Interview with Prof. Carlos Aguirre
Carlos is a coach, with 27 years of experience at INCAE Business School. He has served as director of strategic planning and is a consultant in the area of strategy, teamwork, customer service, leadership and organizational culture. Advisor and creator of the Association of Professional Soccer Players of the first division in Costa Rica (ASOJUPRO).
During the second module of the 6th generation CAHI Fellows program, he invited the group to build bridges, which tested their ability to work as a high-performance team. After the day, we were able to talk with him.
How did you come to the CAHI Fellows Program?
Carlos: Initially I was in charge of doing the dynamics at INCAE, to work on the topics that I address such as leadership and teamwork. At one point, when CAHI started, I was invited to bring these methodologies to the program, so I started with some sessions, something small, which has been evolving and growing.
What has been your experience in these years within the program?
Carlos: What is important to me is what they come to do, the projects they have that generate an impact in their countries. During these years I have made very close friendships, I still have contact with the first group of CAHI Fellows. That is why I know directly how they are achieving results in the region, in their communities. I feel proud to be able to collaborate with them.
What has been the evolution, from your perspective, in these six years of the program?
Carlos: The learning, I realize that each new period we are adding learning. I can also perceive that the network is growing, more and more CAHI Fellows are connecting. It is very nice to see the evolution they experience since they join the program and how they progressively mature their ideas and learn new approaches that they apply in their projects.
I notice better and better projects, but I don't mean that some participants are better than others, but that everything evolves, the world changes and technology advances, so there are improvements.
What is your contribution to the CAHI Fellows?
Carlos: I like to contribute to building high-performance teams. I have worked in this for 19 years, which allows me to know people and how they can achieve high performance, why they become champions. I contribute from the smallest, I am a graduate of INCAE and it is easy for me to make analogies from sport and the development of high performance athletes. One key is to have clear objectives, as the CAHI Fellows bring them.
In this program within INCAE they take with them knowledge in project management, along with more personal experiences and the imprint we leave on them from our role as teachers. Today it is very important to cultivate social and emotional intelligence. We must understand that we are in a world in constant change and in that evolution a key is to anticipate.
