Team size: 5

Career Biography

In 2025, Rodrigo Santiesteban Campero consolidated his leadership as General Counsel of VIVA Bolivia, where he plays a strategic role in guiding the company’s legal and regulatory evolution in one of the country’s most dynamic and regulated industries. With more than 15 years of professional experience in corporate, commercial, and regulatory law, he has built a solid reputation for combining legal expertise with business vision. Over the past year, he has deepened his specialisation in the administrative and regulatory dimensions of the telecommunications sector, strengthening compliance frameworks and fostering a constructive relationship with regulatory authorities.

A key milestone of his 2025 management was leading the successful execution of an Agreement and Commitment for Business Integrity with the Vice-Ministry of Institutional Transparency and Anti-Corruption. This landmark initiative not only reinforced VIVA Bolivia’s culture of ethics and compliance, but also positioned the company as a sector leader in transparency and corporate integrity.

Beyond his role within the company, Rodrigo has expanded his influence within the legal and business community, both nationally and internationally. He has served as a national panelist in labour law forums alongside leading industry experts and participated in the Economic-Legal Forum organised by the German Chamber – AHK Bolivia. On the international stage, he represented Bolivia as a panelist at the Latin American Compliance Congress 2025, contributing the Bolivian perspective to regional discussions on governance, compliance, and business ethics. His thought leadership extends to academia and professional publications, where he has authored articles in respected legal journals of both national and international reach, focusing on corporate law, telecommunications regulation, and compliance best practices.

Rodrigo is also committed to innovation and institutional development within emerging industries. He is a founding member of the Bolivian Blockchain Chamber, where he contributes to building the regulatory and ethical foundations for the adoption of blockchain technologies, and a member of the Tribunal of Honor of the Bolivian Chamber of Telecommunications, underscoring his role as a guardian of professional ethics and sectoral standards.

His leadership is characterised by a strategic, ethical, and collaborative approach, centered on risk prevention, promotion of good business practices, and the advancement of a transparent and sustainable regulatory framework. With a strong commitment to continuous improvement and lifelong learning, Rodrigo reaffirms in 2025 his role as a reference point in the corporate and telecommunications legal landscape in Bolivia, contributing to the resilience and growth of both his organisation and the wider business community.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? ?

During periods of instability or crisis, I manage legal aspects by combining immediate risk mitigation with long-term strategic alignment. In a sector as highly regulated as telecommunications, my first priority is to ensure full regulatory compliance and strengthen institutional relationships. For example, in 2025 I led the successful Agreement and Commitment for Business Integrity with the Viceministry of Transparency and Anti-Corruption, a milestone that not only safeguarded the company’s credibility during a complex environment, but also reinforced a culture of compliance across the organisation.

At the same time, I see the legal function as a strategic partner rather than a reactive safeguard. My legal strategy is designed to support business continuity and align with broader corporate objectives — whether that means adapting to regulatory shifts, enabling digital transformation projects, or guiding governance processes. This approach was further enriched through my participation as a panelist in national and international forums, including the Latin American Compliance Congress 2025, which allowed me to integrate global best practices into our local context.

Beyond crisis response, I contribute to building resilience by embedding legal foresight into planning. As a founding member of the Bolivian Blockchain Chamber, I actively engage in shaping frameworks that anticipate future risks and opportunities for the sector. This commitment to thought leadership strengthens both the organisation’s adaptability and its reputation.

In essence, my approach ensures that legal management not only protects the company during turbulent times, but also positions it as a transparent, innovative, and resilient player in the market.

What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Bolivia over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?

I believe that over the next five years, businesses in Bolivia will face significant legal challenges arising from political and economic volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and the growing pressure to adapt quickly to global compliance and governance standards. Issues such as foreign exchange restrictions, shifting administrative policies, increased regulatory scrutiny in sectors like telecommunications, and the rapid emergence of new technologies (blockchain, data-driven services) will test the resilience of corporate legal strategies.

My approach has been to anticipate these risks and prepare adaptive responses that align legal management with broader business goals. At VIVA Bolivia, along with others, have consolidated a legal framework that strengthens regulatory compliance, fosters constructive engagement with authorities, and embeds integrity into our corporate culture. At the same time, I have promoted contractual flexibility to address commercial opportunities, economic disruptions, reinforced corporate governance, and championed innovation.

I also believe resilience depends on continuous learning and thought leadership. Through my participation as a panelist in national and international forums — including the Latin American Compliance Congress 2025 — and through publishing articles of national and international reach, I contribute to building a culture of compliance and forward-looking governance. This combination of regulatory foresight, integrity, and adaptability allows me to support business continuity during instability while positioning the organisation to capture opportunities in a rapidly changing environment.