The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business is proud to announce a new partnership with Nutresa, one of Latin America’s largest food companies, led by CEO and Georgia Tech alumnus Jaime Gilinski, IE ‘78. The partnership is designed to provide Nutresa employees with a world-class business education and immersive international experience – a path that mirrors Gilinski’s own academic journey when he came from Colombia in 1974 to pursue his undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech.
“My time at Georgia Tech was transformative,” said Gilinski. “It gave me the foundation to think globally, build globally, and lead strategically. I want Nutresa’s future leaders to have that same opportunity.”
Leadership and Global Impact
Gilinski is one of Latin America’s most prominent business leaders. He has built a diverse portfolio spanning banking, real estate, and corporate investments across the U.S., U.K., and Latin America. In 2022, he acquired Grupo Nutresa in April 2024, a company with 49,000 employees and approximately 100 different brands in 65 countries.
Under Gilinski’s leadership, Nutresa is expanding its international footprint, with nearly 40% of its revenue now coming from outside Colombia. The company has been recognized for its innovation, sustainability, and talent development, earning accolades such as the 2023 National Export Award and top rankings in the MERCO Talent and S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook.
Investing in People, Building for a Global Future
Education and health are the two pillars of Gilinski’s philanthropy. His belief in the ability of education to elevate Nutresa, is really a belief in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities. In 2021, they established the Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Scholarship Fund at Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education to support students from Colombia and Panama.
“This partnership is about more than education,” said Gilinski. “It’s about building bridges—between countries, between cultures, and between people. I believe the future of business leadership is global, and this is one step toward making that future a reality.”
Gilinski’s connection to Georgia Tech runs deep. A graduate of the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, he served on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board from 2017 to 2023 and has supported international seminars and events hosted by the Institute.
Nutresa employees will have the opportunity to pursue fully funded graduate degrees at Scheller in the Full-time MBA or M.S. Major in Management program. They will live and study in Atlanta, where they will engage in rigorous coursework, collaborate with peers from around the world, and gain exposure to the innovation ecosystem that defines Georgia Tech.
“If employees are to lead in a global marketplace, they must be immersed in it,” said Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the Scheller College of Business. “Jaime understands the power of executive education to bridge business and industry. By connecting Nutresa employees with a world-class learning experience at Georgia Tech and living in a dynamic business ecosystem like Atlanta, he’s investing in their transformation as leaders.”
The scholarship program funded by the Nutresa Foundation marks the first step in a broader collaborative effort between Nutresa and Georgia Tech. The Colombian company also aims to provide graduate study opportunities through the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
In addition to the graduate scholarships for Nutresa employees, the Scheller College is crafting unique Executive Education programming for Nutresa’s high potential employees in Atlanta and broader Executive Education opportunities for hundreds of employees in Medellin, Colombia.
Both graduate and Executive Education opportunities are part of Gilinksi’s broader vision to elevate Nutresa into a truly global company, with leadership that reflects international perspectives and capabilities.
Looking Ahead
The Scheller College of Business looks forward to welcoming the first cohort of Nutresa graduate students in Fall 2026. Applicants will be selected through Nutresa’s internal process and must meet Georgia Tech’s admissions standards.
“The future of business belongs to those who invest in people and technology,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “This partnership shows how leading companies like Nutresa are thinking ahead by building the global, AI-ready talent they will need to compete and thrive.”