Almost 50 years after graduating from INCAE, Enrique Bolaños Abaunza has not only returned - as Rector - to the place that prepared him for career success; he also serves as an inspirational figure for new generations seeking to excel in the region and make an impact worthy of the best Incaístas.

How do you maintain a spirit of service in the face of adversity? How difficult was it to return to the place that marked your working life? Don Enrique tells us about his life, the challenges he faced to reach the professional success that supports him today, and above all, the pride he feels to be part of INCAE, an institution that gave him lasting friendships until today. Undoubtedly, a true sample of what it means to be Incaísta.

What do you remember about your first day at INCAE as a student?

I graduated from the University of Michigan as an engineer, and my goal was to pursue my master's degree in the region. When I heard about INCAE, I decided to apply. The day I was accepted was the happiest day of my life. Why? Because if I wanted to live in Nicaragua, in the region, I did not consider it the most appropriate thing to take a master's degree outside the region; for me local contacts, networks, studying regional issues were important. That day was the culmination of my aspiration to enter a prestigious school in the region.
That first day - in the 1970s - my fears were "will I be able to compete, will I do well, how will I be challenged against the others?" Because here comes the best of the best in the region. It was anxiety mixed with enthusiasm, encouragement and spirit of achievement, but also with certain concerns and fear of succeeding in that project.

Were there colleagues who later became lifelong friends, Don Enrique?

The fellows at INCAE really change one's life, because one is assigned to study groups based on preparation and previous experience. Part of the purpose of those study groups was to support where you could contribute the most.

And yes, I did manage to make lifelong friendships that I still have almost 50 years after graduation. Now I remember two: when I went into exile in 1979, one of them went out of his way to find me a job to help me through the difficult process I was going through. Later, when I lived in Mexico in 1990, another friend tried in every possible way to find me a job with him, because of the friendship we had. Today we Incaístas of that class have our chat on WhatsApp and we continue to communicate every day. That friendship, that solid relationship of friends, has persisted for 50 years.

You came from studying in the United States and had certain priorities. Did your time at INCAE change them?

I define my time at INCAE in several stages. I graduated in 1974, and at that time I was already married, with three children. My priority was to be the best businessman, the best executive, the best possible professional, but also to contribute to my country. That mission of being part of the community marked me in my time at INCAE.

In 2012, almost retired, INCAE asked me to work with them, and I felt two things. On the one hand, how can I not give back to my alma mater after what it has given me? I owe my success to them. On the other hand, when they offer me that 'second life', I remembered their mission, related to the integral development of countries, sustainability, rule of law, inclusion, and I said, "I must be part of this!"

Transfer of President, 2015

What you are telling us makes me think about the breadth of networking that INCAE generates. What can you tell us about the institution's networking capacity, perhaps more than any other in the region?

Without fear of being wrong, the networks that INCAE has is one of its most valuable assets. I think the main asset is the academic excellence, the quality of its professors. But having already acquired that academic excellence, having access to a network of 18 thousand Incaístas working in all the different companies in the region is a very valuable asset.

As I was saying, I keep the chat with my classmates, and every Incaísta keeps a similar one with their generation. There are AGIS, Graduate Associations of INCAE in every country; I know of many friends of mine who move from one country to another, call their friends from INCAE and they connect them, give them all the support to move forward.

When I graduated, a professor from INCAE gave me my first job: to work in his consulting firm. Definitely, those networks, that contact, that support between Incaístas is an extraordinary value, and it was one of the main reasons why I joined, because to live in the region, it was extremely valuable to have access to that network of contacts.

What would you say are the three most important qualities a Incaísta has?

First, the academic excellence that the Incaísta receives, first world. This is reflected in the rankings where the Institute appears and its association with top global universities. Another quality is that they live not only in terms of their personal success, but also in terms of their contribution to the mission of INCAE. And the third is human quality: when a Incaísta graduates, he or she leaves with the integrity, ethics, transparency and vision to be a good citizen.

Could you think of one thing that only a Incaísta knows?

I would say that... it is difficult for someone who is not Incaísta to master the particular problems of our countries as we do, because of the case study methodology and the study of issues related to Central America, the Andean Pact and the Latin American countries where we operate. The Incaístas graduates are aware of what is happening in the region and what should be done to contribute to its development.
The Incaísta knows about local and regional issues, and global and integral solutions. We are citizens of the world, with the best practices to implement in our region.

In your different stages in high school, what is your favorite place of INCAE?

I studied at the Nicaragua campus and now I work at the Costa Rica campus. In Managua my favorite place is the area where you are sitting, looking at the swimming pool, the soccer field, the houses of the "master's" students -which we used to call "bachelor's"- and that is a nice, beautiful place. And at the other corner you have the view of Managua. In that corner you really enjoy the natural beauty of the campus and the surroundings, because you see the students crossing, playing soccer, and when you look down, you see the city.

General view of the Francisco de Sola campus, Lake Nicaragua in the background.

On the Walter Kissling Gam campus, the place I like the most is where the residence building is, because there you have a panoramic view of the small houses, the yellow building and the classroom building. You can see the whole campus and a little bit of the area.

View of the Walter Kissling Gam Campus from the Executive Building

In these environments I love to have conversations and get-togethers with the faculties; I like to meet and talk with the professors, listen to their ideas and opinions, it is always enriching; they are very tasty conversations!

Don Enrique, you have had the opportunity to be at INCAE at different times in the life of the institution, both as a student and as an official. Could you give a message to those who are about to start their academic life at INCAE?

There are many pieces of advice I could give you. The first one, I would say, is: make the most of it. Make the most of the study as much as possible; here you are going to interact with classmates of other nationalities and cultures. Make every effort to get to know all your other classmates and develop good friendships with them, learn from them.

I would tell them to take advantage of their faculty, which is extraordinary. See clearly the mission and purpose of the Institute, and that when you leave you have a greater responsibility, not only for your individual professional success, but for transforming lives in Latin America.

I would tell them to live the oath of ethics, transparency and correct behavior in their professional life. Know that your name, at the end of the day, is what is most valuable, and you must always keep it clean in your daily behavior.

I would tell them that when they become successful professionals they should repay society for the blessings they have received. And hopefully they can help INCAE continue to be the center of impact that it is today, because that will help INCAE and its mission, their country, and help make this a region with a better future for them and future generations.

In one sentence, could you tell us why you are proud to be Incaísta?

Why am I proud to be Incaísta? Because of what INCAE does, the mission it fulfills and the good it has brought to the region. I feel that, without INCAE, God forbid how bad we would be! INCAE has done enormous good in social development, sustainable development, impacts, growth, competitiveness, ethics... We have educated many people, that is to say, the raison d'être of INCAE gives us, all of us who work here, pride and satisfaction. So I can say with full transparency and pride: I am Incaísta!