Strachan Chair for Philanthropy and Social Investment seeks to inspire future leaders to exercise responsible leadership
The Strachan Chair in Philanthropy and Social Investment seeks to inspire future leaders to exercise responsible leadership, research and produce educational materials on how to do effective philanthropy and social investment. In January 2013, a group of investors led by philanthropist Harry W. Strachan created an endowment fund to finance a research program focused on social investment and philanthropy in Central America.
We inspire future transformational leaders to exercise responsible leadership, research and produce educational materials on how to do effective philanthropy and social investment.
In January 2013 a group of investors led by philanthropist Harry W. Strachan created an endowment fund for the purpose of financing a research program focused on social investment and philanthropy in Central America, thus the Strachan Chair for Philanthropy and Social Investment was born.
Professor Strachan has had a close relationship with INCAE. He began his academic career at the Managua Campus in 1970 as an assistant professor. He was then appointed Academic Director from 1972 to 1976, when he began his studies at Harvard Business School. In 1981 he returned to INCAE as Rector, and helped implement the strategy to build the second campus in Costa Rica. Since then, he has been part of the Board of Directors, as well as professor of the PAG, seminars and MBA courses.
D. in International Finance, a J.D. in Corporate Law from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Business Administration from Wheaton College of Illinois. He has specialized in international finance. He is the author of the book "The Role of Family Business Group in Economic Development", and has published over fifty business cases and notes on banking, finance, international business and strategy.
In the Impact Manager Podcast, leaders share the challenges of making social investment in the region and how to overcome them.
This program is hosted by Prof. Andrea Prado and produced by researcher J. Ignacio Sánchez, for the Strachan Chair of INCAE Business School.
New episodes on the first Wednesday of each month.
We promote the formation of socially responsible leaders through the innovative methodology of teaching live cases.
The live cases allow for the creation of a learning space attached to the reality of business, in which the analysis of problems for decision making and the construction of arguments and alternatives for action are promoted. They are carried out in a two to three hour session, in which a leader is invited to participate and present a real problem or situation that he/she has or has had to face in his/her organization, so that students can ask questions and thus develop their recommendations for decision making. Live cases are ideal for working on decision-making, strategy, organizational change, leadership, marketing and communication. In addition, they are intended to motivate and persuade MBA students to make a social contribution from the beginning of their careers.
A review of the literature was conducted to learn about the approach to the topic of philanthropy and social investment. Three main waves were identified in this research: the first focused on describing who did philanthropy and social investment; the second, on the reasons why people get involved in social work; and the last, focused on how to do it effectively.
In 2013, a set of interviews were conducted with twenty-three well-known Central American philanthropists (seven from Costa Rica, four from Nicaragua, four from Panama, four from El Salvador, two from Guatemala and two from Honduras). The interviews allowed us to understand the reasons that motivated them to engage in philanthropic activities, as well as to identify patterns in their actions.
The research presents the business case for promoting philanthropy and prosocial behavior effectively among stakeholders. It includes the following topics:
The executive report "Social Entrepreneurship in Latin America: Best Practices for Bringing Products and Services to Rural Poor Populations" was presented on CNN by professor and author of the study, Professor Andrea Prado.
The research identified best practices of three social enterprises that effectively provide products and services to rural communities at the base of the pyramid. The study identified four characteristics that have enabled these ventures to operate for more than a decade, achieve financial sustainability and generate social impact in vulnerable populations. These characteristics include the backgrounds of their founders, their business models, their relationships with the communities they serve, and their sources of income.
We conduct research with the purpose of generating knowledge related to philanthropy, social investment and social enterprises.
We share the accountability report for the year 2023 of the Strachan Chair. This document includes the achievements and activities carried out during the year, financial reports, budget execution as well as the team in charge of carrying out all our work.
We share the accountability report for the year 2022 of the Strachan Chair. This document includes the achievements and activities carried out during the year by the Chair team.
We share the accountability report for the year 2021 of the Strachan Chair. This document includes the achievements and activities carried out during the year, financial reports, budget execution as well as the team in charge of carrying out all our work.
We share the accountability report of the first five years of the Strachan Chair. This document includes the achievements and activities carried out from 2013 to 2017, grant reports and budget execution as well as the team in charge of carrying out all our work.
Teaching areas
Courses
Programs
Executive Programs
Andrea M. Prado is an associate professor of management and organizations at INCAE Business School. She is director of the Strachan Chair in Philanthropy and Social Investment. Her research explores the role of companies in promoting sustainable development in the countries where they operate, particularly through their corporate social responsibility strategies and the delivery of products and services to low-income populations.
She also studies the impact and dynamics of industry self-regulation (i.e., the adoption of voluntary certification programs) to promote environmental and labor practices in emerging economies. She has published her research in prestigious academic journals, books and book chapters and has received multiple international awards.
Prof. Prado has led multiple executive programs in Health Management and Global Health at INCAE. She was the Academic Director of the Central America Healthcare Initiative (CAHI) from its inception in 2012 to 2019. CAHI seeks to catalyze access to quality healthcare services for low-income populations through innovative solutions and improved management capabilities in the region through a scholarship program delivered by INCAE.
Prado received a Ph.D. in Management and Organizations from the Stern School of Business, New York University, an M.A. in International Economics from the University of Essex, UK and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Costa Rica. She received a Fulbright scholarship for her doctoral studies and a Chevening scholarship for his master's studies.
More information at: https://www.andreamprado.com/
Articles
Research work
Jose Ignacio Sanchez is a researcher and project coordinator for the Strachan Chair of Philanthropy and Social Investment at INCAE Business School. His areas of work explore the bioeconomy, sustainable development, regenerative business and food loss and waste.
Previously, Ignacio has worked as a professor for the School of Agricultural Economics at the University of Costa Rica, and as a researcher for the Center for Research in Economics and Agribusiness Development at the University of Costa Rica.
Articles:
Sánchez, J. (2021). Costa Rican legislation and its relation to the modern bioeconomy.
modern bioeconomy. Revista e-Agronegocios, 7(2). https://revistas.
tec.ac.cr/index.php/eagronegocios/article/view/5637
Montero-Vega, M. and Sánchez-Gómez, J.I. (2022) 'Approaching agricultural supply chain
performance and strategic sustainable development', Int. J. Supply Chain and Operations Resilience, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.128-122.
Operations Resilience, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.128-149.
Montero, M., García, M., Sánchez, J. & Mejía, K. (2022) What determines dairy household food waste?. A case study from the Costa Rican dairy industry. Anales Científicos. 83(2), 149-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/ac.v83i2.1848
Montero-Vega, M., Barquero, M., & Sánchez-Gómez, J. I. (2022). Food loss and waste behaviors of three sectors in Costa Rica | RIVAR. Revista Iberoamericana de Viticultura, Agroindustria y Ruralidad, 9(26) . https://www.revistas.usach.cl/ojs/index.php/rivar/article/view/5589. https://www.revistas.usach.cl/ojs/index.php/rivar/article/view/5589.
Book chapters:
Sanchez-Gómez, J. I., & Montero-Vega, M. (2021). Bioeconomic approach to livestock productivity. In Progress in Economic Research (Vol. 47, pp. 217-236). NOVA Science Publishers, Inc. https://novapublishers.com/shop/progress-in-economics-research-volume-47/. https://novapublishers.com/shop/progress-in-economics-research-volume-47/
Strachan Foundation
Arrocera Venllano S.A.
Josh Bekenstein
Dwight Poler
Pagliuca JSJN Children's Charitable Foundation
Connaughton Charitable Gift Fund
Anne C. Rubik and Michael A. Krupka Charitable Gift Fund
Albright Family Charitable Fund
Strachan Foundation
Arrocera Venllano S.A.
Josh Bekenstein
Dwight Poler
Pagliuca JSJN Children's Charitable Foundation
Connaughton Charitable Gift Fund
Anne C. Rubik and Michael A. Krupka Charitable Gift Fund
Albright Family Charitable Fund
