DEDHAM, MASS.—Nick Di Tempora, former president of Mapei Americas, was a guest speaker at an exclusive masters program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Jointly hosted by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and MIT, the prestigious three-year executive education program brings together 60 high-growth entrepreneurs from all industries for four days each year. The program helps these business owners learn how take their companies to the next level of successful operations.

Di Tempora, who in 1983 helped bring the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility online and retired as president of Mapei Corp. in 2006, spoke on the topics of strategy, leadership and entrepreneurial excellence. He emphasized being truthful and consistent in his personal and corporate dealings were the greatest factors in his success.

His message resonated with the students who stayed after to ask Di Tempora questions. “I was most impressed by the curiosity of these young business owners,” he said afterwards. ”The question they asked most often was how I chose the business world as the arena for my success.”