By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
On October 3 and 4, EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey hosted a new edition of the EGADE MBA National Meeting 2025 at its Monterrey campus, bringing together students from Santa Fe, Guadalajara, Querétaro, and Monterrey, as well as from the online modality, to strengthen their leadership skills in times of change.
Under the theme “Navigating Complexity: Thriving in the Uncertainty,” the event featured conferences, panels, experiential activities, and networking sessions designed for the MBA community to explore new strategies for leading with purpose, resilience, and adaptability in complex environments.
Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School, and Juan Carlos Rivera, National Director of MBA Programs, opened the gathering by emphasizing the importance of cultivating a holistic vision of leadership in the face of global uncertainty.
LESSONS FROM AVIATION
The opening keynote, “Leading Under Pressure – Lessons From Aviation,” was delivered by Jan U. Hagen, Professor at ESMT Berlin, who shared insights on leadership and decision-making in high-pressure contexts, drawing inspiration from the aviation industry.
Hagen explained that leadership under pressure is strengthened through psychological safety and shared responsibility, elements that promote open communication and collective learning.
“We do not learn from mistakes themselves, but from reflecting on them,” Hagen stressed, noting that the most effective organizations are those that turn mistakes into opportunities for improvement.
EMERGING STRATEGIES AMID CHAOS
The panel “Emerging Strategies Amid Chaos” featured Roger González Lau, CEO of Protexa; Jesús Carmona, President and CEO of Schneider Electric Mexico and Central America; and Lucía López Sarre, Marketing and Innovation Leader, moderated by José Maraboto, Director of the Department of Strategy and Leadership at EGADE Business School.
The speakers agreed that chaos is a constant in today’s business environment and that confronting it requires calm, flexibility, and strategic thinking.
“Chaos is not going away; what worsens it is the lack of flexibility and strategic planning,” said López Sarre.
“We cannot control external factors, but we can control how we react and lead through them,” stated Carmona.
González Lau added, “The most powerful person in the boardroom is the calmest one,” highlighting the importance of composure and active listening in decision-making.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND CONNECTION
During the first day, participants took part in “Eggcercise,” a hands-on challenge designed to test their collaboration and conflict-resolution skills in uncertain environments.
Later, the conference “A Formula for Winning Through Adversity,” led by Benjamín Arriola, Consultant in Culture and Organizational Change, inspired attendees to pursue success, happiness, and transcendence as pillars of an extraordinary life.
The day concluded with a social mixer that fostered meaningful networking and strengthened bonds among EGADE generations.
A PURPOSEFUL CLOSING
The second day began at the Borregos Stadium on Tecnológico de Monterrey’s campus, where students participated in activities focused on teamwork and emotional intelligence as key elements of effective leadership.
Participants then gathered for the traditional photo in front of the Mural de Rectoría, followed by a campus brunch featuring the classic “Chilaquiles Tec.”
The EGADE MBA National Meeting 2025 concluded by reaffirming the MBA community’s commitment to a human, collaborative, and conscious leadership approach.
Over two days filled with ideas, experiences, and inspiration, the event made one thing clear: navigating complexity is also an opportunity to grow, innovate, and transform.
