management in Latin America.
The European recognizes INCAE as the business school in Latin America.
CEO Magazine once again ranks INCAE's Full-time MBA and Executive MBA among the world's elite business schools.
Financial Times ranked INCAE # 26 in the world in executive training and consolidating, for the third consecutive year, in the TOP 30 of the more than 15.000 business schools that, it is estimated, currently exist.
INCAE Executive Education is also in the world's Top 10 this year in other major industry categories: # 3 in Faculty Diversity, # 3 in Participant Diversity, # 6 in International Clients, # 6 in International Location.
INCAE held the IV edition of the Euro-American Conference on Collaborative Leadership.
Dean of Harvard Business School, Dr. Nitin Nohria was a keynote speaker during INCAE graduation and celebration of the 50th anniversary of INCAE's first MBA.
INCAE, IESE, Heidelberg and Strathmore launch Global Health Executive Program.
Mastercard, INCAE and the IDB launch Virtual Accelerator to train women entrepreneurs in Latin America.
INCAE and the Universidad del Pacífico organized the annual meeting of the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network in Peru.

2020

2020

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time in the institution's history, graduation ceremonies were held virtually. 189 students graduated from the Full Time MBA and 170 from the Executive Masters. In total, 359 new Inca members, of which 38% are women.
The institution responded with agility to the challenges presented by the global health crisis, redesigning all programs and master's degrees in a synchronous and blended online format. More than 76 free webinars were held, reaching more than 45 registered people.
INCAE became the first school in Latin America to partner with Emeritus to launch a 100% online master's degree.
Update of the institutional image, including the renewal of the logo to ensure that all communications reflect the mission, values and focus of the institution on disruptive innovations and continuous learning.
The INCAE Business Review publication was relaunched.
Started the new Master's program in Analytics, Innovation & Technology - MAIT.
In September, the first 100% online master's degree in INCAE's history began: Marketing and Digital Transformation, and the Master in Data Analytics was launched.
The ExCel (Emerging Leaders of Civil Society) program graduated its first class.
INCAE Executive Club was launched, a loyalty platform for Inca members that allows networking, mentoring and specialized events.

2021

2021

A new Full-Time MBA study plan was established with a focus on technology, to align it with current strategic needs, by increasing creativity, innovation, analytical and digital skills.
For the third consecutive occasion, the graduation ceremonies of our programs were held in virtual mode.
The first edition of the Executive Management Summit was held, an event in which INCAE Faculty guided the participants in questioning the current vision of business and opening new paths. More than 260 executives from the region participated.
The On Target program, which offers coaching and advice throughout the Full-Time MBA, was launched with a flexible scheme of optional and compulsory subjects.
The Senior Executive Program and Senior Management Program were redesigned in a blended format.
INCAE Online launched eight new certificates. In addition, the first editions of the master's degrees in Finance and Logistics, and Operations began in an asynchronous online format.
The process of remodeling the houses that house our Full-Time MBA students at the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua began. In addition, several of the classrooms on the Walter Kissling Gam campus were completely renovated, with a State of the Art design.
CLACDS's 25th anniversary was celebrated with a series of actions that directly contributed to reinforcing the three pillars of INCAE's mission.
The first edition of the LEADS Academy for Women was launched, a platform that allows Central American businesswomen to obtain tools and knowledge to perfect their business strategy.
The Strachan Chair for Philanthropy and Social Investment, together with the Viva Schmidheiny Chair, co-organized the 2021 Climate Change Congress, within the framework of the Fundamentals of Sustainability course.

2022

2022

Officially received joint accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA), two of the world's leading authorities on business education.
The new MBA Online allows participants to continue their work activity while training in the key skills of a leader.
INCAE's Virtual Classroom became the first of its kind in Latin America. This immersive solution allows streaming in massive events with unlimited participants.
The renovation of seven dormitories began on the Walter Kissling Gam campus, in Alajuela, Costa Rica. This renovation will benefit 40 students per year.
The TEAM-NT project was launched, the largest in the last decade (US$2.5 million for three years), focused on the public procurement systems and processes of 24 municipalities in the Northern Triangle.
The LEADS Mujer program, a collaboration of INCAE and MasterCard, was recognized for its impact in the region at the Summit of the Americas 2022. LEADS Mujer graduate Pili Luna was invited to meet with the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, to comment on your experience.

2023

2023

Closure of the Francisco de Sola campus, in Managua, Nicaragua
Opening of the new INCAE Executive Center in Panama
35 Central American businesswomen successfully completed the edition of the Leads Academy For Women Program of Banco Industrial and INCAE
CLACDS/INCAE has a new director, Rónald Arce
Michele Quintano, new Associate Dean of Executive Education and Strategic Innovation
The Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) met at INCAE's Walter Kissling Gam Campus
INCAE participates as organizer of Best Central American Companies 2023 (MECA) together with Deloitte and Grupo Promerica
Members of INCAE Foundation held their 2023 meeting at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus
INCAE signs agreement with Smith School of Business-Queen's University of Ontario, Canada
INCAE's Full-time MBA and Executive MBA consolidate their leadership in CEO Magazine for the seventh consecutive year
INCAE continues in the TOP 25 in the world in Executive Education, occupying position 22
INCAE held the 2023 Sustainability Ideathon
INCAE among the Business Schools in the world that generate the most positive impact
The Strachan Chair celebrated 10 years of promoting philanthropy and social investment in Latin America
INCAE in the TOP 100 of the Financial Times 2023 Executive MBA Ranking
INCAE reinvents specialized master's degrees in new contemporary challenges and professional growth needs, and launches ExMasters
INCAE in the TOP 100 in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2023

INCAE history

Documents

The Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, CLACDS
On October 25, 1995, the Swiss businessman and industrialist Stephan Schmidheiny participated as an observer in a summit meeting of the presidents of the Central American countries held at the Business School of Harvard University. After this event, INCAE Business School, INCAE, proposed the creation of a new organization in the Central American region: a center for research, dissemination of knowledge and promotion of key ideas on competitiveness and sustainability. From the beginning it accepted the proposal and in mid-1996, the initiative evolved into the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, CLACDS. Thus, Dr. Schmidheiny became an important ally for INCAE and for the new entity, with which he was linked initially in a personal capacity and later through his newly created AVINA Foundation.

Thirty Years of INCAE Presence in Journal of Central American Thought
This is an investigation that describes the presence of INCAE in the Journal of Central American Thought, by publishing - in that medium - 17 articles by its faculty members. It also presents a summary of each of the articles, compiles, organizes and preserves them, in order to make them accessible to future generations through the INCAE Library System. The author of this article is Antonio Acevedo, Associate Director of Libraries, INCAE Business School.

INCAE BUSINESS SCHOOL Newsletter July 2011 Special Edition
Founders Circle; The pillars; Rectors; Faculty; Graduates

INCAE Magazine
The history of INCAE as reflected in the INCAE Magazine. The author is Antonio Acevedo, Associate Director of Libraries at INCAE Business School. In the mid 2000's the INCAE Business Review, in conjunction with Summa Media Group, but at the moment no more posts have been made.

Contribution to the history of INCAE: a personal experience
Written by Antonio Acevedo. 4 p. June 1, 2011.
The author is Associate Director of Libraries at INCAE Business School.

History of the INCAE Library System
Written by Thomas Bloch
The author is the Director of Libraries of INCAE Business School.

INCAE Business School. The First 45 Years: Vision and Passion preliminary pages
Authors Raúl E. Barragán and Roberto Artavia Loría. Collaboration by Róger Quant P. (Chapters I and II). Bogotá, Colombia, Worldcolor, 2009. xvi, 197 p.
It summarizes the first 45 years of INCAE's trajectory.

INCAE
De Wikipedia.

INCAE Story for the Founders' Circle Event, Antigua - Guatemala, April 23, 2009
Written by Wickham Skinner. April 19, 2009. 10 p.
Prepared for the second Founders' Circle event.

INCAE: The Early Years; A View from the Ground - Executing the Vision
Written by Wickham Skinner. April 18, 2008. 13 p.
Describes the early relationship of INCAE with the Harvard Business School, the start of the MBA program, the debate on its length, the effect of the Sandinista revolution on INCAE and the challenges facing the new rector. The author is James E. Robison Professor, Emeritus, Harvard Business School, and was one of the first professors to teach at INCAE.

Memories of INCAE 1970-1982
Written by Harry W. Strachan. San José, Costa Rica, EDUCA, 2007. 114 p.
The anecdotes and experiences described in this book deal with how INCAE found a suitable school model for Central American conditions and how it faced the crises caused by the 1972 Managua earthquake and the revolutions of that period. Spanish version of the following book.

INCAE Memories 1970-1982
Written by Harry W. Strachan. San José, Costa Rica, EDUCA, 2007. 102 p.
The anecdotes and experiences described in this book are about how INCAE found a model of school appropriate for the conditions of Central America and how the crises brought about by the earthquake in Managua in 1972 and the revolutions of that period were confronted. Version in English of the preceding book.

AVINA - INCAE; an alliance for sustainable development in Latin America.
Written by Roberto Artavia Loría. Hurden, Switzerland, VIVA Trust, 2007. 41 p.
Describes the effect that the partnership between AVINA and INCAE has had on Latin America.
Select a language: Spanish | English | German | Portuguese

Evolution of the INCAE logo, 1964-2003
Prepared by Antonio Acevedo. April 2007. 38 p.
The author is Associate Director of Libraries at INCAE Business School.

INCAE: excellence and leadership for Latin America
Contributions from Roberto Artavia, George Cabot Lodge, Forrest D. Colburn, and Eduardo Montiel. Design and editing by Forrest D. Colburn. Alajuela, Costa Rica, INCAE, 2001. 35p.
A collection of essays documenting the history and mission of INCAE. Spanish version of the following book.

INCAE: Latin America's Premier Graduate School of Management
Contributions from Roberto Artavia, George Cabot Lodge, Forrest D. Colburn and Eduardo Montiel. Designed and edited by Forrest D. Colburn. Alajuela, Costa Rica, INCAE, 2001. 34 p.
A collection of essays that document the history and mission of INCAE. English version of the preceding book.

The impact of a business school: the case of INCAE in Central America
Written by Róger Quant. July 1988. 24 p.
It addresses INCAE's strategy in Central America and the impact it has had on the region after 25 years. Spanish version of the following document.

A Business School's Impact: the Case of INCAE in Central America
Written by Roger Quant. July, 1988. 32 p.
Addresses the strategy of INCAE in Central America and the impact that it has had on the region after 25 years. English version of the preceding document.

An Overall Evaluation of INCAE
Written by Alan B. Coleman. July 12, 1976. 47 p.
The purpose of this report was to provide for USAID a general evaluation of INCAE, including its academic, administrative and financial positions. The author was Dean of the School of Business Administration, Southern Methodist University, and directed the founding of ESAN in Peru.

INCAE: Background, Strategy, Programs & Activities
Written by Ernesto Cruz. 1975. 29 p.
A summary description of strategic considerations, programs and activities, faculty, student body, relationships with other institutions, cultural values, finances, governance, and legal and tax status. The author was Rector of INCAE, 1968-1980.

INCAE ten years ...
Written by Ernesto Cruz. 1974. 9 p.
Prepared to celebrate the tenth anniversary of INCAE. A good source of information on the early years of INCAE. The author was Rector of INCAE, 1968-1980.

Recent trends in the development of INCAE
Written by Ernesto Cruz. 1973. 19 p.
It succinctly describes the most recent trends (year 1973) in the development of INCAE, the ideas and concerns that animate its leaders and their main implications for the future of the institution. This document is a guide to many of the ideas that helped shape INCAE. The author was Rector of INCAE, 1968-1980.

Completion Report
Written by Charles H. Savage Jr. October 7, 1970. 9 p.
The report represents the author's personal estimate of where INCAE had arrived at the time of his departure, the directions it might take to secure its purposes, and the obstacles that it might encounter en route. The author was the first academic director of INCAE.

The Harvard Business School - INCAE Project 1963-1968
Title Page and Table of Contents
Prepared by Jack G. Moscatelli. 1968. 24 p.
Final report on the activities of the Harvard Business School under the USAID (ROCAP) Contract 1a-131, June 15, 1963, to October 15, 1968. Included is a statement of the project's objectives, a brief review of its origins, a resume of developmental work performed by HBS personnel pursuant to the contract, and a summary of the status of the project at the conclusion of the contract. Assistance continued under another contract, 1a-472, until 1972.

audiovisual

Websites

50 years of INCAE: Website

40 years of INCAE: Website (in PDF)

Videos

United in Progress
The United States Information Service (USIS) produced this film, which is about President Kennedy's trip to Costa Rica between March 18 and 20, 1963. The film broadly covers Central America, but there is a scene of about a minute and a half of President Kennedy's speech at the National Theater. President Kennedy's meetings with Central American business and government leaders during this visit led to the establishment of INCAE.

INCAE
It was created for the Founders' Circle Event, March 27, 2008.

INCAE Business School: Impact on the Region
It was created for the second Founders' Circle Event, Antigua, Guatemala, April 23, 2009.

INCAE Business School on YouTube
Visit our YouTube channel, where you will find videos related to our MBAs, Professors, Executive Global MBA, Illuminate Campaign, etc.

Inauguration of the Rectoral Room "Dr. Ernesto Cruz"
Francisco de Sola Campus, October 02, 2017 (News 12)

Speeches

Speech by President John F. Kennedy, National Theater
Text and audio of President Kennedy's opening speech at the Central American presidential meeting, National Theater, San José, Costa Rica, March 18, 1963.

Speech by President John F. Kennedy, University of Costa Rica
Image and audio of the speech, March 19, 1963.

Rectors of INCAE

Rector	Nationality	PhD	Dates
Clark Wilson	States States	Univ. Of Southern California	01/1967 06/1968
Ernesto Cross	Nicaragua	Harvard University	07/1968 12/1980
Harry Strachan	Costa Rica and States States	Harvard Business School	01/1981 12/1981
Marc LindenbergEdit	States States	Univ. Of Southern California	01/1982 09/1987
melvin Copen	States States	Harvard Business School	09/1987 08/1991
brizio Biondi Die	States States	Harvard Business School	09/1991 03/1999
Roberto Artavia¹	Costa Rica	Harvard Business School	04/1999 05/2007
Arthur Condo²	Ecuador	Harvard Business School	06/2007 05/2015
Enrique Bolaños abaunza³	Nicaragua	MBA 1974	05/2015 To the date

¹MBA 1982; ²MBA 1994; ³MBA 1974

Honoris Causa Titles awarded by INCAE

Name and detail	Year	Campus
George P Baker Dean, Harvard University School of Management (HBS)	1970	Nicaragua
George FF Lombard Associate Dean Senior, Harvard University School of Management (HBS)	1977	Nicaragua
Luis Alberto Monge President of Costa Rica, 1982-1986	1984	Costa Rica
Marc lindenberg Rector of INCAE, 1982-1987. Prominent academic and specialist in international development.	1987	Costa Rica
Oscar Arias-Sanchez Nobel Peace Prize 1987. President of Costa Rica, 1986-1990, 2006-2010	1988	Costa Rica
Hernando de Soto Peruvian economist and ideologist	1991	Costa Rica
Paul Antonio Cuadra Nicaraguan poet and ideologist	1991	Nicaragua
Stephan schmidheiny Swiss businessman	1993	Costa Rica
George Cabot Lodge Professor at Harvard Business School and a key person in the founding of INCAE	1994	Nicaragua
Michael Porter Prominent scholar and professor at Harvard Business School	1996	Costa Rica
Violeta Chamorro Neighborhoods First female president of Nicaragua, 1990-1997	1997	Nicaragua
Walter Kissling Gam Costa Rican businessman. Second president of the Board of Directors of INCAE.	1999	Costa Rica
Alberto Motta Cardoze Panamanian businessman	2005	Costa Rica
Robert Motta Cardoze Panamanian businessman	2005	Costa Rica
F. Alfredo Pellas Ch. Nicaraguan businessman	2005	Nicaragua
Franklin Chang Diaz Costa Rican astronaut	2012	Costa Rica
Wickham skinner Harvard professor	2014	Costa Rica
Nitin nohria Dean of Harvard Business School	2019	Costa Rica
Luis Alberto Moreno Mejia President of the Inter-American Development Bank	2019	Costa Rica

Articles

1994
Page, Dan and Daniel Penrice. "INCAE Celebrates Thirty Years of Achievement.”HBS Bulletin (October 1994): 24-25.

1992
Rochlin, Helen Frey. "INCAE Poised for Growth and Innovation.”HBS Bulletin (February 1992): 12-13.

1973
Korten, David C. "INCAE: Success Story in Central America.”HBS Bulletin (May-June 1973): 7-12.

1967
"Dean Baker at INCAE Groundbreaking.”HBS Bulletin (September-October 1967): 19-21.

1964
Lodge, George C. "A Project for AID in Central America.”HBS Bulletin (January-February 1964): 10-12.

Placed on the INCAE website with permission from the HBS Bulletin.

Photo Gallery

Access road construction. Francisco de Sola Campus Nicaraguan, 1967	Construction of the Administrative Building. Walter Kissling Gam Campus Costa Rican, 1982
Laying of the first stone. Francisco de Sola Campus Nicaraguan, 1967	Inauguration of the facilities. Walter Kissling Gam Campus Costa Rican, 1984
Clark Wilson, First Chancellor, with MAE I, provisional classroom at the Central Bank of Nicaraguan, 1968	Central American Presidential Summit. Walter Kissling Gam Campus Costa Rican, 1988
Presidential Summit Central American with Michael Porter. Francisco de Sola Campus Nicaraguan, 1996	Laying foundation stone Building Stephan Schmidheimy. Walter Kissling Gam Campus Costa Rican, 1996

Presidents and Vice Presidents Board of Directors

Name and Position	Nationality	Year that started
Francisco de Sola (President)	El Salvador	1963
Ricardo G. Castaneda (acting) (President)	El Salvador	1983
Walter Kissling Gam (President)	Costa Rica	1983
Brizio Biondi-Morra (President)	United States	1999
Roberto Artavia Loria (President)	Costa Rica	2012
Carlos Pellas Ch. (Vice president)	Nicaragua	2012

Presidential Summits at INCAE

Country	Year
Costa Rica	1988
Nicaragua	1996
Costa Rica	2002
Costa Rica	2005

The idea of an INCAE was born at the summit of the Central American presidents and President John F. Kennedy in the city of San José, Costa Rica, in 1963. There was also a presidential summit in 2013 in San Jose, with the participation of the president of INCAE, Arturo Condo Tamayo and Barack H. Obama, the president of the United States.

Founders Circle

It happened like that!

In 2008, following an initiative by Rector Arturo Condo, the Circle of Founders of INCAE was created, with the idea of strengthening INCAE's ties with Harvard and the North American community, as well as with the Latin American leaders who made possible the creation of this prestigious institution.

George Cabot Lodge, Professor Emeritus of Harvard, accepted the invitation of the Rector Condo to preside over the Circle of Founders of INCAE and since its inception has served as Chairman of this important group. Since 2008, meetings have been held to celebrate those who laid the foundations of what is now the best business school in Latin America and the think tank with the highest value in the region.

First meeting

Nicaraguan Embassy in Washington, DC. 2008

On March 25, 2008, celebrating 45 years after the idea of what INCAE would be conceived, the first meeting of the Circle of Founders was held at the Nicaraguan Embassy in Washington. Ambassador Arturo Cruz, host of the evening, in a formal and emotional act allowed the Rector Condo to recognize the participation of the three leaders, who played an instrumental role in the creation of INCAE:

George Cabot Lodge as the Harvard Business School professor who led the mission to identify the feasibility of creating an institution like INCAE.
John F. Kennedy, in the people of his sister Jean Kennedy Smith and his nephew Stephen Smith, who gave the order to USAID and requested the support of Harvard to found this institution.
Francisco de Sola +, in the persons of his sons Francisco RR de Sola and Susana de Sola, for being the great Central American leader who moved all the leaders of the region to form this valuable institution.

Harvard professors such as Wickham Skinner, Charles Bartlett, Christophe Venghiattis, Enrique De Bayle, Harry Strachan, Jack Hastings, José Ramón de la Torre, among others, participated.

Leaders from the region such as Carlos Pellas, Xavier Arguello Carazo, Nicolás Ardito Barletta and Francisco RR de Sola and special guests such as Alberto Moreno, President of the IDB; Kenneth Hoadley, at that time Rector of Zamorano, Ramon Daubon and Judith Morrison of the Interamerican Foundation, and several members of the State Department.

Third meeting

City of Panama. 2010

This meeting was held on July 1, 2010 in Panama City, commemorating the 45 years of the second Senior Management Program dictated by INCAE in the city of Boquete in Panama.

In this third activity led by the National Committee represented at that time by Roberto Motta Jr. and several members of the Board of Directors, and the Advisory Council of the Rector, an important group of the Circle of Founders participated, graduates of PAG II and family members, among others. friends and allies of INCAE.

“The Circle of Founders is a renewal of the pioneering spirit of INCAE and I feel very honored to participate in such a historic and transcendental celebration. When I arrived at the Montefresco Campus in August 1971 I was one of the "juniors," as a member of the research team who wrote cases under such great masters as David Korten, Jim Austin and Harry Strachan ”, commented John Ickis, Professor of INCAE and a member of such an important group.

Ickis added, "... To these Montefresco pioneers and founders in Antigua, to my advisor professor and thesis Chairman George Cabot Lodge, my thanks and admiration."

The special guests and honorees of the night were Harvard Professor Jim Austin, Harry Strachan and Marc Lindenberg +, in the person of Cathy Lindenberg, both Rectors of INCAE.

Additionally, this event served to recognize the graduates of PAG I and II present, as well as the founding faculty who managed to attend:

Graduates of PAG I and PAG II present

PAGE I

- Hannibal Ramirez

- Joaquin Vallarino

- Ferdinand Manfred

- Robert Eisenmann

PAGE II

-Roberto Motta Jr.

-Roberto Zauner

- Victor Fabrega

- Lerroy Watson's family +

Faculty

- Thomas Bloch - 1971

-Harry Strachan- 1971

- John Ickis - 1972

- Carlos Guillermo Sequeira - 1973

- Marc Lindenberg + - 1975

- Kenneth Hoadley - 1975

And he was left last for being the oldest in the INCAE faculty and of great value for the institution and the region.

- Nicolás Marín - 1964

Second Meeting

Second meeting

Old, Guatemala. 2009

On April 23, 2009, the second meeting of the Circle of Founders of INCAE was held, where the first 45 years of the first program with which INCAE was born, the Senior Management Program, recognized throughout Latin America as the INCAE's flagship program, the PAG.

The meeting was held in the City of Antigua, Guatemala with the INCAE National Committee represented by Danilo Siekavizza as the host of the meeting. The event began with a lunch at noon, followed by two presentations, one by Professor Alberto Trejos and the other by Professor Julio Sergio Ramírez, both sending an urgent message about the need to create mechanisms to resolve the leadership crisis in America. Latin.

In a formal and emotional ceremony in the afternoon, the participation of three important leaders who participated in the creation of the institution was recognized:

George Cabot Lodge, president of the Circle of Founders, as the young and energetic professor who made the creation of INCAE possible.
Juan Maegli, Guatemalan, an HBS student at the time, who worked with George to identify leaders and places to start the discussion about what INCAE could become.
Duilio Baltodano Pallais +, in the persons of his wife Olga Cabrera de Baltodano + and his son Duilio Baltodano Cabrera, graduate of the class of 1976 and member of the Nicaraguan National Committee for their contribution, commitment and loyalty not only personal, but also family, to this institution from its foundation until today.

Additionally, seven PAG I graduates were recognized. These seven leaders were not only interested in this executive program that Harvard Business School was offering at that time, but also, they were the ones who joined in the thought and decision to create an institution that would change the direction of this region. These seven graduates were:

Manuel Yarhi, accompanied by his daughter Debbie.
Roberto Dorión, accompanied by his son Nicholas.
Jorge Tabush +, in the persons of his children Lucrecia and Eduardo.
Roberto Stein +, in the people of his daughters Claudia de Siboni and Esther de Asturias.
Rafael Sabbah +, in the person of his grandson Jonathan Sabbah.
Arnoldo Solórzano Thompson +, in the person of his son Silvio Solórzano Pellas.
Ernesto Rodríguez +, in the person of his daughter Claudia Rodríguez.

Fourth meeting

Alajuela, Costa Rica. 2011

This meeting was held on May 25, 2011 at the INCAE Campus in Alajuela Costa Rica. During this meeting, Professor Esteban Brenes made a full presentation on the findings during the first year of research of the Chair in Agribusiness Strategy, created with the first 7-digit donation received by Steve J. Aronson, founder of Café Britt, as part of the Illuminate Campaign.

The event revolved around the founders, and special recognitions went to Wickham Skinner, Harvard professor emeritus, and Walter Kissling Gam +, second President of the Board of Directors of INCAE, in the person of his daughter Alexandra Kissling Jimenez, graduate of the founding class. of CALI, and member of the INCAE National Committee.

Additionally, this event served to recognize the graduates from PAG I to V present, as well as members of the National Committees from the years of the foundation and the founding faculty who managed to attend.