Three pieces of advice from the CEO of Heineken México to EGADE graduates

Submitted by egade on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 10:47
3 consejos del CEO de Heineken México a graduados de EGADE

Dolf van den Brink, Presidentand CEO of Heineken México, was invited to speak at the EGADE Business School Monterrey June 2018 Graduation Ceremony, where he shared three pieces of advice with the graduating students.

The Dutch-born executive highlighted lessons he had learned from his father and as Commercial Director of Bralima, Heineken’s subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the position he held prior to being appointed President and CEO of Heineken USA, and taking on his current role in Mexico.

“I would like to share three pieces of advice with you, drawn from difficult lessons I have learned, and that can help you at this important moment in your lives,” he stated.

Advice #1: “Go to difficult places”

“(Accepting the position in the Congo) has been the most difficult decision of my life so far, but it also turned out to be one of the best. At a very young age, in my early thirties, I took on responsibilities and opportunities that I would never have had in more developed markets. It was a challenge like no other. Living and working in a totally different culture truly shifts all your paradigms and changes your mentality. I am here today because of what I learned in the Congo, a difficult place.

“You are about to make momentous decisions about your career and can have a similar experience when someone gives you the chance to go to a difficult place or take a position that, on the surface, might not seem particularly attractive. What are you going to do? Reject it and choose the easy path? Or are you going to seize the opportunity to face up to many challenges that might be somewhat painful, but that could also be unique learning experiences?

“My advice is not to look for the perfect job but to go for the role that will give you the greatest chance to learn. Have faith in life and the opportunities it gives you,” he said.

Advice #2: "If you want to receive, first give”

Van den Brink mentioned that this is the advice given to him by his mentor on arriving at the African subsidiary.

“When they invite you to be a group leader, many people focus on performance, strategy, vision. Or, even worse, some people think it’s about being in charge and giving orders. In reality, being a leader is, more than anything, about looking out for your people.  Helping and supporting them. And when you put your heart into this, they will give that and more back to you. I learned this in the Congo.

“During my first few months there, I focused on the business and how poorly it was performing. The company was losing participation and money, and had been doing so for some time. However hard I tried to change things, nothing improved. But when I saw the people’s needs, the obstacles they faced, that was when the business began to change.

“For example, when I arrived there was so little money that practically none of the salesforce had vehicles to visit customers. They spent their own money on transportation and it took them ages to get anywhere. Without knowing how I would do it, I made a promise to them, that I wouldn’t rest until each of them had a small car or at least a motorcycle. It took me more than a year and a half, but I kept my promise. The team’s response was fantastic. Of course, it wasn’t just about a car, but also trust. In the end, our operation became one of the fastest growing in the company worldwide.

“Each of you has received a world-class education, many of you will lead teams at some point in your lives, so take the advice given to me by my mentor: if you want to receive, first give. Take care of your people, safeguard their wellbeing, support them and help them to grow. That’s how you will achieve great results,” he commented.

Advice #3: “Make this world a little bit better”

Van den Brink related that some years ago, his father became ill and died within three months from a brain tumor. It was the saddest period of his life, but, at the same time, he forged a special relationship with this father and they talked about important things they had never discussed before.

“I asked him: ‘Dad, what was your purpose in life?’ I thought he would laugh at me because it wasn’t the kind of topic he talked about. However, he looked at me very seriously and said: ‘I came here to make this world a little bit better.’

“I often saw how he used his position of privilege to make a difference. And not only in big ways, but also in little gestures, in meaningful ways. More than a thousand people attended his funeral, mostly young students and colleagues whom he had helped in hard times, people from the charities in which he participated. Even though he was leaving this world, he taught me a very important lesson in the last moments we spent together.

“I know that the question about the purpose in life is huge and intimidating. Should you worry about it now that you are so young and just starting out in your careers? When I started working, I did focus on performing well and being successful, and I’m sure that’s what you have in mind, but if you don’t take care of yourselves, you will be stuck in this stage of your lives forever.

“This is what my father taught me. He forced me to ask myself what is the greater good than the one I am serving, until I am serving beyond myself. We are all born with unlimited potential. But serving only yourself, accomplishing only success, won’t let you reach your full potential of the person you could be.

“Put into practice everything you have learned here at EGADE. This is an incredible place that has given you so much. Go out into the world, go to those difficult places that will teach you so much. Remember that if you want to receive, you must first give. And don’t forget that in the middle of all this success, you must try to find a way to make this world a little bit better,” concluded Van den Brink.

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EGADE drives global dialogue on impact and sustainability at the 21st Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 05/05/2025 - 08:04
Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference

The event, which brought together academics from over 20 countries in Mexico City, featured the presentation of more than 65 research papers.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The 21st Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference, organized by EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey in collaboration with IMD, took place from April 24 to 26 in Mexico City.

Jill Kickul, Distinguished Professor in Social Entrepreneurship at EGADE Business School, and Sophie Bacq, Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Coca-Cola Foundation Chair in Sustainable Development at IMD, co-directed the event. Both welcomed participants alongside José Ernesto Amorós, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE Business School.

Bringing together researchers and professionals from more than 20 countries, the event presented over 65 academic papers, addressing key themes in social entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and impact.

Faculty members from EGADE Business School participated actively in the program: Felipe Symmes, Sascha Fürst, and Alysha Shivji served as session chairs and presented their research, while Jill Kickul and Rajiv Maher also shared their academic work with the international community.

The program included keynote sessions by Pablo Muñoz (Durham University), Andrea Prado (INCAE Business School), Anna Kim (McGill University), and Greg Van Kirk (Collaborative Changemaking Labs).

Other featured activities included the “Bridging the Divide Between Social Entrepreneurship Scholars and Practitioners” panel; the “Path to Co-Leadership” panel by Ashoka Mexico and the launch of its Ashoka 2025 Impact Report, and a documentary screening and workshop led by the Stanford Social Innovation Review en Español magazine.

During the closing session, the best research papers were recognized: Alessia Argiolas and Hans Rawhouser received the Bold Theoretical Contribution Best Paper Award for “Dealing With Uncertain Social Impact: Evidence From Mini-Grids,” and Katrina Brownell, Sönke Mestwerdt, and Jill Kickul received the Best Empirical Paper Award for “Pitch Perfect: Emotional Appeals and Lender Decision-Making in Social Entrepreneurship.”

With this edition of the Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference, EGADE Business School strengthens its leadership as a global platform for connecting research and practice in social entrepreneurship.

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EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA Reaffirms Its Leadership in Latin America in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025

Submitted by jose.paz on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:44

The international dual-degree program offered by EGADE Business School and the W. P. Carey School of Business ranks 15th globally among the world's top joint Executive MBA programs.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA has once again secured the #1 position in Latin America for the second consecutive year and moved up to 15th place globally in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025: Joint Programmes, which highlights the world’s leading joint Executive MBA programs.

Released on April 30, the latest edition of the ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) evaluated 27 joint programs offered through partnerships between multiple business schools, reinforcing the prestige of the program delivered by EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey and the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Spanning 15 months, the EGADE-W. P. Carey Executive MBA is designed to develop the next generation of top executives, focusing on corporate innovation, business analytics, and a global perspective.

The QS ranking methodology focuses on five key indicators: Employer Reputation, Thought Leadership, Career Outcomes, Executive Profile, and Diversity. This year, the program's strongest performances were in Executive Profile (#7 globally), Thought Leadership (#13 globally), and Employer Reputation (#16 globally).

To qualify for the ranking, joint programs must have graduated at least one cohort and hold recognized international accreditations.

Since its launch, three cohorts have graduated from the EGADE-W. P. Carey Executive MBA program.

It is worth noting that EGADE Business School is among the elite 1% of business schools worldwide accredited with the prestigious Triple Crown: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.

You can view the full ranking here: QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025: Joint Programmes.

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More Than Half of Mexican University Students Want to Become Entrepreneurs: GUESSS Mexico Findings Revealed

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 04/28/2025 - 08:00
GUESSS México

The new national report, led by EGADE Business School and the Eugenio Garza Lagüera Institute for Entrepreneurship, offers key insights and recommendations to strengthen the student entrepreneurship ecosystem.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

More than half of Mexican university students intend to start their own business within five years of graduating, according to the latest GUESSS Mexico National Report, led by EGADE Business School and the Entrepreneurship Observatory of the Eugenio Garza Lagüera Institute for Entrepreneurship (IEEGL) at Tecnológico de Monterrey, with the support of Santander bank.

The national report, published in February 2025, is based on the tenth edition of the 2023 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS)—an international study that collected data from over 226,000 students across 57 countries, aiming to inspire researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to continue strengthening student entrepreneurship worldwide.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECOSYSTEM

In Mexico, the GUESSS 2023 study collected responses from over 3,100 students across more than 50 higher education institutions. The results reflect a strong entrepreneurial spirit flourishing within the country’s university ecosystem.

The report reveals that 22.7% of Mexican students plan to start their own business immediately after graduation, while 51.8% intend to do so within five years. Additionally, 28% of students incorporate entrepreneurship into their academic plans—significantly above the global average of 9.2%. These results position Mexico among the leading countries in student entrepreneurial intention.

Despite these encouraging figures, the report also identifies key challenges. While 42% of nascent entrepreneurs plan to launch their ventures during their studies, a considerable 84% lack prior entrepreneurial experience. Furthermore, only 19% of active student entrepreneurs have accessed entrepreneurial capital, indicating a clear opportunity to enhance funding alternatives and entrepreneurial education.

“The GUESSS Mexico Report shows a new generation of students who, with their creativity and risk-taking spirit, are ready to drive Mexico’s economic and social transformation," said José Ernesto Amorós, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE Business School and lead author of the national report. "Strengthening training, mentorship, and access to entrepreneurial capital will be crucial to support them in materializing their projects," he emphasized.

The national report concludes with several recommendations aimed at fostering a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem. Among these, it emphasises the importance of enhancing practical training and mentoring programs, promoting the early development of entrepreneurial skills, expanding access to funding sources, and encouraging entrepreneurial projects within family businesses.

Authored by Geraldina Silveyra (Director of Training and Knowledge at the IEEGL), Andrés Alejandro Guzmán González (Research Dissemination Coordinator at the IEEGL), and Amorós, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the aspirations, challenges, and opportunities faced by university students across Mexico.

You can read the full GUESSS Mexico 2023 National Report here.

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EGADE Researchers Stand Out in Research.com's Global Ranking for Business and Management

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 04/28/2025 - 07:40
Investigadores de EGADE destacan en ranking mundial de Research.com en negocios y gestión

Bryan W. Husted and José Ernesto Amorós are among the top scientists in Business and Management in the 2025 edition of the prestigious international ranking.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Two researchers from EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Bryan W. Husted and José Ernesto Amorós, have been recognized in the 2025 edition of the Ranking of Best Scientists in Business and Management by Research.com, which highlights the world’s most influential academics in this field.

The selection is based on a rigorous analysis of 9,827 scientists specializing in Business and Management, derived from a preliminary review of 166,880 academic profiles from various bibliometric databases such as OpenAlex and CrossRef.

Husted, professor in the Department of Strategy and Leadership at EGADE and leader of the Research Group on Conscious Enterprise Development, ranked as the number one scientist in Mexico and 745th globally, with a D-index of 50, 13,938 citations, and 161 publications in the field of Business and Management.

Meanwhile, Amorós, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE and leader of the Research Group on Entrepreneurship and Impact Innovation, ranked as the second in Mexico and 1,767th worldwide, with a D-index of 33, 5,188 citations, and 114 publications in the discipline.

"Through this report, we aim to inspire decision-makers, researchers, and entrepreneurs worldwide to learn more about what leading experts are focusing on and how they are helping to transform today’s business landscape," said Imed Bouchrika, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Research.com. "The ranking allows us to learn from top researchers and to recognize institutions that maintain a strong tradition of research and innovation in business and management," he added.

Research.com is one of the world’s leading scientific research portals, specializing in academic and educational rankings.

IMPACTFUL CAREERS

The recognition of Husted and Amorós reflects EGADE Business School’s commitment to producing impactful research and contributing actively to business and societal transformation.

Husted is a member of Tecnológico de Monterrey’s distinguished Faculty of Excellence and has received awards such as the Rómulo Garza INSIGNIA Award 2017, the Cuervo-Cazurra and Newburry Award 2023 by AIB-LAC, and the Nuevo León Award for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2023 in the Social Sciences and Humanities category. He has also been recognized among the Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide by Stanford University in 2022 and 2023.

Amorós was recognized in 2024 by AACSB International as part of its Influential Leaders Class. He also received the Rómulo Garza Research and Innovation Award 2023 in the Scientific Articles category. Through his work with the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), he has contributed to the evaluation of pro-entrepreneurship public policies in various countries.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

In the 2025 edition of Research.com’s ranking, Mexico ranked 38th globally in the number of distinguished researchers in Business and Management, with EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey being the only Mexican institution represented, thanks to the inclusion of Husted and Amorós.

This achievement reaffirms EGADE’s leadership in cutting-edge research and its commitment to strengthening the knowledge that drives positive change in society and the business world.

For more information about the ranking, visit: Research.com - Best Scientists in Business and Management 2025.

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Best Paper Award! Professors win recognition at the ACACIA International Conference in Ecuador

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 04/28/2025 - 07:39

Faculty members from EGADE Business School and the Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey stand out at the leading Latin American forum for research in administrative sciences.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Professors from EGADE Business School and the Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey were recognized with the "Raúl Conde Hernández" Best Paper Award at the 28th International Research Conference in Administrative Sciences, organized by the Academy of Administrative Sciences (ACACIA).

The award was presented to Juan Ignacio Sánchez, member of the Tec’s Faculty of Excellence and Distinguished Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Capital at EGADE Business School; and to Sergio Madero Gómez and Carlos Gabriel Colín Flores, professors at the Business School, for their paper titled "The Effects of Green Human Resource Management on Employee Green Behavior in a Mexican Context."

The conference took place from April 22 to 25 at the Universidad Católica de Cuenca in Ecuador, under the theme "Data Analytics in Global Decision-Making."

Madero Gómez and Colín Flores are also leader and member, respectively, of the Thematic Research Group (GAT) on Organizational Design and Culture at the Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey.

ACACIA’s International Research Conference in Administrative Sciences is one of the most prestigious academic forums in Latin America for the dissemination of research in administration, business, and organizational management.

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EGADE Professors Recognized for Best Teaching Case at BALAS 2025

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 04/28/2025 - 07:02

The awarded case at the academic event analyzes the transformation of Nestlé’s innovation ecosystem.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Faculty members from EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey were honored with the Best Teaching Case Award at the 2025 edition of the annual conference of the Business Association of Latin American Studies (BALAS), held in Costa Rica.

The award was granted to Cristian Granados, professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation at EGADE Business School; Juan Carlos Bustamante, Director of the Master in Marketing at EGADE Business School; and Yarid Ayala, professor at the School of Business of Tecnológico de Monterrey, for their work "The Future of Nestlé’s Innovation Ecosystem."

"This case tells the story of a company that, lacking the necessary internal capabilities, initially failed to scale sustainable innovation projects, resorting to merely symbolic actions. However, this setback sparked profound strategic changes that transformed its innovation model," commented Granados on social media.

BALAS 2025, held under the theme "Sustainable Business: Challenges and Opportunities for Latin America," took place from April 8 to 11 in San José, with INCAE Business School as the host institution. The event brought together over 125 participants from 21 countries, representing more than 60 business schools and universities worldwide.

With over 95 presentations of papers, case studies, and doctoral proposals, as well as 10 panels, workshops, and plenary sessions, the conference solidified its position as a key forum for discussing sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, ESG, business education, and academic accreditation.

EGADE Business School’s participation also stood out in other key areas of the academic program. Ricardo Buitrago, National Director of Doctoral Programs at EGADE Business School and President of BALAS, led the event’s opening session and moderated several plenary discussions.

Meanwhile, José Ernesto Amorós, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE Business School, took part in two strategic sessions: "Good to Great: Elevating Business Schools Through Accreditation," focusing on the transformative impact of accreditation processes, and "Meet the Editors – From Manuscript to Impact: Publishing Strategies in Leading Business Journals," where he shared his perspective as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Management Research.

Additionally, other professors from EGADE Business School presented research that reinforces the school's commitment to producing knowledge that drives business and social progress across Latin America.

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Tripling Solar Capacity, a Key Challenge for Mexico’s Energy Transition: Luis Plata Cavazos

Submitted by jose.paz on Tue, 04/15/2025 - 12:41

Huawei recognised the CEO of Girasolve Energy and an EGADE Business School student with fourth place worldwide at its global solar installer summit in China.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Significantly increasing installed solar capacity will be crucial for Mexico to meet its 2030 energy transition goals, stated Luis Plata Cavazos, CEO of Girasolve Energy and Master in Finance student at EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey.

“Only 5.1% of the country’s electricity generation currently comes from solar energy. We need to triple our installed capacity to meet the national target for clean energy generation,” he explained.

The National Energy Plan presented by Claudia Sheinbaum’s government in 2024 sets a goal of 45% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030, which means that at least 16% must be generated from solar energy, he added.

During the 2nd Global Installer Summit, organised by Huawei FusionSolar in Shenzhen and Dongguan, ChinaPlata Cavazos was awarded fourth place worldwide in the Best Installer Contest. There, he shared his vision for Mexico’s energy future with over 500 global leaders from the photovoltaic sector.

In his presentation, he highlighted that Mexico has one of the highest solar potentials in the world, with over 70% of its territory receiving more than 4.5 kW per square meter.

In 2023, the country’s installed photovoltaic capacity reached 9.4 GW, and is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. “It’s a huge opportunity, and we are ready to seize it,” said the graduate of the Energy Management Specialisation at EGADE Business School.

Plata Cavazos also emphasised the transformative role of energy storage in Mexican households: “Energy storage will be as important as water storage in Mexico. Every home will have a battery. That’s what we believe at Girasolve, and we are building that future.”

Girasolve Energy, a Mexican company with over eight years in the market, develops photovoltaic solutions for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

With a workforce of more than 35% women, including female installers, and a fleet of over 20% electric vehicles, Girasolve integrates sustainability, efficiency, and innovation as core pillars of its strategy.

Climate change is real, and raising awareness is a key part of our mission. Selling PV systems is not just about reducing electric bills, it’s about saving the only planet we can live on,” he stated.

In addition to its business focus, Girasolve drives social impact projects, such as electrifying rural schools in Mexico.

At the Huawei event, Plata Cavazos presented a documentary video about a school that lacked electricity and was equipped with solar panels. “We’re not just making a difference on rooftops. We’re making a difference on the ground. These kids will have a different future thanks to technology,” he concluded.

These initiatives, along with his innovative vision for the energy sector, have earned him recognition both nationally and internationally. Among other accolades, MIT Technology Review in Spanish named him one of the Innovators Under 35 Latin America 2023, and he received the National Youth Award 2021 and the State Youth Award of Nuevo León 2019.

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