Creating change is a collaborative endeavor at the Universidad de Diego Portales in Chile. Discover how the school’s MBA program shapes future leaders who are well-positioned to make a positive impact.
Business schools play a significant role in the communities in which they are located. They create jobs, attract investment, educate the next generation of business leaders, and act as catalysts for creating societal change. The Universidad de Diego Portales (UDP) in Chile recognizes the importance of an MBA program that strengthens the community that it serves.
“As a program, I think it’s unique in Chile in terms of the core, the identity, the personality it has,” says Elisa Adriasola, MBA Director at UDP. “It’s a program that’s very aligned with what the reality is in Chile. [We’re] looking to be a change agent. We say that people who arrive are looking for tools to make real changes. Not only within the private sector but also the public sector and a range of areas.” (00:40)
Elisa says that “a business can create value not only economically, but also in our society [and] in the environment that we live in.” The role of Diego Portales is to produce graduates who can go on to create that holistic value. (01:19)
The UDP MBA program spans 18 months and takes place at the school’s Santiago campus. It aims to provide students with the managerial and leadership skills necessary to create the change that Elisa speaks of. To truly make an impact, MBA students must start with an understanding of the context in which businesses operate globally and locally. Elisa says educating students about business in the context of Chile is a vital part of the program.
In a developing nation like Chile, the connection between a business school and the broader society is crucial. Although Chile has one of the highest GDPs per capita in Latin America, it still grapples with socioeconomic challenges. Elisa underscores the importance of understanding how the institution can contribute not merely to economic growth, but to making a responsible economic impact.
“Chile is growing. Chile is a very important entry door to Latin America. Overall it’s quite stable, and we can make business there, but it’s not business at any cost.” Instead, Elisa asks, “How do we create value economically without damaging the rest?” (04:52)
As in many places economic inequality remains a pressing concern. “Although it might be slightly less than other countries, it’s still big,” Elisa says. “So how do we help bridge and reduce the gap?” This is a question the MBA program at Diego Portales sets out to answer. (05:35)
How can a business school leave a lasting, positive impact on society? One way is through training and developing great leaders, more specifically, by cultivating individuals adept at bringing people together. Elisa believes that fostering unity and collaboration encapsulates true leadership.
“We cannot train any person with all the leadership skills required to be successful,” she says. “We actually need to create people that are able to lead, to strengthen teams, to be able to generate that synergy among people.” (02:00)
It’s not necessarily about giving them management skills or soft skills. It’s really about a change of mindset. More than anything, Diego Portales guides its students in identifying areas where they passionately want to implement change. (07:30)
Elisa is adamant that making a change in society isn’t a solo endeavor. In the context of Chile, she sees collaborative efforts with other nations as the key to overcoming their shared challenges.
“In Chile, the way of doing things has stayed the same for a while,” she says. “I think pushing an openness to different cultures, to different issues, broadens your views. You realize that we are not the only ones having certain problems. We can contribute to the problems of other countries and we can learn together. You need to develop this culture of working with others.” (05:52)
This ethos of collaboration lies at the heart of the UDP MBA offering. An ingrained culture of working with others is something that permeates every level of the university. By fostering a zeal for joint problem-solving among its students, Diego Portales is shaping a generation of leaders who will not only strive for personal success but will be committed to making a positive impact.
Pursuing an MBA in Chile promises an enriching academic experience. Universities like Diego Portales are deeply intertwined with the local community, and UDP MBA graduates are well-positioned to make a meaningful impact on society. Chile has seen rapid economic growth in recent decades, and studying for an MBA there could put you at the vanguard of an exciting new era for the nation.
