Deans and directors from leading business schools worldwide share ideas on geopolitics, AI, sustainability, and the future of business education.
By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey hosted the 27th Deans & Directors Meeting of the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) from May 8 to 10 in Monterrey, as part of its 30th anniversary celebration.
The meeting brought together deans and directors from 28 of the 33 member schools in this international network to discuss business education's significant challenges and opportunities in a changing global landscape.
Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School, and Jörg Rocholl, President of ESMT Berlin and Chair of the GNAM Steering Committee, delivered the welcome remarks.
“This network has been a true catalyst for our internationalization efforts. We are honored to welcome our global colleagues and friends in such a special year for EGADE. From Mexico, we connect with the world to rethink the future of business and its impact on sustainable development in Latin America,” stated Arredondo.
The agenda included strategic topics such as the geopolitical and economic context, the role of artificial intelligence in higher education, and sustainability in the future of business.
Roberto Durán, research professor at the School of Government and Public Transformation at Tecnológico de Monterrey, delivered the keynote “Geopolitical Context: North America’s Shifting Geopolitical and Economic Landscape: The Mexican Perspective”, where he described the U.S. and Mexican economies as “inseparable—like scrambled eggs.”
“A new bilateral agenda is prioritizing geopolitics over trade. If Mexico strengthens border security and immigration controls, geopolitical risk will decrease, and economic integration could deepen,” Durán explained.
Virtually, Aleksandra Przegalińska, Vice-Rector for Innovation and AI at Kozminski University, shared an overview of the EUonAIR alliance, focused on AI-powered innovation for a sustainable future.
The meeting also featured the panel “Geopolitical & Economic Context: GNAM Deans’ Perspectives,” moderated by Stefano Caselli, Dean of SDA Bocconi School of Management. Participants included Kerwin Kofi Charles, Indra K. Nooyi Dean at Yale School of Management; Luiz Brito, Dean of FGV EAESP; Catherine Duggan, Director of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business; and Kai-Lung Hui, Acting Dean of HKUST Business School.
From various global perspectives, the deans agreed on the need to continue transforming business education in the face of volatility. Duggan proposed training students to operate under institutional risk: “We must prepare our students for scenarios like a sudden 20% currency devaluation.”
Charles added, “GNAM can help us build a resilient community to face global challenges. There are things we must do—regardless of who criticizes or promotes them—because they are the right thing to do.”
Hui raised concerns about the decline in academic mobility to Asia and emphasized the need to foster global exchanges as a countermeasure to academic isolation. He also highlighted the common challenge of ageing populations in developed countries and the potential role of younger regions such as Africa and the Middle East.
The program included strategic presentations by senior leaders of Tecnológico de Monterrey. Ignacio de la Vega, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Faculty and Internationalization, shared the institutional vision in “Tecnológico de Monterrey Towards 2030”; Rafaela Diegoli, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, presented “Redefining Education: The Tec21 Experience”; Feniosky Peña, Vice President for Research, discussed the “Overview Tec Research Model”; and Carles Abarca, Vice President for Digital Transformation, spoke about “Adoption, Impact & Learnings of AI at Tecnológico de Monterrey.”
Attendees toured key spaces at the Monterrey campus, including Expedition FEMSA, the Innovation District, Mostla Lab, and the Rector’s Mural.
A lunch was hosted by EGADE MBA students who had participated in GNAM programs, providing an opportunity for dialogue with deans and directors.
On the final day, academic leaders discussed the future of GNAM and upcoming collaborative initiatives.
GNAM was founded in 2012 by an initial group of 12 schools, including EGADE Business School. Today, the network comprises 33 member institutions, connecting students, faculty, and alumni worldwide to foster innovation and deepen the understanding of shared global challenges.
With this meeting, EGADE Business School reaffirms its role as a global leader in business education and its commitment to academic innovation and international collaboration.