Approximately 700 business leaders participated in the TEC Business Summit, held simultaneously across five campuses of Tecnológico de Monterrey, to advocate for leadership rooted in empathy, care, and social responsibility.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

During his keynote address “Truly Human Leadership: The Skills and Courage to Care” at TEC Business Summit 2025, Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, urged a rethinking of leadership’s role in today’s society, stressing that “there has never been a greater need in the world for truly human leadership—in every aspect of society, not just business.”

The Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey convened the business community for this multi-campus event, co-hosted with EGADE Business School, to explore a new model of leadership based on care, empathy, and cultural transformation within organisations. Held under the theme “Human Leadership: Transforming Companies through Care and Empathy,” the event brought together approximately 700 business, academic, and social leaders on April 9 in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, and Hermosillo.

Chapman shared the origins of his people-centred philosophy and explained that employee well-being is directly linked to how people are led. “The person you report to at work is more important to your health than your doctor,” he stated. Citing research that identifies work-related stress as a leading cause of chronic illness, he emphasised that “the greatest privilege of a leader is to impact the lives of those around them positively.”

Drawing on his experience leading Barry-Wehmiller—a company with over 12,000 team members and more than 140 acquisitions worldwide—Chapman recalled how his outlook changed once he recognised the inherent value of each person in his organisation. “That day, my lens changed. I no longer saw people as functions, but as human beings who deserve respect and dignity,” he shared.

In his view, business can become the most powerful force for good in the world—if leaders take seriously their responsibility to care for those within their sphere of influence. “The way we lead impacts the way people live,” he noted.

Chapman maintains that leadership is the responsible stewardship of the lives within our span of care, and that this approach can transform not just companies, but also families, communities, and entire societies. “We can create economic and human value in harmony. They are not in conflict—they are complementary,” he emphasised.

Throughout his talk, he reiterated that leadership is not a title, but a deep responsibility to care, and that the key lies in teaching people how to lead with empathy. “We cannot simply ask people to care; we must teach them the skills to do so. Care is a language, and like any language, it can be learned,” he concluded.

The book aims to empower readers at any life stage with practical personal finance tools.

By ISABELLA CASTAÑEDA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Melissa Treviño, an MBA student at EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey, recently published her book Money Boss: Conviértete en el jefe de tus finanzas (Become the Boss of Your Finances), which offers tools to improve personal financial management.

Treviño shares that the book was written to help readers achieve their financial goals and make the most of their money, regardless of their stage in life.

With Money Boss, the author also seeks to convey the message that: “Finance doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. We can all improve our financial situation if we turn to the right sources and apply the basic principles I outline in my book.”

Professionally trained in finance, Treviño identified a significant knowledge gap in personal finance in Mexico. This insight led her to launch El Peso del Dinero, a blog that aims to explain financial concepts in a simple and useful way.

As she continued to publish content, people began reaching out with questions and requests for personalized advice. This close engagement with her audience inspired her to write Money Boss, maintaining her blog's same clear and approachable tone.

The author shares that her motivation to learn and teach about finance stems from personal experience: “My family wasn’t privileged, and at one point, we faced major financial difficulties that triggered abrupt changes in our lifestyle.”

Treviño noted that her experience in the EGADE MBA strengthened her interest in creating a positive impact. The academic environment gave her the tools to structure and share her knowledge with a broader audience.

“As I see it, EGADE gave me the foundation to find more ways to share what I know and to become a driver of change in my community and my country,” she said.

As part of her outreach efforts, Money Boss was presented at major literary events including the Monterrey International Book Fair, the Guadalajara International Book Fair, and the Coyoacán International Book Fair.

The book is available on Amazon in both print and digital formats.

AI tools continue to spark debate among today’s businesses.

By ISABELLA CASTAÑEDA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized workplace environments. Today, the key to sustaining this technological shift lies in questioning its implementation, emphasizing ethical and strategic use.

In episode 198 of Territorio Negocios, Juan Carlos Bustamante, Director of the Master in Marketing of EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey, and Blanca Ramos, CEO of Roomie, discussed key criteria for integrating AI into business practices.

Eva Guerra, Academic Associate Dean of EGADE Business School, moderated the conversation.

Ramos opened the dialogue by identifying the financial and insurance sectors as the first to invest in AI. She also highlighted the importance of adopting it in other sectors: “Those who don’t use these tools will undoubtedly fall behind in terms of competitiveness,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bustamante pointed out that companies must use these tools to find distinctive competitive advantages that enhance their strategy rather than limiting their use to process optimization.

Ramos emphasised that this technology is here to transform the world and how businesses operate: “What might happen is that we’ll become supervisors of what AI agents are doing.”

They agreed on the caution required when sharing information with AI systems, as it may contain confidential data that feeds these tools.

On this point, Bustamante stated: “We must be cautious, because the model will reproduce it, and this is a key issue from the ethical perspective of those implementing it and business leaders.”

The episode concluded with the guests offering advice to those who want to implement AI in their companies but have yet to take the first step. They recommended consulting specialists to assess their goals, strategies and values.

The full episode of Territorio Negocios is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Fifty business leaders graduated in Monterrey as part of CAINTRA’s strategic initiative, supported academically by EGADE Business School.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

On April 1, 50 leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) graduated in Monterrey as part of the second generation of the SME Development Program, a strategic initiative led by the Chamber of the Transformation Industry of Nuevo León (CAINTRA) aimed at strengthening more integrated and competitive value chains.

The program, delivered by EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey in collaboration with the Monterrey Competitiveness Center (a subsidiary of CAINTRA), combined 60 hours of theoretical and practical training to enhance participants’ administrative, operational, and commercial capabilities.

Eduardo Coronado, co-CEO of Coflex, leader of the Más Pymex Commission, and vice president of CAINTRA, Juan Pablo García, general director of CAINTRA, Janet Quintanilla, director of Executive Education at EGADE Business School, and Juan Enciso, director of the EGADE—W. P. Carey Executive MBA and academic lead of the program, led the graduation ceremony.

“More than six months ago, we embarked on this journey together with one vision in mind: to bring high-level knowledge, strategy, and tools to the SMEs that support a large part of our economy,” said Juan Pablo García Garza, general director of CAINTRA. “We did it with the support of anchor companies committed to boosting small and medium-sized enterprises.”

Janet Quintanilla added, “EGADE’s purpose is to rethink the future of business to impact Latin America's sustainable development. Through this program, we align with that purpose and support participants by providing the knowledge and tools they need to face challenges and seize opportunities in today’s business world.”

24 industrial groups affiliated with CAINTRA selected the participating SMEs as part of the efforts of the Más Pymex Commission, which aims to promote the integration and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises within the regional industry.

During the closing event, participants presented the improvement projects developed throughout the program, demonstrating their ability to implement innovative and sustainable solutions in their businesses. Finally, they received their graduation diplomas.

GLOBAL RECOGNITION FROM AACSB

The SME Development Program is part of Más Pymex, a strategic alliance coordinated by CAINTRA that, in its first two years of operation, has brought together 24 industrial groups committed to increasing the participation of Mexican SMEs in their value chains, impacting more than 3,000 companies.

On March 31, EGADE Business School was recognized by AACSB International through its global initiative Innovations That Inspire 2025, for its outstanding contribution to the Más Pymex initiative through the SME Development Program in collaboration with CAINTRA.

“This year, AACSB Innovations That Inspire recognized a total of 26 business schools worldwide that, like us, are innovating through strategic alliances and collaborative solutions to strengthen communities and companies, creating value and impact through business education,” said Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School.

The event also featured the presentation of EGADE Business School's new Master in Sustainable Business, designed to prepare leaders to deliver profitable solutions with a positive environmental and social impact.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Sustainable business growth requires vision, action, and a comprehensive understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with climate change, agreed experts during the panel “ESG and Sustainable Innovation: Accelerating Business Growth,” held on March 26 in Monterrey as part of the launch event for the new Master in Sustainable Business at EGADE Business School.

Moderated by Eduardo Aguiñaga, National Director of Full-Time Programs at EGADE Business School, the panel featured Karla Lizeth Guerrero, Director and Founder of Ética y Estrategia Consultores and Chair of the Stakeholders Council at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); Adrián Gómez Balboa, Director of Operations at Ramboll Mexico and Executive Committee Member of Chapter Zero Mexico; and Luis Plata Cavazos, CEO and Founder of Girasolve Energy.

Guerrero explained that the ESG approach (environmental, social, and governance) has evolved from a voluntary or philanthropic practice into an increasingly regulated requirement.

“It’s no longer an accessory, because requirements and demands are pushing us, whether we like it or not, to build ESG strategies and take responsibility for our externalities,” she stated.

From his perspective at Chapter Zero, Gómez Balboa warned that many companies still perceive climate change as a distant or unrelated issue.

“One key takeaway is that if we want sustainability to reach the boardroom, we must speak the language of board members, which is the language of finance. If we don’t translate CO₂ emissions into economic impact, we won’t make progress,” he said.

He added that Mexico needs to professionalize boards and promote a more strategic view of climate governance.

Plata shared examples of how companies adopting clean technologies gain reputation and competitiveness.

“Many companies are starting to see solar energy not as an expense, but as an investment. This shift allows them to stand out, keep prices competitive, and reduce their exposure to electricity rate hikes,” he noted.

He also highlighted the technological advances enabling energy independence for households and businesses.

Throughout the panel, the message was clear: sustainability presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

“Let’s not fear change. It’s better to be prepared—responding in the middle of a crisis always costs more,” Guerrero advised.

Plata added that the key lies in conducting honest assessments of energy consumption and seeking solutions rooted in profitability.

“Storing energy will soon be as common as storing water,” he predicted.

A PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE, PROFITABLE, HIGH-IMPACT SOLUTIONS

Prior to the panel, Boyd Cohen, Director of the Master in Sustainable Business, and Paul Juárez, Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions at EGADE Business School, presented the new program, which will launch in September 2025 in Monterrey.

Cohen emphasized that the program seeks to position sustainability as an innovation opportunity, enabling the creation of competitive business models that generate positive environmental and social impact while being financially viable.

“We need to rethink the role of business and use technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and renewable energy to generate abundance, improve quality of life, and ensure profitability,” he said.

Juárez highlighted the program’s key differentiators as experiential learning, a global perspective with local application, and faculty connected to Latin American reality.

“We want our students not only to understand trends, but to become agents of transformation for businesses toward sustainability,” he concluded.

The book, co-authored by Félix Cárdenas, Luisa Alemany, and Job J. Andreoli, provides a detailed analysis of funding sources, the investment process, and growth strategies for startups in the region.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

As part of the incMTY 2025 innovation festival, EGADE Business School in Monterrey hosted the presentation of the book Financing the Future: Capital to Start and Scale Successful Businesses.

The book, co-authored by Félix Cárdenas, professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation at EGADE Business School; Luisa Alemany, professor and academic director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship & Private Capital at London Business School; and Job J. Andreoli, professor at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, offers a comprehensive perspective on the opportunities and challenges of financing in Latin America.

The event featured Cárdenas and Alemany, two of the book’s authors, alongside Ernesto Amorós, associate dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE Business School, who emphasized the significance of this publication for the Latin American entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"This book is a key resource for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in understanding how to access the necessary capital to create and grow innovative companies in the region," said Amorós, who is also listed as a co-creator among a panel of international experts contributing to the publication.

Cárdenas underscored the importance of understanding financing as a fundamental pillar of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, noting that "behind every great company, there is a financing story that was crucial to its growth."

He also highlighted that the evolution of the world’s most successful business ecosystems has depended on combining five key factors: entrepreneurs, universities, government, corporations, and capital.

KEY INSIGHTS FROM FINANCING THE FUTURE

Financing the Future provides an in-depth review of startup financing, covering instruments such as Venture Capital (VC), angel investors, accelerators, incubators, search funds, and crowdfunding. It also includes case studies and examples of high-growth companies and unicorns, along with expert perspectives on the future of financing in the region.

During the presentation, Cárdenas explained that the book is structured into four sections: funding sources, financing process, entrepreneurial growth, and alternative paths to entrepreneurship. He also detailed the development stages of a startup, from the seed stage through startup/launch, growth/expansion, and maturity.

"The book is a practical tool for understanding which sources of financing are best suited for each stage of a company's development and how to avoid common mistakes in the investment search process," stated Cárdenas.

Alemany, meanwhile, provided an analysis of the top VC investment ecosystems in Latin America, noting that Brazil leads the ranking, followed by Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile. At the city level, the top investment hubs are São Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, and Santiago.

"It is crucial to understand that venture capital has funded the world’s largest companies, yet it remains an exclusive resource," explained Alemany. "Only 0.5% of new businesses each year receive venture capital, yet they represent half of the companies that go public."

She also highlighted that VC investment in Latin America has been growing at an annual rate of 13%, increasing from $1 billion in 2014 to $4 billion today, with Brazil and Mexico leading the market.

Alemany emphasized that "venture capital not only finances projects but exponentially drives innovation." She referenced a study that analyzed three decades of companies across 20 industries, revealing that startups backed by venture capital generate three times more patents than those funded by traditional corporate investment. She noted that this underscores the impact of venture capital on developing new technologies and business models.

Cárdenas added that while fintech and software investment in Latin America has gained traction, a significant gap remains compared to global ecosystems such as Israel or the United States.

"The challenge lies in mobilizing more resources toward innovative startups and fostering more investment hubs in cities like Monterrey, which has the potential to be on the venture capital map," he stated.

The book is an adaptation of the award-winning Entrepreneurial Finance: The Art and Science of Growing Ventures, published in 2018 by Cambridge University Press, which has been adopted by more than 100 universities across Europe and translated into Chinese in 2023. This new edition integrates a Latin American perspective, blending theoretical foundations with case studies and practical analysis.

The book is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4gFXjIA.

70% of Guatemala’s economy operates informally, limiting access to formal financing and hindering the scalability of businesses with social and environmental impact.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Guatemala has great potential for impact investment, with an expected 14% annual growth rate until 2030, but it faces structural barriers that limit its development.

A new study by EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey and Red de Impacto LATAM identifies the key challenges of the country’s impact ecosystem. It highlights the importance of strengthening stakeholder collaboration to channel financial resources into projects with social and environmental value.

Titled "Building Impact Ecosystems in Latin America – The Case of Guatemala", the study was conducted by Felipe Symmes, research professor at EGADE Business School, and Bárbara de la Garza Martins, researcher and co-founder of Ushum Colectiva Creativa.

The research provides key insights to strengthen the impact ecosystem, which consists of international organizations, accelerators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, grassroots organizations, and public-private partnerships, and to mobilize more significant financial resources towards socially and environmentally valuable projects.

KEY FINDINGS: FINANCING AND STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES

Impact investment is an approach to actively address social and environmental challenges while seeking financial returns that align with impact objectives.

The study highlights the need to align impact ecosystem efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly reducing inequalities (SDG 10), promoting sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), to guide impact investment towards more equitable and sustainable development.

"One of Guatemala’s biggest challenges is structuring accessible financial models for impact entrepreneurs, ensuring that investment is not only concentrated in large corporations but also drives the growth of emerging projects with high social and environmental value," Symmes said. 

The study reveals that, although Guatemala leads the region in impact investment demand, it faces significant structural barriers that limit its potential.

Key challenges include:

• Political instability: Perceptions of political risk discourage international funds and restrict access to foreign capital.

• High economic informality: Around 70% of Guatemala’s economy operates informally, limiting access to formal financing.

• Fragmented market: The lack of solid business structures and high administrative costs make it difficult for impact-driven projects to scale.

• Limited familiarity with financial instruments: Many organizations lack awareness of alternative financing mechanisms, reducing their investment opportunities.

Despite these challenges, the report identifies strategic sectors with high investment potential, particularly in environmental sustainability and regenerative agriculture.

THE ROLE OF IMPACT ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS

According to the study, impact ecosystem builders are crucial in connecting key stakeholders—including entrepreneurs, governments, investment funds, and NGOs—to strengthen collaboration. The study identifies four main types of impact builders:

1. Educators and knowledge generators: Focused on training and capacity building for social and environmental impact.

2. Relationship and collaboration facilitators: Act as bridges between key sectors to foster strategic partnerships.

3. Capital and resource enablers: Connect projects with investors and funding sources.

4. Community builders and local change-makers: Work directly with communities to drive sustainable development models.

Symmes underscores the importance of strengthening the role of these ecosystem builders: "For the impact ecosystem to thrive, stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential, along with better financial tools to help entrepreneurs scale their projects sustainably."

RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT ECOSYSTEM

The report also offers recommendations to improve access to financing and create a more efficient impact ecosystem:

• Streamlining bureaucratic and tax procedures to facilitate the formalization of enterprises and cooperatives.

• Promoting internationalization strategies to help Guatemalan businesses compete in global markets.

• Establishing common impact assessment standards would enhance the ecosystem’s credibility and attract more investment.

• Strengthening pre-investment technical assistance through accelerators and incubators.

EGADE Business School reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development in Latin America through research that drives business transformation and builds more resilient and equitable ecosystems.

To explore these findings in depth, a webinar titled "Impact Ecosystems in LATAM: Lessons from Guatemala to Drive Regional Growth" will be held on March 19 at 4:00 p.m. (Guatemala and Mexico City time). Experts will discuss the study’s main results and analyze strategies to strengthen the impact ecosystem across Latin America.

Interested participants can register here: https://bit.ly/WebinarEcosistemasDeImpacto.

Forbes Mexico highlights the best marketing executives in the country.

By ISABELLA CASTAÑEDA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Two alumni of EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey were included in the 2025 edition of "The Best CMOs in Mexico", published by Forbes Mexico.

The EXATEC EGADE featured in the list are Gerardo Fernández Aguilar (MBA'12) and Marco Antonio Pérez López (MBA'11), who were recognized among the marketing executives that have stood out in the country over the past year.

Fernández Aguilar, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Nissan Mexico and Nissan South America, was recognized for his leadership in securing a 17% market share in 2024 and implementing an investment plan of $700 million in Mexico, announced in 2022 with a three-year projection.

Pérez López, Chief Marketing Officer at General Motors Mexico, was acknowledged for the impact of his advertising strategy and the management of a brand portfolio that includes Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hummer, Buick, and GMC, among others.

#NuestraRevista: 📢 Forbes México lanza por segundo año consecutivo su listado de Los mejores CMO de México. https://t.co/9eon9gzBhI

— Forbes México (@Forbes_Mexico) March 9, 2025

The Forbes Mexico list, compiled for the second consecutive year, included 32 companies and considered various factors such as recognition, marketing strategy, and business growth achieved.

"This ranking aims to give visibility to the work of corporate marketing teams at a time when consumers are increasingly demanding, and technology plays a key role in achieving personalization," the publication states.

The editorial team of Forbes Mexico made the final selection with the support of experts, including Juan Carlos Bustamante, National Director of the Master in Strategic Marketing at EGADE Business School.

By being recognized among the best in their field, Fernández Aguilar and Pérez López reaffirm their leadership and commitment to the development of marketing in Mexico.