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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Distinguished visiting professors from Tec's Faculty of Excellence initiative join EGADE Business School

Submitted by jose.paz on Thu, 06/01/2023 - 08:32

Juan Ignacio Sánchez, Oliver Schilke and Martin Reimann join the EGADE Faculty.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Three distinguished visiting professors from the Tecnológico de Monterrey Faculty of Excellence initiative have joined EGADE Business School.

The professors are:

  • Juan Ignacio Sánchez, Knight-Ridder Byron Harless Professor and Eminent Scholar at Florida International University joins the Department of Strategy and Leadership at EGADE Business School as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Organizational Behavior and Human Capital.
     
  • Oliver Schilke, Associate Professor at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, joins the Department of Strategy and Leadership at EGADE Business School as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Leadership and Effective Organizations.
     
  • Martin Reimann, Associate Professor at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, joins the Department of Marketing and Business Intelligence at EGADE Business School as Distinguished Visiting Professor in Consumer Behavior.

In this regard, the Associate Dean of the Faculty of EGADE Business School, Ernesto Amorós, commented: "We are sure that the knowledge and contributions of Juan Ignacio, Oliver, and Martin will inspire and strengthen the experience of our students, faculty, and the entire EGADE community.”

Through the Faculty of Excellence initiative, Tecnológico de Monterrey seeks to attract extraordinary professors, and internationally recognized with outstanding experience and notable ideas, to add them to the faculty.

To learn more, enter here.

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EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA Students Experience Intensive Week at Arizona State University

Submitted by jose.paz on Tue, 05/30/2023 - 13:15

Class 2024 attended academic sessions on Innovation and Analytics for Decision-Making at the Tempe campus in Arizona. 

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

As part of their program, the EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA class 2024 experienced their first Intensive Week at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.

From April 23 to 28, students from the international dual-degree program attended academic sessions on Innovation and Analytics for Decision-Making led by Rivadávia C. Drummond A. Neto and Stephen Hillegeist, professors at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business. 

Igor Rivera, National Director of the EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA, accompanied the group, who also enjoyed networking activities and a campus tour, visiting sites such as McCord Hall and the Hayden Library, among others.

EGADE - W. P. Carey Executive MBA is an international dual-degree program for high-performing executives offered by EGADE Business School in partnership with the W. P. Carey School of Business.

The program in Mexico City includes international experiences such as this weeklong immersion at the US university.

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Eva Guerra Receives Inspirational Professor Award at Tec

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 05/15/2023 - 20:06

The institution awarded this accolade to the EGADE professor for her outstanding work as a teacher, academic leader, and student educator.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL 

Eva Guerra, teacher, researcher, and program director at EGADE Business School, received the Inspirational Professor award, within the framework of the 2023 Teachers' Day celebrations at Tecnológico de Monterrey. 

The institution awarded this accolade to the professor for her outstanding work as a teacher, academic leader, and student educator in 2022. 

"I would like to extend my gratitude to all the extraordinary teachers who have touched my life and to all Tec professors for these 80 years of preparing leaders. I am truly honored to receive this inspirational professor award and to form part of this great institution," Guerra stated. 

The award winner is a professor in the Department of Marketing and Business Intelligence at EGADE Business School; program director of the EGADE MBA in Monterrey and the EGADE - UNC Charlotte MBA in Global Business & Strategy; and researcher in the Social Innovation and Sustainability Subject Area Group, within the Research Groups of Tecnológico de Monterrey's School of Business. 

She is also a host of Business Territory, the podcast of EGADE Business School and the Tec School of Business. 

The celebrations and prize-giving ceremony, which took place in the Borregos Arena at Campus Monterrey, were led by David Garza, rector and executive president of Tecnológico de Monterrey; Victor Gutiérrez, rector of Operations, and Mario Adrián Flores, vice-president of the Northern Region. 

FACULTY CLASSIFICATION 

As part of the Tec Teachers' Day celebrations, five EGADE Business School professors received recognition for advancing in their academic careers within the institution's faculty classification:

  • René Cabral achieved Full Professor classification in the Researcher track.
  • Cristian Granados obtained Associate Professor classification in the Consultant track.
  • Ricardo Buitrago was granted Associate Professor classification in the Researcher track.
  • Félix Cárdenas attained Assistant Professor classification in the Entrepreneur track.
  • Alfonso Ávila attained Assistant Professor classification in the Researcher track.

 

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Felipe Symmes Joins the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science Editorial Board

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 05/15/2023 - 19:04

This appointment recognizes the research work conducted by the EGADE Business School professor in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, and sustainability.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Felipe Symmes, research professor from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation at EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey, has been appointed as a member of the editorial board of The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science (JABS).

“At JABS, I will review entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, imagination, and sustainability articles. These subjects are usually addressed separately, but their interrelation is clear if we want paradigms, ideas, and emerging and disruptive organizations to impact societies positively,” Symmes commented.

JABS is a renowned interdisciplinary scientific journal that covers the latest theory and research on processes and techniques of change in groups, organizations, and larger systems and publishes material designed to facilitate and assess positive organizational change.

The journal’s editorial board comprises outstanding international scholars and professionals who play a crucial role in maintaining the high-quality standards and relevance of the publication, which is classified with a Q1 impact in the Applied Psychology Category.

This appointment recognizes the research work conducted by the EGADE Business School professor in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, and sustainability.

Symmes is also a member of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Subject Area Group within the Research Groups of Tec Monterrey’s School of Business, and Director of Research at VIVA Idea, a think tank for sustainable development.

Founded and sponsored by the NTL Institute, JABS constantly paves the way in exploring group dynamics, organizational development, and social change. Find further information on the journal here.

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Family Business Tour 2023, streaming from EGADE, will bring together business families from Latin America

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 16:26

The event seeks to provide tools, new approaches, and keys to strengthen ties and reach the maximum potential in family businesses in the Latin American region.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

EGADE Business School of the Tecnológico de Monterrey will be an academic ally and host of the Family Business Tour 2023, a free event streaming exclusively for business families in Latin America.

The event will be broadcast live on May 30 from EGADE Business School, Monterrey site. It will present international experts who will share their knowledge and experiences to address family businesses' challenges.

The keynote speakers are Horacio Arredondo, Dean of EGADE Business School; María Fonseca, director of the Institute of Business Families of the Tec de Monterrey; and Martín Quirós, director of Quirós Consultores.

The talks they will give are "Generational transfer process", "The Fundamental Role of Women in the Business Family," and "The Role of Children," respectively.

The event organized by Quirós Consultores seeks to provide tools, new approaches, and keys to strengthen ties and reach the maximum potential in family businesses in the region.

The broadcast will bring together business families from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.

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Tec Joins Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment

Submitted by jose.paz on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 13:35

Carlos Vargas and Rolando Fuentes, research professors at EGADE Business School, will lead Tec de Monterrey's participation in the alliance.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Tecnológico de Monterrey has joined the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI), an international network of leading universities in research and education in sustainable finance and investment.

Of 24 educational institutions worldwide, Tec is this alliance's only Latin American member.

Carlos Vargas and Rolando Fuentes, research professors at EGADE Business School, will lead Tec de Monterrey's participation in the alliance.

"Joining GRASFI is a milestone for Tecnológico de Monterrey. It underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable finance and investment and recognizes our expertise in the field. We look forward to collaborating with member universities to drive positive change and promote sustainable development," said Vargas.

Prestigious institutions that are members of the alliance include the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, and Yale University.

GRASFI was founded in 2017 to promote collaboration between academics, researchers, and other experts worldwide to address the most pressing challenges, such as climate change and other environmental and social issues, which are of growing concern to companies, investors, and financial institutions.

Adopting sustainable investment practices and strategies is essential to address these challenges and ensure a fairer and more sustainable future for all.

In this context, GRASFI provides a forum for research and knowledge exchange between finance and sustainability experts, contributing to best practices and policies worldwide.

To learn more about the alliance, click here.

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Gerd Leonhard: "The purpose of looking at the future is not prediction… it is to be better prepared"

Submitted by jose.paz on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 17:39

Globally influential futurist exposes his vision of organizational revolutions and transformations to more than 600 business leaders gathered in four cities within TEC Business Summit 2023.

By FERNANDA MORALES BACA | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

"The purpose of looking at the future is not prediction… it is to be better prepared," said German futurist Gerd Leonhard, keynote speaker at TEC Business Summit 2023.

The author of Technology vs. Humanity delivered the videoconference "The future of organizations: revolutions and transformations" to more than 600 business leaders who gathered in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Querétaro.

Leonhard explained that the key to being better prepared is to develop awareness to understand future changes in the industry.

"Reading, educating ourselves, should be part of our work since this will change our mentality and enable us to embrace the new technologies and opportunities that emerge," he said.

Leonhard revealed at TEC Business Summit the three revolutions that will impact business:

  • the ongoing digital revolution;
  • the sustainability revolution, connected to green economies;
  • and the purpose revolution, where companies must align their strategies towards actions that will positively impact people and the societies in which they live and work.  

At present, he explained, the new generations are taking control, which is reflected in a change in politics, business, and all types of affairs, requiring, in the future, the fulfillment of a common purpose for the development of humanity. 

There is an intense debate in this future, he stated, about how companies will generate earnings to grow, and a relevant approach lies in the 4 Ps: People, Planet, Purpose, and Prosperity.

"Green is the new digital," he stated.

Moreover, Leonhard affirmed that the four most relevant transformations for the future of organizations are information technologyenergy and climatebiotechnology, and artificial intelligence, which warrant attention and investment.

"The development of these technologies will act as a double-edged sword in job loss owing to automation," he warned.

However, he added, although some jobs will disappear, others will be created to address the exponential demand generated by these transformations.

He also highlighted that Big Blue and Big Green would generate new jobs and economies. But, simultaneously, tasks that do not require creativity, coordination, or any human interaction will be handed over to machines to maintain efficiency.

"Machines are taking charge of routine, but this is not the end of human work," he said.

Leonhard pointed out that: "moving towards the future requires imagination, creativity, intuition, courage, agility, and resilience, which will take us towards the new normal."

He underscored that we must start expanding our horizons to develop the skills only humans can have instead of trying to compete with machines.

The futurist defined it as "a rebirth of the human renaissance."

TEC Business Summit is an updating and networking gathering for the business community in Mexico, promoted by the School of Business and EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey.

The first edition took place on April 26 simultaneously at the academic institution's sites in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Querétaro.

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