From Antofagasta to Boston: Four Students Travel to the World’s No. 1 College for Entrepreneurship

“I feel scared, excited, and happy to have the opportunity to gain new tools to make the business I’ve always dreamed of a reality,” says 20-year-old Noelia Claure, who recently arrived in Boston with three other students from Antofagasta to take part in an immersive experience at Babson College, one of the world’s leading institutions for entrepreneurship and business education.

Following their outstanding performance in the Entrepreneurship as a Life Skill program, led by Fundación Luksic, Noelia, together with Jonathan Pérez, Valentina Rodríguez, and Francisca Rojo, earned the Babson Build Scholarship. The scholarship gives them access to courses taught by Babson College faculty, the opportunity to collaborate with students from countries including Peru, South Africa, Pakistan, and the United States, and participation in leadership and innovation challenges.

Jonathan (35) is studying Geomining Engineering and leads a bioengineering project focused on water decontamination. Valentina (27) balances her work in the Chilean Air Force with her studies in Logistics Engineering while raising her son. She dreams of developing a circular economy project. Noelia, who is studying Business Administration, hopes to open a beauty salon that creates opportunities for other young women. Francisca (29), a Social Work student, aspires to develop a social reintegration initiative for people experiencing homelessness who struggle with problematic drug use.

“We firmly believe that programs like this, developed in partnership with world-class institutions, not only contribute to students’ academic and professional development but also help them grow personally. We trust in the talent and potential of Noelia, Jonathan, Francisca, and Valentina, and we hope they return with new knowledge as well as renewed motivation for their future,” said Fernanda Orellana, Training Manager at Fundación Luksic.

For Jonathan Pérez, arriving in Boston represents something far greater than an academic achievement. “My parents never had the opportunity to travel, and it makes me proud to think that today they can experience it through me,” he says.

For Valentina Rodríguez, the experience is equally meaningful. While balancing her career in the Chilean Air Force, her university studies, and raising her eight-year-old son, she reflects, “Ten years ago, I never imagined I could be here. Today my son looks at me with pride, and I want to teach him that dreams can come true through hard work.”

Since 2024, Fundación Luksic, in partnership with Babson College, has offered the Entrepreneurship as a Life Skill program, designed to help technical and vocational education students strengthen skills such as creativity, collaborative problem-solving, and an entrepreneurial mindset. To date, more than 100 students from the Antofagasta, La Araucanía, and Los Lagos regions have participated in the initiative.