30 EXATEC EGADE: Isaac Franklin Unkind (MA’98)

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

With a professional career spanning over three decades, Isaac Franklin Unkind (MA’98) has demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead complex organizations in strategic sectors, including railroad transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, and corporate finance.

An Industrial and Systems Engineer from Tecnológico de Monterrey and graduate of the Master in Administration from EGADE Business School, Isaac has held multiple senior executive roles in leading Mexican companies. He is currently Chief Administrative Officer at Americas Mining Corporation (AMC), the mining division of Grupo México, where he has also served as CFO and Chief Commercial Officer of the Transportation Division (formerly Ferromex). He is also a member of the Board of Directors.

Previously, he held roles including CEO at Ferrovalle, CEO of TUMEX, and Corporate Management Director at Grupo ITISA.

A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY AND AN EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP

Throughout his career, Isaac has championed a leadership approach grounded in service, integrity, and social awareness. In an article published in Forbes México, he reflected on the urgent need to strengthen moral leadership in organizations:

“Formal leadership is obtained through one’s position in an organization; simply holding a managerial role makes you a leadership reference. But that position means nothing if there’s no effort to truly engage with the people who interact with us daily.”

Isaac emphasizes that leadership goes beyond the title. It involves empathy, consistency, and a service-oriented mindset:

“Don’t ask for what you’re not willing to give… The higher your position in an organization, the more you should be of service to your people.”

Inspired by the Yiddish concept of mensh, Isaac proposes three fundamental principles for practicing authentic moral leadership: knowing and respecting your team members, leading by example, and embracing leadership as a form of service.

“The concept of moral leadership seems to be gaining importance in conversations around the world, but we must understand that it is not a speech—it is a necessity and a responsibility within reach of anyone who chooses to exercise it.”

Beyond his executive career, Isaac has been a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, teaching courses such as Manufacturing Management, Quality Culture, and Project Management. At EGADE Business School, he has shared his experience as a professor of the Strategy course.

His commitment to education reflects his vision of comprehensive leadership, rooted in the development of new generations with a critical, strategic, and ethical perspective.

In 2024, Isaac was ranked number 1 on Forbes México’s list of Best CFOs, a testament to the impact of his career and his professional excellence.

Since his time at EGADE Business School, he has demonstrated that leadership is not only about making decisions, but also about acting with awareness, building trust, and serving as an inspiration to others. As a member of the EXATEC EGADE community, Isaac Franklin Unkind exemplifies purpose-driven leadership with integrity and a transformative vision.