History of INCAE

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History of INCAE

More than 60 years transforming lives in Latin America for a better future

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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 Central American presidents. Under the banner of economic and social progress, regional leaders highlighted the need to strengthen business education in the region.
Thus, in 1964, at the initiative of the governments and the Central American business community, and with the support of Harvard Business School, INCAE was founded after the graduation of the first class of the Senior Management Program-PAG, in Guatemala.
For six decades INCAE has transformed the way business is done in Latin America, positively impacting the present and future of the region. The school will continue to revolutionize its learning methods to respond to the needs of the market, while remaining true to the ethical values of responsible leadership.

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The foundation and early years (1963-1982)

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Conference between the Presidents of Central America and President John F. Kennedy during his visit to the visit to Costa Rica. At his opening speechPresident Kennedy speaks of strengthening education in Central America. The Central American Declarationissued on the second day of the conference, documents the presidents' interest in strengthening institutions that would train and integrate public and private sector leaders in the Central American region. At a meeting with President Kennedy arranged by Murat Williams, U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, prominent Salvadoran businessman Francisco de Sola discusses the need for a business school in Central America to prepare executives to compete globally (March 18-20).
Teodoro Moscoso, coordinator of the Alliance for Progress, writes to Dean George P. Baker of Harvard University's Graduate School of Business Administration (HBS) about the development of a high-level management program in Central America (March 22).
President Kennedy writes writes to 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 replies replies (April 29).
The Dean of Harvard Business School, George P. Baker, accepts an invitation to organize and co-host with INCAE a Senior Management Program in Guatemala (October 29).
INCAE acquires legal status in Guatemala (December 4).
The Board of Directors of INCAE is constituted with Francisco de Sola, a Salvadoran businessman, as Chairman (December 15).

First Senior Management Program (PAG) in Antigua, Guatemala, with 45 participants. It is the first public event of INCAE. Dean George P. Baker of Harvard delivers the inaugural address inaugural address. At its closing the founding charter is signed (July 1 - August 7).

INCAE officially established with its headquarters in Managua, Nicaragua (October 24).

Clark Wilson assumes the President of INCAE on January 1, becoming the first Rector in the history of the institute. (January 1).
Harvard Dean Baker attends groundbreaking ceremony (July 1).
The Library at INCAE begins with 459 books chosen by Harvard Business School's Baker Library (Aug. 28).

The first Master's Master of Business Administration Program (MAE I) (MAE I) with 42 students from six countries. Students stay at the Lido Palace Hotel in Managua. Classes are held at the Central Bank (January 8).
Ernesto Cruz assumes the position of second Rector of INCAE (July 1).

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

First executive program outside Central America, PAG IX, in Medellin, Colombia.
The Agribusiness Management Program begins.
Graduation of MAE II with 18 students from seven countries. George P. Baker, Dean Emeritus of Harvard Business School (HBS), receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa (June 13).

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

An earthquake devastates Managua (December 23).

INCAE publishes the study Preliminary Assessment of Earthquake Damage, which was key in attracting foreign aid to Nicaragua (January 5). which was key to attracting foreign aid to Nicaragua (January 5).
Creation of the Advisory CenterThe Advisory Center was established under a contract with the Government of Nicaragua, with advice from the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) (March).
The Family Planning Program Management program is initiated.
The Development Banking and Finance Program begins.

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

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

George F.F. Lombard, Senior Associate Dean of Harvard Business School (HBS), receives an honorary doctorate degree during the graduation of MAE IX (June 18).

Beginning of the publication of the magazine INCAE (October).

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

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) (May 4).
The Montefresco campus in Nicaragua is called the Francisco de Sola Campus (FdS) (December 3).

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1966-Enrique DeBayle, Francisco de Sola, Eduardo Montealegre, Róger Quant during the transfer of the property - March 1

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Growth and new horizons (1983-1995)

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1995

The government of Costa Rica authorizes the donation of the property where the Alajuela Racquet Clubin favor of INCAE (January 14).
It was deposited with the cornerstone of what would later become the Walter Kissling Gam campus of INCAE in Costa Rica, a parchment parchment signed by Luis Alberto Monge as President of Costa Rica and Francisco de Sola as Chairman of the Board of Directors of INCAE (January 15).
Three programs financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) were initiated: Management of Non-Traditional Exports, Policy and Management of Energy Resources, and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
Walter Kissling Gam, Costa Rican businessman, becomes president of the Board of Directors of INCAE (September).
MAE XVI (second year) begins in Costa Rica (October).
The Postgraduate Program in Functional Administration (PAF) begins at INCAE Nicaragua (November 6).

The Cooperative Management Program begins.
The Banking 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 new campus of INCAE in Alajuela, Costa Rica (April 1).
Luis Alberto Monge, President of Costa Rica, 1982-1986, is awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa INCAE during the inauguration of the campus (April 1).
Ecuador becomes a member country of INCAE (June 23).

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

The Policy Center Program begins.
Marc Lindenberg, Rector of INCAE, 1982-1987, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa (June 27).
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).
INCAEin conjunction with the Universidad Católica and with the support of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) of the United States, is offering the first of three MAE programs in Asunción, Paraguay (November).

For the first time, INCAE is hosting the Central American Presidential Summit meeting, Costa Rica (January 15-16).
Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1987, President of Costa Rica, 1986-1990 and 2006-2010, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa and delivers the main graduation speech (MAE XX), Costa Rica (June 25).

The Political Leaders Training Program begins.

Celebration of the 25th anniversary of INCAE at the Costa Rica campus, with the participation of Derek Bok, President of Harvard University (March).
The Economic Studies and Training Program (PROGRESEC) is established in Ecuador to promote dialogue on economic policy (November 13).

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

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

An agreement was signed between INCAE and the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Foundation of Venezuela to train Venezuelan master's degree students and professors (May).
Stephan Schmidheiny, Swiss businessman, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa and delivers the main graduation speech (MAE XXV), Costa Rica (June 26).
The Master's Program in Administration of Industry and Technology (MAIT) begins (September).

Celebration of the 30th anniversary of INCAE at Harvard Business School (May).
George Cabot Lodge, professor at Harvard Business School and a key person in the founding of INCAE, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa and delivers the main graduation address (PAF XI), Campus Francisco de Sola (July 1).
The Research Center is established.
INCAE is accredited by SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).

Michael Porter's first visit to Central America, organized by INCAE (October).
Michael Porter meets with the presidents of Central American countries at INCAE, Costa Rica, and then at Harvard (November).

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Commitment to competitiveness and sustainable development (1996-2003)

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2003

Return of the MAE Program (MAE XXX) to Nicaragua, which will be offered at the same time as the MAE Program in Alajuela (February 26).
INCAE is hosting a Central American presidential summit meeting on the occasion of a visit by Michael Porter, Nicaragua (June 20).
Michael Porter receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa and delivers the main graduation speech (MAE XXVIII), Campus Walter Kissling Gam, 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).

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

Roberto Artavia assumes the position of seventh Rector of INCAE, being the first MAE graduate from INCAE to assume this position (April).
Brizio Biondi-Morra becomes president 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 degree of Doctor Honoris Causa during the graduation of MAE XXXIII and MEE XI (May).
Presentation of the Central American Agenda for the XXI Century at a meeting between CABEI, INCAE and Harvard for academics, government officials and businessmen, Costa Rica (June).
Inauguration of the Stephan Schmidheiny Building, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (June 18).Campus Walter Kissling Gam, Costa Rica (June 18).

Appointment of the Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua, as the permanent seat of the Executive MFA - MAEX (June).

INCAE and five other Latin American business schools, Harvard Business School and AVINA founded the Social Enterprise Knowledge Network (SEKN) (January).
Publication of the eight-volume CLACDS-HIID-HIID-AVINA-BCIE study on Central America.
Visit of President Gustavo Noboa of Ecuador to the INCAE campus in Costa Rica, occasion for the government of Ecuador to decorate the INCAE pavilion with the Order of Merit, Knight Grade , for INCAE 's contributions to the development of that nation (December).

The Costa Rica campus is named the Walter Kissling Gam Campus (February 21).
CLACDS and MIT Media Lab announce the formalization of the Digital Nations research agreement to promote development in Central America (February).
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 hosts the Central American Presidential Summit meeting, Costa Rica (September 26).
Se inaugurated The "F. Alfredo Pellas" Student Academic Center (CAE) is inaugurated on the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua. Alfredo Pellas", with study rooms donated by Central American companies (October 11).

The celebration of the 40th anniversary of INCAE begins with the National Committees Meeting in La Antigua, Guatemala. At this meeting, INCAE receives the "Orden Rafael Landívar", the highest decoration awarded by the city. Forty years earlier, La Antigua had declared the members of the First Senior Management Program of INCAE as Guests of Honor (July 18).
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 signed its first dual degree agreements with the Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western Reserve University (May), ESADE (May) and the Leipzig Graduate School of Management (December).

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Internationalization and excellence (2004-2018)

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The Microfinance program is launched.
For the first time INCAE appears in the Financial Times ranking of top MBA programs with international experience (January 26).
INCAE receives EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (March 31).
The "Alberto and Roberto Motta C." Student Academic Center (CAE) was inaugurated at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus in Costa Rica, with study rooms donated by Central American companies (May 21).
Presentation of the Luis Poma Academic Development Fund Luis Poma and inauguration of the Luis Poma Forum, Campus Walter Kissling Gam, Costa Rica (May 21).
Celebration of the 40th anniversary of INCAE.
INCAE begins using a new logo logo and to use the name INCAE Business School (November).

The Latin American Network of Universities for Quality and Sustainable Development was established, led 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).
The brothers Alberto and Roberto Motta Cardoze, Panamanian businessmen, received the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa during the graduation of MAE XLV, Campus WKG, Costa Rica (May 21).
F. Alfredo Pellas Ch., Nicaraguan businessman, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa during the graduation of MAE XLVI, Campus Francisco de Sola, Nicaragua (May 28).
INCAE is hosting a Central American presidential summit meeting, Costa Rica (September 12).
For the first time INCAE appears in The Wall Street Journal's international ranking of business schools, at number 10 (September 21).
Signing of the BATCCA (British American Tobacco Caribbean & Central America) - INCAE agreement establishing a research chair called "BATCCA Chair of Social Enterprise and Corporate Social Responsibility" (October 21).

Nicaraguan businessman Carlos Pellas pledges to provide $2.5 million in scholarships for students who want to pursue their master's degree at INCAE in Nicaragua (January).
INCAE and the Poma Foundation sign an agreement creating the Poma Foundation Chair for poverty alleviation in the Central American region (March 21).
INCAE Business Review magazine is launched (October 1).
The Arnoldo Solórzano Thompson Center for Entrepreneurship is inaugurated at the Francisco de Sola Campus in Nicaragua (October 26).
First PAG Sur (Tarija, Bolivia, October 15 - 28; Tucumán, Argentina, November 19 - December 1).

Arturo Condo assumes the position of eighth Rector of INCAE (June 1).
Inauguration of the Corporación CEFA and Norval Garnier Oreamuno Clinic, Francisco de Sola Campus, Nicaragua (July 13).
A Senior Management Program - PAG is offered in Paraguay (September-November).

Arturo Condo, Rector of INCAE, is nominated for the Young Global Leader award by the World Economic Forum (March 8).
The first Founders' Circle event, in Washington, D.C., featured George Cabot Lodge, professor emeritus at Harvard Business School and a key person in the founding of INCAE, and Jean Kennedy Smith, sister of John F. Kennedy (March 27).
Inauguration of the Argüello Arellano Forum and tribute in honor of Dr. Xavier Argüello Carazo, Francisco de Sola campus, Nicaragua (October 2).
Posthumous tribute to Professor Werner Ketelhöhn Escobar, unveiling of the plaque in the park that bears his name, Francisco de Sola campus, Nicaragua (October 3).

Second Founders' Circle event, Antigua, Guatemala, where George Cabot Lodge presented a paper 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).
The Financial Times Executive Education international ranking of business schools ranks INCAE among the 50 business schools with the best executive education in the world (May 11).
Signing of the Steve Aronson Agreement - INCAE, through which the Steve Aronson Chair in Agribusiness Strategy was created, with a $1 million donation from Mr. Aronson, Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica (December 10).

Presentation of the book INCAE Business School. Los primeros 45 años: Visión y pasión written by Raúl E. Barragán and Roberto Artavia Loría, with the collaboration of Róger Quant P. (March 4).
The Financial Times Executive Education international ranking ranks INCAE among the 60 business schools with the best executive education (May 10).
Third Founders' Circle event, Panama City, with the participation of the Rector of INCAE, PAG II graduates, and members of the national committees of INCAE (July 1).
The Financial Times EMBA ranking places INCAE in the 80th position (out of 100) (October 27).

The first module of the Regional Economic Integration Program (PIER) begins. (January 24).
The Financial Times Global MBA ranking places INCAE in the 77th position (out of 100) (January 31).
The Financial Times EMBA ranking places INCAE in the 78th position (out of 100) (October 24).

Launching of the INCAE Alumni Magazine (January 25).
The Financial Times Global MBA ranking places INCAE in 76th position (January 30).
Roberto Artavia Loría becomes president of the Board of Directors of INCAE. Carlos Pellas Ch. is appointed Vice President. Brizio Biondi-Morra is named President Emeritus (March 6).
Launch of the Illuminate fundraising campaign.
The Financial Times Executive Education international ranking ranks INCAE among the 50 business schools with the best executive education (May 14).
Franklin Chang Díaz, Costa Rican astronaut, receives the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa during the MBA 2012 graduation, Campus Walter Kissling Gam, Costa Rica (May 18).
43% of the 117 students who started their MBA at the Walter Kissling Gam Campus, Costa Rica, are women, the highest percentage in the history of INCAE (August 13).
INCAE is accepted as a member of PIM (Partnership in International Management), (October 19).

The Financial Times Global MBA ranking places INCAE in the 90th position (January 27).
INCAE Business School and the Inter-American Development Bank-IDB organized the Central America Forum in Costa Rica. The Forum was attended by the presidents of Central America and the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (May 3-4).
The Harry Strachan Chair in Philanthropy and Social Investment is established at INCAE (July).
Miller Center Forum: A Retrospective of the Kennedy Presidency and his Legacy in Latin America. With the participation of Dr. Arturo Condo, rector of INCAE (October 21).
The Financial Times EMBA ranking places INCAE in 77th position (October 21).
The Financial Times Global EMBA ranking places INCAE in 91st position (October 21).
Susana de Sola Funsten makes a donation to the INCAE MBA Oath Club in the name of Francisco de Sola, her father and founder of INCAE (November 11).

Beginning of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of INCAE at the Francisco de Sola Campus (March 6).
Celebration of the 50th anniversary of INCAE 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 a key to success. The United to Grow Alliance for integral development is created.

Meeting of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum with the participation of the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís. (February 10).
Start of construction of the Executive Residence Building at INCAE(WKG Campus April 13).
Enrique Bolaños Abaunza assumes the position of the ninth Rector of INCAE, becoming the first non-academic rector of the institute (May 21).
Inauguration of the Gloria de Kriete Foundation Recreation Center at the Francisco de Sola Campus.
The AACSB accreditor indicates that INCAE graduates will be recognized as influential leaders.

Inauguration of the new Executive Residences Building.
Launching of the Latin American Center for Entrepreneurs LACE
The Center for Collaborative and Women's Leadership is relaunched in collaboration with Cargill, as a new founding partner, which will later be renamed the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership CELIS.
INCAE / CLACDS and 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.

The Executive MBA at INCAE is ranked #1 in Latin America by the Financial Times.

The MBA at INCAE is ranked #1 in Latin America by the Financial Times.
INCAE announces partnership with CNN en Español to publish studies on the region.
INCAE and Mastercard join forces in the LEADS Mujer project for Central American women entrepreneurs.
Inauguration of the Dr. Ernesto Cruz Rectoral Gallery at the Francisco de Sola Campus.
The First INCAE Networking Night was held.
Creation of the René Morales Carazo Chair of Entrepreneurship.

INCAE received the AMBA (Association of MBAs) accreditation, placing it among 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 cooperation agreement to promote entrepreneurship and sustainability in the region.
CNN's Expansion Magazine 2018 ranks INCAE MBA and Executive MBA #1 in Latin America.
According to the ranking published by the Financial Times, INCAE is ranked 29th in the world in executive education.
The Latin American Center for Entrepreneurship -LACE launches for the first time the INCAE Entrepreneur Award, which promotes entrepreneurship in the region.
The MBA at INCAE is #1 in Latin America according to Eduniversal's ranking.
INCAE assumes the coordination of Red Académica Iberoamericana.
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 Executive MBA ranking.

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Innovation and Impact (2019-2025)

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2025

INCAE and Fundacao Getulio Vargas organize the 8th International Conference on Strategic Management in Latin America.
The European awards INCAE as the best 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 education and consolidated, for the third consecutive year, in the TOP 30 of the more than 15,000 business schools estimated to exist today.
Harvard Business School Dean Dr. Nitin Nohria was a keynote speaker during INCAE graduation and 50th anniversary celebration of the first MBA from INCAE.
INCAEIESE, Heidelberg and Strathmore Launch Global Health Executive Program.
Mastercard, INCAE and IDB launch Virtual Accelerator to empower women entrepreneurs in Latin America.

INCAE responded to the challenges presented by the global health crisis by redesigning all programs and master's degrees in synchronous and blended online format.
INCAE became the first school in Latin America to partner with Emeritus to launch a 100% online master's degree.
Updating of the institutional image, including the renewal of the logo.
The publication INCAE Business Review was relaunched.
The new Master in Analytics, Innovation & Technology - MAIT program was launched.
The first 100% online master's degree in the history of INCAE was launched: Marketing and Digital Transformation, and the Master in Data Analytics was launched (September).
The ExCel (Emerging Civil Society Leaders) program graduated its first generation.

A new Full-Time MBA curriculum with a focus on technology was established.
The first edition of the Executive Management Summit was held.
Launched the On Target program, which offers coaching and mentoring throughout the Full-Time MBA, with a flexible schedule of optional and required subjects.
INCAE Online launched eight new certificates. In addition, the first editions of the master's degrees in Finance and Logistics and Operations were launched in an asynchronous online format.
The 25th anniversary of CLACDS was celebrated.
The first edition of CELIS' LEADS Academy for Women was launched.
The Strachan Chair for Philanthropy and Social Investment, in conjunction with the Viva Schmidheiny Chair, co-organized the Climate Change Congress 2021.

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 Online MBA program was launched and the Virtual Classroom at INCAE, the first of its kind in Latin America, was inaugurated.
CLACDS launched the TEAM-NT project, focused on the public procurement systems and processes of 24 municipalities in the Northern Triangle.
The LEADS Mujer program, a collaboration of CELIS / INCAE and MasterCard, was recognized for its impact in the region at the Summit of the Americas 2022.

Closing of the Francisco de Sola campus in Managua, Nicaragua.
Announcement of the opening of the new INCAE Executive Center in Panama.
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 signed an agreement with Smith School of Business-Queen's University of Ontario, Canada.
Full-time MBA and Executive MBA from INCAE consolidate their leadership in CEO Magazine for the seventh consecutive year.
INCAE continues to rank in the TOP 25 in the world in Executive Education, occupying 22nd place.
INCAE conducted the Sustainability Ideathon 2023.
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 Executive MBA 2023 Ranking.
INCAE reinvents master's degrees specialized in new contemporary challenges and professional growth needs, and launches the ExMasters.
INCAE in the TOP 100 in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2023.

INCAE commemorates its 60th anniversary.
75 Women Transformational Leaders were recognized by Awards of Happiness® in conjunction with INCAE Business School and Estrategia & Negocios Magazine (February).
CEO Magazine's Global Ranking 2024 recognized for the first time our Online MBA as the 3rd worldwide. Our Global MBA ranked TIER ONE, and our Executive MBA ranked 12th in the world.
Inauguration of the new Executive Center of INCAE , in Panama.

Camelia Ilie Cardoza assumes the position of tenth President of INCAE, the first woman to assume this position (January 15).

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Governance INCAE

Rectors of INCAE

Rector	Nationality	PhD	Dates
Clark Wilson	United States United States	Univ. of Southern California	01/1967 06/1968
Ernesto Cruz	Nicaragua	Harvard University	07/1968 12/1980
Harry Strachan	Costa Rica and United States United States	Harvard Business School	01/1981 12/1981
Marc Lindenberg	United States United States	Univ. of Southern California	01/1982 09/1987
Melvyn Copen	United States United States	Harvard Business School	09/1987 08/1991
Brizio Biondi-Morra	United States United States	Harvard Business School	09/1991 03/1999
Roberto Artavia¹	Costa Rica	Harvard Business School	04/1999 05/2007
Arturo Condo².	Ecuador	Harvard Business School	06/2007 05/2015
Enrique Bolaños Abaunza³	Nicaragua	MBA 1974	05/2015 14/01/2025
Camelia Ilie Cardoza	Romanian-Spanish	University of Comillas	15/01/2025 to date
¹MBA 1982; ²MBA 1994; ³MBA 1974

Honorary degrees awarded by INCAE

Name and detail	Year	Campus
George P. Baker Dean, Harvard Business School, Harvard Business School (HBS)	1970	Nicaragua
George F. F. Lombard Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School, Harvard Business School (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 winner 1987. President of Costa Rica, 1986-1990, 2006-2010.	1988	Costa Rica
Hernando de Soto Peruvian economist and ideologist	1991	Costa Rica
Pablo Antonio Cuadra Nicaraguan poet and ideologist	1991	Nicaragua
Stephan Schmidheiny Swiss entrepreneur	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 academic and professor at Harvard Business School	1996	Costa Rica
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro First woman 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
Roberto Motta Cardoze Panamanian businessman	2005	Costa Rica
F. Alfredo Pellas Ch. Nicaraguan businessman	2005	Nicaragua
Franklin Chang Díaz 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 Mejía President of the Inter-American Development Bank	2019	Costa Rica
George W. Logan Former President, The INCAE Foundation	2024	Costa Rica

Chairmen of the Board of Directors

Name	Nationality	Period
Francisco de Sola	El Salvador	1963-1983
Ricardo G. Castaneda	El Salvador	1983-1983
Walter Kissling Gam	Costa Rica	1983-1999
Brizio Biondi-Morra	United States	1999-2012
Roberto Artavia Loría	Costa Rica	2012- to date

Presidential Summits in INCAE

Country	Year
Costa Rica	1988
Nicaragua	1996
Costa Rica	2002
Costa Rica	2005
The idea of a INCAE was born at the summit of Central American presidents and President John F. Kennedy in the city of San Jose, 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.