JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
For a career that combines business results, talent development and a leadership approach focused on creating a positive impact on people and organizations, Mildred Villegas Sojo, General Manager of Unilever Mexico and Foods Latin America, received the 2026 EXATEC EGADE Merit Award.
The recognition was presented during the ninth EGADE Business School Annual Alumni Reunion, held at the Santa Fe campus and attended by members of the EXATEC EGADE community from different generations, programs and locations.
“Receiving this recognition means more than an individual achievement to me. I see it as the result of the people who have accompanied, taught and inspired me. It also reflects my vision of leadership: opening opportunities, trusting in the potential of others, listening to different voices and helping people become the best version of themselves,” Villegas said.
A career shaped by leadership and talent development
With 27 years at Unilever, Villegas has held roles focused on the company’s growth and evolution. She currently leads Unilever Mexico and the Foods Latin America business unit, where she oversees strategy and team development for one of the region’s leading consumer goods companies.
Throughout her career, she has led organizational transformation projects in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as initiatives to strengthen digital capabilities and market intelligence across Latin America.
Her leadership has also been characterized by building diverse teams, supporting people’s development and fostering collaboration both within and beyond the organization.
Before assuming her current role, she served as Vice President of Finance for Mexico and Northern Latin America. In that position, she contributed to the growth of several business categories, performance management and the positioning of Latin America Nutrition among Unilever’s top-performing business units globally.
Her career has been recognized among the 100 leaders with the strongest reputation by the Merco Líderes monitor, as well as among Mexico’s top CEOs and the country’s Most Powerful Women in Business, according to various rankings.
Villegas holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Accounting and Finance and is an alumna of the EGADE MBA.
Leading with people at the center
As part of the Annual Alumni Reunion, Villegas also participated in a Fireside Chat, where she shared lessons from her career and reflected on the challenges organizations and leaders face in an environment of constant change.
Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School, highlighted both Villegas’ professional achievements and the way she has exercised leadership throughout her career.
“Recognizing Mildred means celebrating an outstanding professional career, but also a way of leading: close to people, committed to talent development and capable of creating value through organizations,” Arredondo said.
“Her career reflects the impact our alumni community can have on the business environment and on society,” he added.
The EXATEC EGADE Merit Award recognizes alumni whose professional and personal trajectories reflect the values of the EGADE community and whose contributions to society are evident across different areas of impact.
A gathering for the EXATEC EGADE community
The ninth Annual Alumni Reunion strengthened ties between EGADE Business School and its alumni community, encouraged the exchange of experiences and created new opportunities for collaboration.
The program also featured the “4CTITUD” keynote, delivered by Rafael Márquez, head coach of the Mexican National Team.
