Silvia Torres Carbonell, professor of Business Policy and expert in education, is the President Emerita of the Entrepreneurship Center at IAE Business School, Universidad Austral. She serves as the President and lead professor of the Master’s and Executive programs, Director of the Wise Women Program, and Head of the Research Project.
In addition to her prominent role at the IAE Entrepreneurship Center, Carbonell founded Ruta 40, a social-impact foundation that began as a family road trip and evolved into an organization supporting rural schools across Argentina.
For many years, Silvia Torres Carbonell has devoted her career to advancing education and promoting entrepreneurship. She was also the first to create an Investors’ Club that connects with other companies in the sector. As an administrator, accountant, and educational psychologist, she serves on various boards and councils focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.
She was part of Buenos Aires City’s Undersecretariat of Creative Economy and Entrepreneurial Development (2016–2017) and founded Convocación Ciudadana, a local political movement in San Isidro.
What Is the Entrepreneurship Center at IAE?
The Entrepreneurship Center, part of Universidad Austral’s Business School, is defined on its website as “a center for research, training, and action to create enterprises.” Since its establishment in 1999, it has remained a national reference point. The main goal promoted by Carbonell within the Center is the concept of “entrepreneurship.”
The Center focuses on three pillars: research, education, and action for business creation. The latter is particularly significant under Carbonell’s leadership, where she plays a key role in corporate programs and associated organizations. Among these is Naves, a program that provides entrepreneurs with the tools needed to bring their projects to life.
Major companies such as Samsung, Amazon, Facebook, Banco Macro, Ford, Pepsico, and IBM support the initiatives led by Carbonell. Her work in education, reinforced by the creation of Fundación Ruta 40 and her role at IAE, has made her a central figure in Argentine educational development.
“Education is the backbone of a person,” she has stated, emphasizing the importance of fundamental learning for children and students, and advocating for a “balanced model” in response to younger generations’ pursuit of flexibility and freedom in a changing world.
The mission of the IAE Center focuses on management and leadership driven by individuals trained in entrepreneurship. Its vision aspires to position IAE as the leading business school in Latin America, chosen by students seeking to make a positive community impact.
Carbonell’s work within the fields of business and entrepreneurship aims to enhance students’ capabilities and create a space for innovation, academic excellence, leadership mentoring, and collaborative transformation. This final aspect includes cultural transformation through the education of individuals and the advancement of knowledge.
One of the Center’s guiding principles is the “promotion of the human person based on dignity and transcendent purpose.”
What Is Fundación Ruta 40, Created by Carbonell?
For over twenty years, Fundación Ruta 40 has made a lasting social impact. The initiative began with a family trip by Carbonell, her husband, and three children, during which they paused their journey to deliver school supplies to rural schools in several provinces.
Why “Ruta 40”? Because the foundation committed to supporting at least one rural school located along Argentina’s Route 40, a 5,000-kilometer highway connecting the country’s north and south. Along this route, there are over 400 schools, and the foundation’s mission is to improve conditions through educational materials, logistical support, and essential resources.
One of its innovative programs focuses on eye health. Carbonell coordinates ophthalmological initiatives that bring specialists to rural schools to perform general exams and connect children to follow-up care through foundation partnerships.
Rather than providing one-time assistance, the foundation conducts comprehensive assessments to help teachers and families identify long-term solutions. In addition to school supplies, Fundación Ruta 40 delivers clothing, shoes, and toys. Family-oriented activities also help determine each community’s specific needs.
Through her dual involvement with the IAE Entrepreneurship Center and Fundación Ruta 40, Silvia Torres Carbonell integrates education, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility — shaping new generations of leaders and supporting community development across Argentina.
