By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Fernando González Olivieri, former CEO of Cemex, received the 2025 EXATEC EGADE 2025 Merit Award for his outstanding business career spanning more than three decades, marked by strategic global leadership and a sustainability-driven vision.
This award, presented annually by EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey, honors alumni whose careers stand out for their impact, transformative vision, and commitment to society.
A graduate of the Master in Business Administration, González Olivieri was recognized during the 2025 Alumni Annual Reunion, held on September 5 in Monterrey.
“Receiving this award as an EGADE alumnus is a significant honor, as it acknowledges a career shared with colleagues and friends. Today, business leaders face greater challenges than in the past: the speed of change demands continuous, fast, and deep learning, because it is difficult to lead what one does not understand. Being aware of technological evolution and its impact is key to guiding the future development of our organizations,” he stated.
The award was presented by Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School, and Zinia Padilla, Director of Alumni Relations at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
“Fernando González Olivieri’s career reflects the visionary leadership and commitment to sustainability that distinguish EGADE Business School alumni. His impact on transforming a global industry and promoting innovative solutions for a more sustainable future is a source of pride and inspiration for our community,” said Arredondo.
Before the award presentation, González Olivieri delivered a keynote address in which he shared his insights on sustainable leadership as the ability to remain relevant over time, grounded in values such as integrity, respect, empathy, and service, qualities that —he said— may evolve in form, but not in essence.
“The main challenge for leaders today is that you can’t lead what you don’t understand,” he warned.
He emphasized that effective leadership requires both a strategic vision and constant updating, as well as a sense of social responsibility in the face of innovation’s impact.
With more than 35 years at Cemex, González Olivieri is a prominent figure in business leadership in Mexico and internationally. His career culminated in 2025 with his retirement as CEO of the company, after successfully leading its consolidation as a global benchmark in construction solutions.
During his tenure, he led over 46,000 employees in multiple countries and championed an organizational evolution grounded in innovation and the circular economy.
Among the initiatives promoted under his leadership are Vertua, a product line with a lower carbon footprint, and Regenera, a waste management business that contributes to closing the materials loop.
Beyond his business legacy, his human-centered and strategic approach has inspired new generations of leaders committed to transforming their organizations into agents of positive change.
