On Thursday 8 March, Diego Hidalgo, Founder of FRIDE and the Club de Madrid, and Member of the Board of Prisa, addressed the Master in International relations class during a 90 minute seminar.  In a highly personal and engaging way, Mr. Hidalgo shared his unique trajectory in the international arena, starting with his early years at Harvard Business School, followed by 9 yrs working in development for the World Bank in Sub-Saharan Africa and subsequently as co-founder of El Pais, CEO of the Alianza Editorial Publishing firm and founder of several NGOs and think tanks in Spain. These include, to name a few:  FRIDE, Spain’s highest ranked think tank on international affairs, the Club of Madrid and the Toledo International Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the Fundación Maimona, dedicated to “local innovation”  in the Extremadura region of Spain. Mr. Hidalgo is truly a global citizen committed to advancing democracy, dialogue and development throughout the world. Before closing his address, Mr. Hidalgo shared a few tips with the MIR class especially geared toward the aspiring social entrepreneur such as he: 1) think big 2) turn bottlenecks into opportunities 3) look for solutions not problems 4) do not crave protagonism or the limelight 5) work on something you are passionate about. Students thanked Mr. Hidalgo with warm applause and many surrounded him with questions and comments at the end of the talk.

Diego Hidalgo Schnur  (Bio)

Diego Hidalgo Schnur  holds a law degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1964) and an MBA from Harvard University (1968). Mr. Hidalgo has been a director of Prisa since 1982 and is a member of its nomination and remuneration committee. He is a member of the board of directors and executive committee of Corporación Empresarial de Extremadura, and author of the books, “El Futuro de España” and “Europa, Globalización y Unión Monetaria.” In 2001, he was granted a doctorate, honoris causa, by Northeastern University, Boston. Mr. Hidalgo served as head of division at the World Bank from 1968 to 1977. Founder of FRIDA (Foundation for Research and Investment for the Development of Africa) and chairman of DFC (Development Finance Corporation) from 1974 to 2003. Mr. Hidalgo was CEO and chairman of Alianza Editorial, Editorial Revista de Occidente and Editorial Labor from 1983 to 1990 and also chairman of the Social Council of Universidad de Extremadura from 1986 to 1999. He also is a fellow of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs of Harvard University since 1994, and since 1999, he is a member of its advisory committee; from 1996 senior fellow at the Center for European Studies, also at Harvard University.

Founder of FRIDE -Spain’s highest ranked think tank on international affairs, Founder of the Club of Madrid and the Toledo International Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution.  President of DARA.  Founder of Fundación Maimona. Former Advisor to the Commission of the United Nations of Legal Empowerment of the Poor.  Founding Member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Member of the Board of the Kofi Annan Foundation. Since 2002, Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Sciences. Awarded with the Great Cross of the Order of Civilian Merit, Spain, 2002. Raymond Georis Price 2008, for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe. In 2009, Commitment to Development Award from the Center for Global Development.