By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey held its 2025 Alumni Annual Reunion on September 5 in Monterrey, as part of the school’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Exclusive to EGADE alumni, the event brought together nearly 300 participants from various generations and sites, in an experience designed to reconnect, celebrate achievements, and strengthen the sense of belonging to the EXATEC EGADE community. Throughout the day, participants engaged in moments of inspiration, networking, learning, and celebration.
In his welcome remarks, Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School, highlighted the growth and dynamism of the EXATEC EGADE community and its transformational impact.
Among the initiatives driven by the alumni network, Arredondo celebrated the recent success of EGADE Run 4 The Future, a cause-driven race that reached record participation and fundraising levels in support of the Líderes del Mañana scholarship program at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
EXATEC EGADE MERIT AWARD
One of the highlights of the reunion was the presentation of the 2025 EXATEC EGADE Merit Award to Fernando González Olivieri, former CEO of CEMEX, in recognition of his business career, visionary leadership, and commitment to sustainability.
The award was presented by Horacio Arredondo and Zinia Padilla, National 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 the transformation of a global industry and the promotion of innovative solutions for a more sustainable future is a source of pride and inspiration for our community,” said Arredondo.
This distinction is the highest honor granted by EGADE Business School to its alumni community, recognizing transformative careers and inspiring future generations to reach their full potential, make a difference, and leave their mark wherever they go.
A VISION OF SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP
Before receiving his award, González Olivieri delivered a keynote address on leadership, values, learning, and adapting to change.
He shared his vision of sustainable leadership as the ability to remain relevant and practical over time, anchored in values such as integrity, respect, empathy, and a spirit of service—qualities that, he said, evolve in form but not in essence.
He emphasized that leading today is more complex than ever due to the speed of change. He recalled that during his time at the helm of CEMEX, he faced technological transformations and increasing pressure to reduce emissions, which required a deep understanding of operational processes.
“The main challenge for leaders today is that you can’t lead what you don’t understand,” he warned.
He called on alumni to commit to lifelong learning to avoid professional obsolescence and to prepare their organizations for the challenges ahead. He stressed that effective leadership requires strategic vision, constant updating, and a sense of social responsibility regarding the impact of innovation.
LEAD LIKE A ROCKSTAR
The event also featured the conference “Lead Like a Rockstar”, delivered by international speaker Sergio Nava, who combined music, psychology, and leadership into an interactive and inspirational experience.
With his drum set on stage, Nava shared tools to foster better leaders, ignite change, work as a team, and drive powerful businesses. He introduced his four "H’s" of rockstar leadership:
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Hunger: The drive to grow, make an impact, and become your best self.
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Skill (Habilidad in Spanish): A passion for learning and applying knowledge with impact.
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Humility: The desire to learn from others, serve, and share what you know.
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Brotherhood (Hermandad in Spanish): A collaborative mindset to achieve collective goals.
“It doesn’t matter what you do; if you want to grow, you need to know how to lead yourself and others to amplify your message,” he said.
The day also included an interactive Game Show, where participants enjoyed team-based trivia, light shows, and competitions.
This edition of the reunion was widely celebrated by alumni, who praised the high-quality experience, the positive energy, and the value of reuniting with their community in an atmosphere of learning, collaboration, and celebration.
