Félix Cárdenas, Ana Maury Aguilar and Mario García chatted within the EGADE Future Forum series.
ByFERNANDA MORALES | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
The entrepreneurial ecosystem, venture capital and angel investors were the focus of the discussions in the webinar “Driving business growth and innovation,” held on September 27 within the EGADE Future Forum series.
Participants in the session were Félix Cárdenas, professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation at EGADE Business School; Ana Maury Aguilar, investor, AC Ventures at Arca Continental; and Mario García, co-founder and Managing Partner of AngelHub Ventures.
Cárdenas commented explained the ways to create value in a corporate and how innovation can have a great impact on strategic and financial return.
Aguilar shared the interest of AC Ventures in forging strategic alliances with startups, contributing the know-how and facilitating the growth of these businesses.
“At AngelHub our aim is to contribute not only capital, but also an added value of commercial networks, contacts and engagement, while also respecting the founders,” García explained.
A total of 76% of the FDI that comes into Mexico from nearshoring is concentrated in Nuevo León, according to a study carried out by more than 20 Tecnológico de Monterrey professors.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Tecnológico de Monterrey presented an overview of the report “Nearshoring: Challenges and opportunities for the integration and strengthening of global value chains in Mexico” to businesspeople and industry leaders.
The factors that led to the nearshoring boom in Mexico, the prominence of its value chains and the challenge of enhancing the country’s attractiveness were the points of the study, prepared by more than 20 of the Institution’s professors, which was presented on September 25 in the auditorium of EGADE Business School, Monterrey site.
In his welcome message, Juan Pablo Murra Lascurain, rector of Higher Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey, stated: “It is important to ensure that this wave of nearshoring gives rise to a more inclusive development that will guarantee decent wages and comprise a sustainable perspective from the very beginning. We need to reflect on the kind of development we want, the public policies we hope to implement and the type of companies we want to create. This is our responsibility as an institution and as a society.”
During the event, Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School, moderated a discussion panel, which enjoyed the participation of Gabriela Siller Pagaza, director of Economic Analysis at Grupo Financiero BASE; Eduardo Saucedo, professor at EGADE Business School; and Roberto Durán, professor at the School of Government and Public Transformation.
“Talent development is a key enabler in the context of nearshoring and plays a fundamental role in generating a lasting, positive impact on the region’s sustainable development,” Arredondo commented.
When presenting the report, Osmar Zavaleta, associate dean of Research at the School of Business and EGADE Business School, highlighted that, according to various sources, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Mexico will close in 2023 at approximately over $36.7 billion dollars, while 76% of the FDI that comes into Mexico from nearshoring is concentrated in Nuevo León. By 2024, FDI would reach an estimated $37,674 million dollars.
He also mentioned that the main challenges of nearshoring include the regional diversification of export centers; articulation of value chains (north vs south, large companies vs SMEs); development of high added-value sectors; the need to invest in electrical infrastructure; water shortages in some states; a housing shortage; and mobility and pollution problems.
“Given the large investment flows, the demand for electricity will grow by an estimated 0.87% for every 1% increase in GDP,” warned Zavaleta, one of the authors of the report.
The presentation came to a close with a message from guest Iván Rivas Rodríguez, Minister of the Economy of the Nuevo León State Government: “The analysis of challenges and opportunities allows us to see where we should direct public policies. Nearshoring has favored our country given the solid guarantees for the protection of intellectual property rights, contained in Chapter 20 of the USMCA. When doing business in Mexico, investors appreciate such respect and have given us their vote of confidence, as can be seen in the deluge of foreign investment that has poured into Nuevo León. The comparative advantages with China are real, and we can offer opportunities in the country to manufacture metal products, machinery and equipment, computer equipment, electrical appliances, furniture and mattresses. One of the biggest challenges is the development of high value-added sectors through technological convergence.”
The authors of the report include professors from the School of Business and EGADE Business School, and the School of Government and Public Transformation, as well as experts from the Institution: Alfonso Avila Robinson, Carlos Mario Aldana Varga, Eduardo Armando, Eduardo Saucedo, Edgardo Arturo Ayala Gaytán, Ernesto del Castillo de la Fuente, Federico Trigos Salazar, Evodio Kaltenecker Retto de Queiroz, Francisco Javier Valderrey Villar, Javier Armando González Lozano, Jesús Emmanuel Carrillo Gallegos, Félix Cárdenas, Juan Ignacio Sánchez, Luis Vicente Cabeza Llanos, Michele Vittorio, Octavio Cabrera Lazarini, Osmar Zavaleta, Rolando Fuentes, Roberto Durán-Fernández, Roberto Garza Barbosa, René Cabral Torres, Ricardo Buitrago and Sergio Manuel Madero Gómez.
The program will start with its first generation at EGADE Mexico City in April 2024, and at EGADE Monterrey in September that year.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey announced the launch of the Master in Strategic Marketing, an innovative graduate program for professionals seeking to become proficient in the art of making marketing decisions based on analysis, finance and strategy.
The announcement was made within the framework of a conference and panel on Deloitte's Global Marketing Trends 2023 report, held on September 21 at EGADE Mexico City.
“The role of marketing has changed and transformed into a mobilizer of organizations' capabilities to deliver quality customer experiences. The Master in Strategic Marketing provides a careful balance between novelty and bases, offering a solid preparation in technology, data analysis, finance and leadership to connect marketing with the company's strategy,” commented Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School.
In addition, Eva Guerra, interim director of the Master in Strategic Marketing, explained that the program seeks to prepare versatile T-Shaped professionals with the marketing skills to develop customer-focused strategies and the capacity for transdisciplinary collaboration.
“In this way, they will become marketing specialists who can find connections between the different areas of the organization, generating value through strategic definition, analyzing the technological environment and current trends, using data in business decision-making, effectively managing profitability and the metrics of their strategies, and creating innovative solutions that will stand out in the market,” Guerra commented.
👏🏽 ¡Lanzamos la Maestría en Mercadotecnia Estratégica en nuestra Sede Santa Fe! Para celebrar este logro, presentamos el informe "Global #Marketing Trends 2023" de Deloitte, y lo discutimos en un panel de expertas y expertos de @KavakMexico, @DeloitteMX y #EGADE. pic.twitter.com/A4KvQKzoWb
Participants in the event, held prior to the presentation of the master's degree, included Alfonso Alcocer, Digital & Marketing partner at Deloitte; Alberto Tovar, vice president of Brand & Corporate Sales at Kavak; Mercedes Poiré, director of EGADE Business School, Santa Fe site; and Claudia Quintanilla, Diana Kolbe and Édgar Centeno, director and professors in the Department of Marketing and Business Intelligence at EGADE Business School, respectively.
The Master in Strategic Marketing will start with its first generation at EGADE Mexico City in April 2024, and at EGADE Monterrey in September that year.
Its curriculum covers four major topics—marketing strategy, technology and analytics, financial support, and power skills—through which students will develop a transversal perspective of marketing in the organization, collaborating effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
The new program lasts 18 months and will be delivered in-person on weekends.
For further information, visit: https://egade.tec.mx/es/programas/maestria-en-mercadotecnia-estrategica
According to the publication, Chief Financial Officers have become agents of change in companies.
By FERNANDA MORALES BACA | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Four postgraduate alumni and a former Executive Education participant from EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey were recognized in the Top CFOs in Mexico 2023 ranking.
The list by the magazine Forbes Méxicoincludes 20 executives whose functions and responsibilities are equivalent to those of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or financial director.
According to the publication, “Chief Financial Officers have become agents of change in companies, after having to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and invest in their organizations’ digital and operational transformation.”
The members of the EGADE community who stood out in the ranking are:
José Carlos Pons de la Garza (MA’01) CFO of Alpek, 2nd place.
Isaac Franklin Unkind (MA’98) CFO of Grupo México Transportes (Ferromex), 4th place.
Jorge Antonio Touché Zambrano (MA’98) CFO of Grupo Lamosa, 5th place.
Marisol Vazquez Mellado (Women for Boards’19) CFO of Médica Sur, 11th place.
Eduardo Alberto Escalante Castillo (MAF’12) CFO of Alfa, 13th place.
The ranking was prepared on the basis of the financial management index developed by Forbes for this report, with a methodology comprised of nine indicators.
The data used to calculate the index correspond to the 2022 financial results.
A digital survey is available for Mexican angel investors who wish to participate on behalf of the national entrepreneurial ecosystem.
ByINSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey, Universidad Panamericana, the Mexican Association of Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds (AMEXCAP) and AngelHub Ventures joined forces to launch the First Study on Angel Investment in Mexico.
The objective of this study is to identify and understand the profile of the angel investor in Mexico, a key player in the ecosystem and financing cycle of early-stage startups.
To conduct the study, a digital survey will be launched among hundreds of Mexican angel investors to collect aggregate information on their profiles, investment strategies, industry preferences and project selection criteria.
In addition, the study will also analyze how their participation contributes to the success and growth of the startups in which they invest.
“This study will bring huge benefits to the Mexican entrepreneurial ecosystem since to date there is insufficient information on this important player (angel investor) that complements other players, such as Entrepreneurial Capital Funds or Corporate Entrepreneurial Capital Funds,” mentioned Liliana Reyes, CEO of AMEXCAP.
WHAT IS AN ANGEL INVESTOR?
An angel investor is an individual who wants to diversify his or her portfolio by investing in start-ups and also often providing support through advice or business connections. These investors play a fundamental role in offering timely and necessary financing so that new companies can progress and grow, thus driving countries’ economic and social wellbeing.
“Angel investors are key pillars in Mexico's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their support translates not only into capital, but also accompaniment, mentoring and even connections. The timely support of an angel investor for an entrepreneurial project is pivotal to its lifecycle… often meaning the difference between reaching the next level or not making it,” commented Mario García Dávila, Managing Partner of AngelHub Ventures.
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY?
Angel investors who are interested in participating in this study can find more details and access the online questionnaire through the following link: https://bit.ly/3NJLKt6
Participation is confidential and the results will be presented in a complete report that will be made publicly available to all the players in Mexico's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The nominations celebrate excellence among business schools from the AMBA and BGA global network.
ByJOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey has been doubly recognized through its nomination as a finalist in two categories of the prestigious AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2024.
The list of finalists, announced on September 6, encompasses 11 categories that, as a whole, celebrate excellence among business schools, students and graduates that share the values of ambition, impact and integrity of the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and Business Graduates Association (BGA).
The finalists were selected by a jury of international experts.
THE NOMINATIONS
Best CSR and Sustainability Initiative 2024: EGADE Business School was nominated for its initiative "Social Impact Strategy and EGADE Action Week", led by the Office of Strategic Intelligence. This category recognizes business schools that are taking the initiative in creating a sustainable future and teaching students about social values; as well as making a positive impact in practical and measurable ways.
Best Innovation Strategy Award 2024: EGADE Business School was nominated for its initiative "Web-based application for the development of leadership competences", led by Professor Sascha Fürst. This category honors a school’s achievement in pushing boundaries in terms of creativity in practice.
The winners of the 11 categories of the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2024 will be announced during the AMBA & BGA Gala Dinner 2024, a highly prestigious event to be held on January 19 next year in London, England.
New students attend welcome sessions in Monterrey, Santa Fe, Guadalajara and Querétaro.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION| EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
More than 400 new students started out on their EGADE Experience during welcome sessions for the September-December 2023 trimester.
Simultaneously, the new students enjoyed a welcome breakfast and networking activities on September 9 at their respective sites in Monterrey, Santa Fe, Guadalajara and Querétaro.
They also had the opportunity to meet the school’s faculty and leaders, as well as their class and program peers.
Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School, accompanied the students in Monterrey to welcome them to the school.
The professor moderates discussions on the adoption of responsible financial practices at an event held in the Mexican Stock Exchange.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Carlos Vargas, professor in the Department of Finance and Business Economics at EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey, offered an outstanding participation within the XXXV IMEF Symposium 2023, as moderator of the pillar on sustainable finance.
The event took place on September 7 and 8 at the Mexican Stock Exchange, in Mexico City, bringing together more than 150 leaders, experts and visionaries in finance.
Vargas moderated the first thematic pillar of the symposium, “Towards a sustainable economy in Mexico: promoting the adoption of responsible financial practices,” in which María Consuelo Pérez Cavallazzi, Country Manager at S&P Global Ratings México; Javier Perochena García, Head of ESG Solutions at Banco Santander México; and Rocío Canal G., ESG Sustainability partner at Deloitte Spanish Latin America, shared their reflections.
Other pillars of the symposium were the economic and fiscal environment, nearshoring, inclusive leadership and artificial intelligence.
“Discussions and knowledge sharing on sustainability, technology and leadership laid the foundation for a promising financial future in Mexico. As we move into the future, these topics will continue to be crucial for driving business success in our country,” commented Vargas, who also acted as vice-president of the symposium.
The event was led by José Domingo Figueroa Palacios, president of IMEF Nacional, and Ramón Alfonso Casanova Hernández, president of IMEF Grupo Ciudad de México, who highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of a solid financial future for Mexico.
GRASFI APPOINTMENT
Professor Vargas was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI), an international network of leading universities in the field of research and education on sustainable finance and investments, of which Tecnológico de Monterrey is a member.
The appointment was made official within the framework of the 6th Annual GRASFI Conference, held from August 23 to 25 at Yale University, in which Vargas participated as moderator in a session on Firm Performance.
