In episode 200 of the podcast, Horacio Arredondo and Jesús Carmona reflect on how companies are facing technological, geopolitical, and sustainability challenges in the Intelligent Age.

By ISABELLA CASTAÑEDA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The new technological era presents significant challenges in the way we work and interact with one another, compounded by collective issues in the environmental, social, and geopolitical spheres.

In Territorio Negocios, Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School and the Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey, and Jesús Carmona, President of Schneider Electric for Mexico and Central America, discussed the transformations companies are navigating in this new reality.

At the beginning of episode 200, Arredondo noted that the World Economic Forum has referred to the present day as the Intelligent Age—a historic moment defined by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain.

From a global geopolitical perspective, according to Carmona, a process of deglobalization is underway, leading to a regionalisation trend of "America for America" and a possible "Europe for Europe", which will shape future alliances and behaviours across both continents.

Mexico is also re-evaluating its trade relationship with the United States and Canada, particularly given its 30-year integrated production chain with the former.

“Rather than fight, the right word is to work very intelligently with the U.S. administration during what now seems more like a renegotiation than a review of the Free Trade Agreement next year,” Carmona said.

The conversation also underscored the importance of collaboration among the private sector, government, and academic institutions in continuing to develop Mexico’s potential in both manufacturing and the intellectual economy.

Companies must also face pressing challenges, such as climate change and developing sustainable growth models. Carmona noted that Schneider Electric is the only company to have been recognised twice in a row as the most sustainable company in the world.

This recognition was achieved not only by improving energy and water efficiency but also by integrating responsibility, ethics, and gender diversity, closing the 100% gender pay gap in 2022 and achieving a 50% women leadership team.

You can listen to the full episode of Territorio Negocios on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.