
What Type of Entrepreneur Are You? Asset Fox, Bootstrap Tortoise or MBA Hare?
Discover the business archetype you tend to follow. Learning more about you will help you in your entrepreneurial journey.

So . . . You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?
Discover what it takes to successfully start a business and grow it to the point of harvest in our exclusive Acton article.
Download here.
Descubre el éxito con Acton MBA: Una conversación con Hugo Díaz
Para quienes buscamos llevar nuestras habilidades y conocimientos al siguiente nivel, Acton MBA en Guatemala ofrece una oportunidad única. Hugo resaltó cómo el programa está adaptado a las necesidades y desafíos específicos de los emprendedores en nuestra región. Con un enfoque práctico y una comunidad de apoyo, Acton MBA nos brinda las herramientas y el entorno necesarios para transformar nuestras ideas en realidades exitosas.
Alumni Voices: from Engineering to Acton
SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Over the last decade, Acton has proven to hold a strong appeal to engineers who are looking to expand their business skills, understand markets, and launch their own enterprises.
Recently, we connected with three Acton alums with engineering backgrounds, representing several different engineering disciplines ranging from Environmental to Mechanical Engineering. Each of them shared some of their own experiences about coming to Acton as an engineer, some of their unique advantages and challenges, and what they’d recommend to other engineers considering or beginning an Acton MBA.
Acton in Action: Growing with Daily Juice
While they’re enrolled at Acton, students practice making tough decisions and analyzing complex and confusing data day in and day out. They step into the shoes of entrepreneurs in hundreds of real-life business cases, including many focused on growing companies and financing that growth.
With our “Acton in Action” series, we check in every so often with our alumni. We find out how lessons learned at Acton come into play after they’ve left the classroom and see what results they produce in the real world.
Alumni Voices: the Women of Acton
The article highlights the experiences of three female alumni from the Acton MBA program: Helen Mitchell, Angela Griffiths, and Shibani Limaye. Each alumna shares insights into why they chose Acton, the challenges and advantages they faced as women in a predominantly male classroom, and how the program has shaped their careers. They emphasize the importance of speaking up, leveraging personal strengths, and staying resilient. The alumni also offer advice to prospective and current students on making the most of the Acton experience.
Acton in Action: Growing Charger Services
In 2012, Acton MBA graduates Kyle Davis and Tom Hull launched Charger Services, LLC, a construction company supporting the oil and gas industry. By 2013, they expanded the company significantly, doubling their workforce and increasing their line of credit to US$1 million to support the growth. Kyle credits Acton’s emphasis on cash flow management and practical business skills for their success. Despite operational challenges, including the need to delegate tasks, Kyle highlights the critical lessons learned at Acton, particularly in managing cash flow, attracting talent, and finding meaningful work-life balance.
Alumni Voices: Going into Finance after Acton
Acton MBA alumni share their experiences transitioning into finance careers postgraduation. Michael Hanson, Coy Morgan, and Mitch Johnson credit Acton’s rigorous curriculum and unique teaching methods for their deep understanding of finance. Their stories highlight how Acton’s focus on practical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and life lessons equipped them for success in investment banking, property tax financing, and private investment. The alumni emphasize the importance of understanding the real-world implications behind financial numbers and stress the value of Acton’s accelerated, hands-on approach to business education.
Acton in Action: Launching Idea Labs Consulting
Joe Shiraz and Evan Spaulding, Acton MBA alumni, founded Idea Labs Consulting in 2012 to provide specialized online marketing services for home service providers. Leveraging their Acton education and prior business experiences, they identified a niche market need and quickly established their company in Austin, Texas. By focusing on personal customer service and a deep understanding of their clients’ businesses, they distinguished themselves from larger, less specialized firms. Their success led to rapid growth, expanding their team and client base while planning further geographic expansion.
Intrapreneurship in Family Businesses
Guatemala has a rich culture of family businesses passed down through the generations. This presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to innovate within the family business. With access to more resources, freedom for experimentation, and the mentorship of experienced family members, intrapreneurship is an attractive option for those whose families own businesses.
Acton Answers: Why Visit a Class?
At Acton, the classroom and the learning that happens inside it are really the most important elements of our program, and as a result, one of the first questions we ask prospective students is, “when would you be able to visit a class?” While talking through the program and its methods might be informative, there’s really no substitute for experiencing the real thing.
The Entrepreneurial Journey,
a Podcast by Acton MBA at UFM
In this podcast you’ll go on fascinating exploration of the entire business cycle - from identifying opportunities to launching, growing, and ultimately reaping the rewards of a successful enterprise. Tune in and gain invaluable insights from a diverse range of accomplished entrepreneurs for various industries who share practical tips and lesions to help you chart your own path, whether you’re starting out or looking to scale your business. Don’t miss out on this engaging and informative podcast that is guaranteed to leave you inspired and ready to pursue your entrepreneurial calling.
T3 Episodio 6, Jacque Falla & Hugo Díaz pt 2
En esta segunda parte de la entrevista, Hugo Díaz responde preguntas clave sobre cómo piensan los inversionistas y qué buscan realmente al evaluar un pitch. Una conversación directa y reveladora para quienes quieren levantar capital con intención.
T3 Episodio 5, Jacque Falla & Hugo Díaz
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey, Hugo Díaz comparte los momentos que marcaron su evolución como emprendedor, inversionista y educador. Junto a Jacque Falla, reflexionan sobre el poder del propósito, el crecimiento personal y la transformación que ofrece el Acton MBA.
T3 Episodio 4, Adrián Lemcke
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey, dos sharks se encuentran para una conversación reveladora. Adrián Lemcke y Hugo Díaz, inversionistas y panelistas en la primera temporada de Shark Tank Guatemala, comparten una mirada directa y sin filtros sobre lo que realmente buscan los inversionistas antes de firmar un cheque.
T3 Episodio 3, Peter Lamport
Peter nos comunica cómo su experiencia en consultoría de gestión en grandes empresas lo llevó a descubrir la importancia de comprender a las personas en el marco de las propias organizaciones. También nos cuenta cómo su búsqueda de diálogos más auténticos lo impulsó a especializarse en estrategia de talento humano y coaching ejecutivo, construyendo así una vida alineada con los valores de libertad, propósito y crecimiento personal.
T3 Episodio 2, Alejandro de León
Alejandro nos cuenta cómo pasó de trabajar en banca a lanzarse al mundo del emprendimiento con una start-up de car-sharing. A lo largo de su camino, ha aprendido que el éxito no siempre proviene de un plan perfecto, sino de la capacidad de adaptarse y escuchar al mercado. Su experiencia con Microwd, una empresa de microcréditos para mujeres emprendedoras en América Latina, es un testimonio de cómo el impacto social y los negocios pueden ir de la mano.
T3 Episodio 1, Levent Asanoski
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey, Levent comparte su fascinante camino como emprendedor, revelando cómo la vida lo llevó a iniciar su propio negocio y las lecciones que ha aprendido en el proceso. Exploramos cómo la inteligencia artificial puede potenciar los negocios y transformar la forma en que operan.
“T2 Episodio 20, Edgar Soto”
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey de Acton MBA, Edgar Soto, graduado de Acton y fundador de Tía Ofilia, nos comunica cómo su transformación personal lo llevó a crear una empresa de alimentos orgánicos.
“T2 Episodio 19, Fernando Castillo, Silvia Mansilla, Marco Micheo y Luis Castillo”
En este episodio de The Entrepreneurial Journey, Hugo Díaz, director del Acton MBA en la Universidad Francisco Marroquín, modera un panel de alumni del programa que han enfrentado el reto de emprender dentro de empresas familiares.
“T2 Episodio 17, Gustavo Pivaral y Eduardo Cruz”
En este episodio, Eduardo Cruz y Gustavo Pivaral, ambos graduados del MBA de Acton, comparten cómo el programa transformó sus trayectorias empresariales, ayudándolos a enfrentar desafíos comerciales reales y hacer crecer sus emprendimientos.
Alumni Stories
Speaker Series with Jon Gray
Jon Gray’s career is a testament to entrepreneurial excellence. As one of the founding employees of HomeAway, he played a crucial role in the company’s growth from 2004 to 2017, leading it to a US$3.9…
An Architect’s Journey into Real Estate Tech Entrepreneurship by Gabriela Mena.
The Acton’s Speaker Series connects you with extraordinary entrepreneurs in a conversation about work and life. Learn about the entrepreneurial journey of Gabriela Mena, an Acton MBA alumnus! Gabriela is an accomplished entrepreneur, mom, and marathon runner who…