Walton College Alumnus to Discuss His Book on Panama

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Rodolfo Leiton

Rodolfo M. Leiton, a 1997 graduate of the M.B.A. program at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, will be on the University of Arkansas campus July 25 to discuss his novel I Took Panama: The Story of Philippe Bunau-Varilla.

Leiton's novel is the story of how the Panama Canal was built, which he says is the story of modern Panama and is illustrative of United States foreign policy to this day. Leiton currently serves as director of sales and marketing at Dipo, the leading consumer goods distributor in Costa Rica. Previously he was a consultant with Diversified Retail Solutions LLC and served as merchandise manager for global procurement Latin America for Walmart.

Leiton will discuss his book at 2 p.m. in Willard J. Walker Hall room 427. The event is free and open to the public.

The Historical Novel Society said of the book: "The star of Leiton's taut, unassuming short novel is French Colonel Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, a pivotal figure not only in the planning and construction of the Panama Canal but also in the planning and construction of Panama itself, having helped that country to break away from Colombia."

Vikas Anand, associate professor of management and interim MBA director at the Walton College, said Leiton's visit and book are of utmost interest to the college because of its many ties to Panama. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli is a graduate of the Walton College and the University of Arkansas. The Walton College offers a certificate in entrepreneurship program in Panama and this year began offering a program of study there that leads to the Walton MBA.

"This will be very beneficial to those who teach in Panama as it describes how the canal was built and in many ways is the story of Panama," Anand said.