Steven Carvajal Ruffley
National Director and Master Franchisee
Steven Carvajal Ruffley is the National Director and Master Franchisee of BNI Costa Rica. He joined the organization in 2009 as its first member in the country, representing his advertising agency, and experienced firsthand how BNI drove his own business's growth. That experience as a member — before becoming a leader — gave him a direct understanding of the entrepreneur's reality that underpins his leadership today: in 2013, he took on the challenge of becoming National Director to relaunch the franchise from the ground up. Under his leadership, BNI Costa Rica has grown to 11 active chapters and more than 300 members nationwide — including a recent expansion into Guanacaste with the launch of the region's first chapter — establishing itself as the country's leading business referral network.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Costa Rica (2005) and leads a team of Growth Directors responsible for chapter development. Since that defining moment in 2012, he has guided the organization's growth by consistently applying BNI's core philosophy, Givers Gain®, as his guiding leadership principle.
In 2019, he was invited to speak at TEDx Sabana, where he shared his perspective on how Givers Gain transforms not only businesses but entire communities. Over the course of his career, he has worked directly with more than 2,500 entrepreneurs across various industries, helping them professionalize their networks and scale results through strategic relationships.
Outside the office, Steven is a road cyclist who takes part in long-distance gran fondo events. He's currently training for his first marathon, and his next challenge on the horizon is completing his first Ironman 70.3 — a goal he shares openly, in keeping with one of BNI's core values: Accountability.
