Past WTA of Utah President and current board member Baldomero Lago was born in Spain and came to the United States as an international college student. Initially, Lago was interested in hotel management but later found his love for teaching. In 1990, he became an adjunct professor at both University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, and then taught at Brigham High School for 7 years. Subsequently, Brigham Young University recognized Lago’s teaching gift and recruited him to join their staff as a teacher trainer. After 5 years, Utah Valley University (UVU) recruited Lago to establish the language education program and became the language program’s Department Chair. Seven years ago, he was asked to oversee the university’s global operations.

As the leader for Global Engagement at UVU, Lago decided to ensure that the institution responds to the community’s needs. With strong dual language programs and over 4,000 international companies in Utah, Lago constantly looks for potential partnerships and opportunities not only for his students, but for the greater community as well.

Lago is also the Honorary Consul of Spain, exercising his diplomatic skills to generate more global connections for Utah. In the role of UVU Chief International Officer, Lago established the Utah Diplomatic Conference, bringing “up to 25 diplomats from all over the world…it's a great event because it brings business leaders from the community…[opening] up our markets and companies in [different] countries.”

Lago’s two main roles as an educator and diplomat are intertwined. He states that “I build bridges for local business with diplomacy. Then, of course, the benefit is also for faculty and students that participate [and] they see how things are done right.” One of his biggest accomplishments is having UVU become affiliated with “the United Nations (UN). That was a huge partnership…our work with the UN has been remarkable.” Moreover, in 2019, Lago partnered with Mayor Jackie Biskupski to “bring the United Nations to Salt Lake City. It [was] the first time ever in the history of the UN, that they had conducted a major conference outside their New York headquarters in the United States. It was remarkable for our community, for our institution, [and] for the United Nations.” Currently, Lago is “working on another conference for 2022. [It] will be the first international [academic] conference on the [UN’s] sustainable development goals.”

At one of the UN’s dinners, Lago was labeled as “The Connector.” He developed this skill by learning how to “listen [and] look for opportunities of collaboration.” Moreover, Lago lives by his personal motto: “It’s always a win-win situation.” Lago establishes connections with the mindset of doing “something that will benefit you, and will benefit us. The moment that you have that attitude, that I am not imposing anything, but rather [doing] things for the benefit of others, including [my] students,” are when quality relationships are built.

However, Lago acknowledges that diplomatic relationships are not always this easy. “You need to be very sensitive, especially in diplomacy. Not everything is beautiful and pinky and rosy. There are some challenges, [and there is a] mutual respect that has to happen in negotiating, understanding, and turning things around [to] look at possibilities.”

When asked how Lago is able to maintain global relationships, he attributes part of his success to his good friend, Franz Kolb. At a workshop, Lago recalls Kolb teaching about the use of a business card. While looking at things from “different lenses, coming from different cultures, and how [cards are] treated, [Kolb] said something that really sealed my heart for years, and that is the moment you give or the moment you receive a business card. What are you going to do with it?” With this question in mind, Lago has developed “the habit that the moment that I receive a card, I respond…I initiate the conversation, maintaining those partnerships.”

WTA of Utah values and supports Lago’s dedication to building international bridges for his students and community. To read about more global business leaders, please visit our blog and look for regular updates on our LinkedIn and Twitter.