Students at UVG Bridge Business School are participating in CEO Talks, a program designed to connect them with business leaders and top executives from major companies in Guatemala. The initiative aims to give students practical insights that extend beyond traditional classroom learning.
The CEO Talks series was created by the director of the Department of Global Business and Economics at Universidad Del Valle De Guatemala (UVG). In these sessions, students engage directly with CEOs and senior executives, discussing complex decision-making, transformative mistakes, and strategic visions.
According to MBA Raúl Dacaret, “Leadership is not a formula, it is a process. CEO Talks allows our students to understand this by listening to real stories, not theories. At UVG Bridge Business School we believe that quality education should prepare them with real experiences that challenge them to think, analyze and act as leaders from today.”
During the semester, students attended sessions featuring key figures from the Guatemalan business sector. These conversations addressed topics such as resilience, organizational culture, innovation, work-life balance, and community building. Students highlighted lessons on embracing new opportunities, self-knowledge, authenticity, and recognizing failure as part of professional growth.
One week included discussions with José Raúl González Merlo, CEO of Cementos Progreso; Álvaro Cofiño, president of McDonald’s Mesoamérica; and Enrique Crespo, CEO of CMI Capital. They emphasized the importance of people in successful organizations.
Enrique Crespo noted: “Leaders are no longer like they used to be. Now we cultivate environments where people flourish and create innovation, commitment and better results for everyone.”
MBA Dacaret added: “Thanks to CEO Talks they have learned to see leadership as an ethical responsibility—as a practice built from example rather than power.”
UVG Bridge Business School combines science, technology, and sustainability in its curriculum. Experiences such as CEO Talks are intended to connect education with current industry needs while preparing students for future challenges.
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