On the afternoon of November 7, and as part of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of INCAE Business School at the Walter Kissling Gam campus, an emotional activity was held to honor the valuable contribution of Rodrigo Uribe Sáenz -founder and president of Grupo Cuestamoras- the Uribe Sáenz family and Grupo Cuestamoras through the Enrique Uribe Pagés-Cuestamoras Scholarship. This scholarship has been transforming lives for 12 years now, allowing 24 outstanding young MBA students from INCAE to access world-class training at INCAE, marking a before and after in their personal and professional careers.
Rector Enrique Bolaños highlighted the impact that this scholarship has had on the lives of the scholarship recipients and on the development of the region. He emphasized that this initiative embodies the mission of INCAE to train transformational leaders committed to the sustainable progress of Latin America.
"Today we celebrate not only the generosity of a great ally, but the tangible impact that this scholarship has generated for more than a decade. We are deeply grateful to the Uribe Saenz and Cuestamoras family for their confidence in INCAE andfor believing in the transformative potential of education for our region," he said.
Afterwards Reynaldo Gonzalez, MAE XXXV graduate, Distinguished Scholar, and CEO of Cuestamoras introduced the panel of scholarship recipients stating: "INCAE has been like the raw material thread of much of the personal and professional fabric of my life. Twenty-four years ago I arrived here as an engineer who could not see beyond a production line, and I left with a desire to eat the world, a sense of responsibility and a vision for change. This institution not only transforms its students, but is also a fundamental pillar for initiatives such as the Enrique Uribe Pagés Scholarship. It is beautiful to see how this scholarship reflects the values of a family that believes in education as an engine of change and bets on long-term impact, not only thinking about next year, but for decades to come. It is a source of pride to represent a family that, through education, generates a positive and sustainable impact in the region."
The event included a panel moderated by Prof. Alberto Trejos, President of the Board of Directors of Grupo Cuestamoras, where three alumni shared their experiences. Priscila Picado Valenzuela (MBA 2019), Pablo Paniagua Soto (MBA 2014) and Gloriana Carvajal Chang (MBA 2022) recounted how the scholarship not only opened doors to INCAE, but also allowed them to develop their abilities to influence their communities and give back for the support they received.
They were joined by testimonials from other of the 17 scholarship recipients who accompanied us in person and virtually, who reaffirmed the value that this opportunity has had in their lives and how it inspires them to be agents of change in their environments.
Rodrigo Uribe Sáenz, in his remarks, shared the reason behind the creation of this scholarship, highlighting the values and principles that unite the Uribe Sáenz, John Moretti and Samuel Hidalgo families, founders of Cuestamoras. Uribe emphasized that this support goes beyond the financial sphere, promoting a virtuous circle where scholarship recipients also assume the responsibility of giving back to their communities and contributing to sustainable development.
"The scholarship is a bridge to opportunities that transform lives. The real reward is to see how the scholarship recipients give back with effort, impact and commitment to society," said Rodrigo Uribe.
The activity concluded with an inspiring message from Camelia Ilie, Dean of Strategy at INCAE, who invited those present to continue to reinvent themselves with purpose and lead towards a more sustainable future.
"We are sitting today in the shade of a tree because someone years ago decided to plant it," he reflected, recognizing the vision and commitment of the Uribe Saenz and Cuestamoras family.
From INCAE, we reiterate our gratitude and admiration for Rodrigo Uribe, the Uribe Saenz family and the Cuestamoras Group, whose vision and commitment have made a significant difference in our community. Thanks to initiatives such as the Enrique Uribe Pagés-Cuestamoras Scholarship, INCAE reinforces its commitment to democratize access to quality higher education and empower regional talent.
This recognition symbolizes the synergy between the private sector and academic institutions to build a more equitable and prosperous future.
