Not more than thirty years ago, he was just a regular kid in Canada who was overtly obsessed with all things international and collecting paper money samples, but now Mr. Luis Riestra hardly has any time to spare from earning real money. He now owns one of Korea''s most prestigious foreign investment consulting companies, Wise and Wealthy Ltd. The company is an outgrowth of the knowledge and networks that Mr. Riestra gained as the first foreign student in the KDI School’s Master''s in Foreign Direct Investment (MFDI) program, graduating with the program s first-ever graduating class in 2006. But business was the least on Mr. Riestra''s mind when he first came to Korea nine years ago. He first worked as an English teacher in the country for two years. Shortly after, he turned over a new leaf in his career by opening his own company. It was not long before the company became a foreign investments consulting company and he came to be listed as one of the most distinguished foreign businessmen in Korea. But he humbly admits that it has been an uphill climb to get to where he is right now.

"With Wise and Wealthy Ltd. the name of the game is networking," Mr. Riestra explains. The company provides overseas market research studies and entry strategies for companies that wish to expand their domestic markets. Meanwhile, for its private clients, Wise and Wealthy Ltd. goes as far as implementing the initial strategy and helping companies set up new operations in other countries. Mr. Riestra further shares that KDI School "was ridiculously helpful in doing so, beyond my wildest expectations..."it gave me a basic platform, not necessarily lots of real market knowledge but a thought, a work frame to utilize when facing the markets I work with. But even more usefully, the network I developed from there with people from so many companies, NGOs’ and other organizations is worth all the career advancement or money you can imagine."

This daring businessman would like to be remembered at KDI School as someone who challenged common beliefs and systems. Like a lotus, he was able to rise above a muddled situation. Once stuck in another country he was not able to access his funds in Korea. As soon as he returned, he talked to the CEO of his bank and had the opportunity to air his sentiments as an expat freely. Soon he found himself working to improve the bank’s services and assist its departments in achieving interface readiness (ATMs, internet banking, and tellers). Interestingly, Mr. Riestra has a lot to say to KDI School students. "Have wild parties! I mean it. Get to know each other beyond the classroom..,’ he advises. Meanwhile, on becoming wise and wealthy, Mr. Riestra opines that "you should not let yourself down and the world won’t let you down either!°± For him, to be wise "you need to be a good listener, open your mind, and observe the ways of others, study their cultures and reasoning, their constraints, always take the point of view of others and see through their eyes, so you can provide the wisest way out." On becoming wealthy, he advises "...unfaltering determination, the level of self-conviction to push yourself to achieve what you really want is so powerful, becoming rich is barely a small part of the reward process."

By Wendy N. MONTEALTO (MPP 2009, Philippines)