The event has become a space for reflection and action to transform organizational culture.
By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey hosted the Work-Life Balance Forum 2024, "Cultural Transformation in the Workplace," organized with IMEF Monterrey.
In its eighth edition, this forum has reaffirmed its importance as a critical space for driving change in organizational structures and promoting equal opportunities in the workplace.
Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School; María Concepción del Alto, national director of the Master in Finance at EGADE Business School and promoter of the forum; and Héctor Mancilla, president of IMEF Monterrey delivered the welcome address.
In his opening message, Arredondo highlighted the importance of opening the institution's doors to in-depth reflection on the balance between life and work and the need to transform organizational culture in companies.
The dean emphasized that one of today's directors' most significant challenges is building an equitable, inclusive organizational culture that encourages women's participation in leadership positions.
"Transforming the organizational culture of our companies is one of the great challenges we directors face," stressed Arredondo, who also warmly thanked Del Alto for her fundamental role in organizing the forum and reaffirmed EGADE Business School's commitment to initiatives that promote equal opportunities in the workplace.
Del Alto, for her part, shared her conviction that organizations' most important resource is their collaborators, their human talent."
The academic highlighted the importance of leaders being aware of the care required for those who work hard to achieve companies' strategic objectives.
She added that this care must be based on a perspective of equity and inclusion, which generates fair opportunities and an environment in which every person feels appreciated.
Del Alto pointed out the urgency of improving the work-life balance in Mexico. This country is ranked as one ofthe worst in this aspect worldwide and emphasizes that fostering an inclusive organizational culture is critical to building healthy, productive work environments.
Karen Mauch, an independent advisor and expert on financial and corporate strategies, gave the conference "Accept That You Are Different " She stressed the importance of recognizing personal limits and prioritizing health over work demands.
She then highlighted the need to take breaks to evaluate our lifestyles and find activities that contribute to our physical and mental well-being.
"Establishing clear limits and finding activities that help us disconnect from work stress are essential steps for a comprehensive approach to self-care," Mauch recommended.
The forum also included the panel "Work Culture Realities and Trends," moderated by Eduardo Aguiñaga, national director of Full-Time Programs at EGADE Business School, with the participation of Doris Vega, director of Institutional Relations and Communication at Compañía Minera Cuzcatlán and president of Women in Mining; Zelina Fernández, general director of Index Nuevo León; Rebeca Guerra, executive director of ERIAC Capital Humano and founding partner of Andamos México; and Olivia Segura, consulting partner for Human Capital Consulting and Talent Management at KPMG in Mexico.
The panelists explored key topics in organizational culture transformation, focusing on life-work balance, inclusion, equity, and adapting to new technologies.
Segura highlighted the importance of flexibility and work-life balance as key factors in retaining female talent, commenting that 75% of women in senior positions prefer flexible work models. She also emphasized the need to address burnout and workplace harassment by implementing zero-tolerance policies and ethics hotlines to protect the mental health of both female and male employees.
Vega reported on the progress made in the mining industry regarding the inclusion of women, thus promoting a cultural change and adapting spaces and policies to make them more equitable and safer. She also spoke about the Queen seal, a recognition for mining companies implementing affirmative actions for female development.
For her part, Guerra explained how hybrid work has offered a balance for women and collaborators in general, allowing greater flexibility to balance their personal and professional lives. She pointed out that organizations need robust strategies to manage remote teams, including competencies such as clear communication, delegation, and collaborator empowerment.
Fernández discussed the impact of digitalization in manufacturing, which has facilitated processes and improved operational efficiency. She also mentioned generational challenges, where companies have to adapt to the diverse expectations of up to five generations of employees by promoting mentoring programs and career plans that maintain commitment and foster continuous development.
As moderator, Aguiñaga highlighted the need for organizations to understand and adapt to these trends and realities, fostering an inclusive, flexible environment that supports the growth and well-being of all their members.
Other activities in the forum included the conference "Achieving Mindfulness" by Gustavo Aguilera Jiménez, Tecnológico de Monterrey professor and expert in Human Development, who addressed strategies for achieving a comprehensive balance in our professional and personal lives.
Another panel discussed the experiences of the companies that have won the Gender Equality Prize awarded by the Mexican Institute of Finance Executives (IMEF) and the Association of Women in Finance (MEF).
Participants in this panel were Adriana Arjona, deputy director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Santander Mexico; Gabriela Bustamante, director of Purpose and Inclusion at PwC; Patricia González Rico, executive director of HRBPand Talent Management at Santander Mexico; and moderator, Nohemí Cortés Llamas, independent professional advisor to public and private companies in Mexico and the United States.
A third panel was "Gender Inequality From an Economic Perspective," with Joana Chapa, UANL School of Economics director, and Grissel Olivera, professor of Economics at Tec de Monterrey.
Finally, Federico Garza Santos, president of Desarrollos Delta and chair of the Board of Fibra Monterrey, and Sanjuana Herrera, director of Administration at Banregio, engaged in a dialogue on "People at the Center of the Company."
This forum not only enabled the discussion of key issues for workplace well-being but also once again consolidated the commitment of EGADE Business School and IMEF Monterrey to promote organizational change and foster a culture of equality and balance in the workplace.