EGADE Business School is the only Latin American business school, from among 24 institutions worldwide, to be recognized this year by the international accreditation agency for its positive contributions to society.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey earned recognition within the 2021 edition of the Innovations That Inspire Program of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the most important business school accreditation organization in the world.

The school was honored for its initiative  Sustainable Wealth Creation Through Innovation and Technology (SWIT), led by Carlos Scheel, EGADE Business School professor emeritus.  

This year’s results were announced today, with EGADE Business School being the only business school from Latin America among the 24 institutions recognized within the program.

Every year, through the Innovations That Inspire program, AACSB International recognizes institutions from around the world that serve as champions of change in the business education landscape.

We're pleased to announce the highlights of our 2021 Innovations That Inspire initiative!

24 business schools are showcased for addressing wide-ranging societal challenges including food insecurity, pandemic leadership, climate change, & gender equity.

?https://t.co/Xa9lEgIMJF pic.twitter.com/ChtreyKgAt

— AACSB International (@AACSB) March 30, 2021

“Using a circular economy and systems-thinking approach, SWIT seeks to foster economic growth without generating waste or deteriorating natural resources in communities of developing countries. This program is also closely aligned with the Conscious Business development driven by EGADE and with Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Vision 2030, so I would like to congratulate Dr. Carlos Scheel and the entire team participating in this initiative, which earned recognition as the most innovative,” commented Osmar Zavaleta, Interim Dean of EGADE Business School.

SWIT is an innovative initiative supported by five fundamental pillars:

• Sustainable disruptive innovation inspired by nature.
• Systems view of growth.
• Circular economy extended systems.
• Clustering of industrial ecology systems.
• Problem-solving entrepreneurship approach.

“The SWIT group was created in 2007 with the purpose to provide an infrastructure with all the necessary tools, training and practices for the transition of firms, industries and communities, to a sustainable and resilient economy for emerging regions. This recognition gives the SWIT group wide visibility that may help to reach our goal of creating a critical mass of experts on circular economy and systems approach, for the assembling of new circular economy businesses ventures, mainly for Latin American countries. The methodologies, practices and experiences of the SWIT, can be replicated in other business schools as a sample of how to involve academia with the sustainable growth of the planet,” Scheel stated.

The SWIT model has already been used in diverse industries and countries, notably in the circular production of coffee and palm oil in Colombia; a sustainable single-use plastics initiative in Mexico and Ecuador; diverse new sustainable businesses in British Guiana; and a circular economy community in Higueras, Mexico.

“Business schools across the world are empowered to define impact objectives and strategies that align with the communities they serve, and the examples presented through the Innovations That Inspire program prove to perfection that business education is a force for good," commented Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, AACSB president and CEO.

In 2019, the SWIT initiative was recognized within “Tec projects with the potential to transform Mexico”, at the 49th Research and Development Congress of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.

EGADE Business School is accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, the “triple crown”, the highest recognition a business school can obtain internationally and enjoyed by just 1% of business schools across the world.

Further information on the AACSB Innovations That Inspire program and the 2021 list of the 24 winners can be found here.

Visit the SWIT website here.

More than 30 students from diverse Global Network for Advanced Management member schools virtually attend the two modules offered by EGADE Business School.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Students from 11 prestigious business schools from different regions around the world participated in the two modules offered by EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey, within the March 2021 online edition of the Global Network Week program.

The courses “Shape the Future: Enhancing Your Strategic Marketing Management Skills for the New Reality in Latin America” and “Strategic Innovation and Management in Emerging Markets - Latin America”, brought together, in a virtual setting, a total of 34 students from EGADE Business School and another 10 Global Network for Advanced Management Member Schools:

• FGV Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil)
• Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (India)
• INCAE Business School (Costa Rica)
• Koç University Graduate School of Business (Turkey)
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Business (Chile)
• Renmin Business School, University of China (China)
• Seoul National University Business School (South Korea)
• Technion, Israel Institute of Technology (Israel)
• University of Indonesia Faculty of Economics (Indonesia)
• UNSW Business School (Australia)

Participants from both modules enjoyed a virtual tour of the Teotihuacán archaeological site, culture capsules on the Day of the Dead and tacos, and a tasting of traditional Mexican candy.

Within the course “Strategic Marketing Management Skills”, professor Fernando Sierra explored the key aspects of Marketing Communication and Digital Customer Engagement; professor Cédric Vialle explained how to build a data strategy; and participants had the opportunity to talk with Salvador Muñoz, CEO of Beerhouse, the most important online craft beer sales platform in Mexico.

Moreover, in the course “Strategic Innovation and Management”, professor Christiane Molina examined strategic considerations beyond markets; professor Sascha Fuerts addressed entrepreneurship and corporate innovation from a Latin American perspective; and participants talked with Pedro Álamos and Brian Bauer, General Manager and Circular Economy and Alliances Leader at Algramo, respectively.

Other professors who participated in the modules were Claudia Quintanilla, Édgar Centeno, Everardo Elizondo, Ivan Valdovinos, Juan Carlos Rivera and Valeria Sánchez, as well as Gabriela Ugarte, Product Development Director at Mastercard.

THE EXPERIENCE WITH EGADE

“Great organization, great people and great experiences. I am once again proud and glad to select this course in EGADE Business School. I met great people from around the world, we shared valuable moments and experiences with each other. Even though we had a virtual organization, I never felt distant. We connected to each other in a very efficient way and have extended our networks as well as friendships. Additionally, we have gained substantial information about Marketing Strategies that I will use in my professional life. I appreciate and thank all the program organizers. I look forward to seeing you again some time in person as well. Thank you so much,” said Yunus Yildez, Koç University Graduate School of Business student.

“The communication from EGADE was very clear from the start and made me very comfortable with the process. I was excited when I received a box of candies. Thank you for allowing me to experience Mexican culture though I could not be present there. The sessions were all power-packed with a lot of information, content, and examples. I enjoyed all the professors' sessions, and I must say I got excellent insights on digital marketing and brand management. The projects on Frida Kahlo helped me understand brand management and brand extension. The Beerhouse project allowed us to interact with the CEO and think about marketing in real-time. We worked as teams, shared our thoughts, and presented them. The cohort was outstanding, and I enjoyed interacting and learning from people from different countries. I should mention about culture capsules, they were perfect, and I enjoyed knowing more about Mexico and Mexican culture. Thank you EGADE, for providing this opportunity, and I enjoyed every minute of the experience,” commented Radhika Praveen, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore student.

“The program that I attended at EGADE Business School provided me the opportunity to develop skills to work in an international environment. Since I am working in the finance industry, this program enabled me to discover new skills in strategic marketing. I am glad to express that this program provided me a new perspective regarding my career,” said Aslihan Bahat, Koç University Graduate School of Business student.

EGADE STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD

A total of 97 EGADE Busines School students, from the EGADE MBA, EGADE - UNC Charlotte MBA in Global Business & Strategy and Master in Business Management programs, participated virtually in 18 modules offered within the March 2021 edition of the Global Network Week.

Global Network Week is one of the main programs of the Global Network for Advanced Management, a network made up of the top 32 business schools in the world.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

A new edition of the Board Member Training program, from EGADE Business School’s Executive Education portfolio, was launched in March in a 100% online format and with 31 participants from different cities in Mexico and Latin America.

In this delivery, the program, which targets board members, strategic decision-makers, and company owners, shareholders and directors, has a duration of 60 hours and is divided into 12 modules.

Participants were welcomed by Jaime García Narro, Associate Dean of Executive Education, EGADE Business School; Carlos Serrano, independent director and Executive Director of the Board Member Training Program; and Jaime Martínez Bowness, Raúl Montalvo and Daniel Maranto, directors of the EGADE Business School sites in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, respectively.

In addition, master coach Benjamín Arriola led an icebreaker session, before the start of module 1 of the program, "Functioning of the Board of Directors ", taught by Roberto Danel, Chairman of the Best Practices in Corporate Governance Committee of the Business Coordination Council (CCE), and Gregorio Vázquez, EGADE Business School professor and Director of the consulting firm Vázquez Consultores.

This program helps participants hone their competencies and acquire specialized knowledge of how a Board of Directors functions, including the reinvention of the business model, acquisition of companies as a growth strategy, successful continuance of the family business, among other key topics for the company’s prosperity.

The modules are “Setting a Strategic Course”, “Capital Budgeting System”, “Measurement and Evaluation of Corporate Performance”, “Executive Compensation Systems”, “Legal Framework for the Board of Directors”, “Comprehensive Risk Management”, “Internal Control Systems”, “Governance in Entrepreneurial Families”, “A New Leadership Paradigm”, “Executive Succession Process” and “Negotiation Skills”.

The program’s outstanding educational model is based on experiential learning, conferences and discussion panels with special guests, practical experiences and high-level virtual networking.

Learn more about the Board Member Training program here.

The Director of Strategic Alliances and Content at América Móvil shared anecdotes and details of his book with graduate students and Executive Education participants.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

“The things that are truly valuable are priceless,” the entrepreneur Arturo Elías Ayub stated, during the virtual talk in which he presented his book El negociador: Consejos para triunfar en la vida y en los negocios.

Invited by EGADE Business School, the Director of Strategic Alliances and Content at América Móvil shared anecdotes and details of his book with graduate students and Executive Education participants.

The conversation was led by Osmar Zavaleta, Interim Dean of EGADE Business School, while Lucila Bracho, Director of Strategic Alliances and Customer Experience in Executive Education, moderated the audience Q&A session.

In El negociador, Ayub shares everything he has learned in business and in life, from his beginnings in his father’s store on Correo Mayor Street in the Historical Center of Mexico City, his transition to soccer as president of the Pumas football club, to ultimately become one of the most renowned businessmen and negotiators in Mexico through his work in Grupo Carso, one of the most important business groups in the world.

When going over some of the passages from the book, Zavaleta asked the author what attributes successful entrepreneurs have in common, according to his observations.

“The trait all the successful entrepreneurs I know have in common is, without doubt, hard work. That’s an attribute impossible to replace. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur but are not willing to travel a difficult road, you’d better find something else to do,” said the also CEO of Uno TV and General Director of the Telmex-Telcel Foundation.

The Shark Tank México cast member warned entrepreneurs that not only do they need to think creatively or innovatively, but also to put their projects into effect.

“Since the beginning of time, the most creative people get the best results. They are the ones who think outside the box and, very importantly, implement their ideas, because creativity turned into a reality is the one that works. There’s no point being creative and leaving it as a fantasy,” Ayub affirmed.

The entrepreneur urged the audience to take advantage of the digital tools that in this day and age are both plentiful and affordable and to let their creativity run free, thereby generating greater value for their organizations and clients.

Participants of 21 different nationalities explore the economic and financial perspectives of Mexico and the United States, backed by EGADE Business School and Miami Herbert Business School.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Eighty-five students, from the OneMBA Class of 2021, gathered together virtually from March 8 to 13 to participate in the North America Residency, as part of the global immersion experiences included in the program.

The participants of 21 different nationalities explored the North American business environment from the economic and financial perspectives of Mexico and the United States, guided by EGADE Business School and Miami Herbert Business School professors.

Activities included sessions with academics and opinion leaders from both schools, talks and discussion panels with business leaders from the region, cultural experiences from both countries, and spaces for networking.

A broad diversity of topics was discussed, spanning sustainable business, corporate innovation, trends in the Covid-19 era, cybersecurity, transformational leadership, among many others.

Among the guest speakers were Jorge Luis Torres Aguilar, OneMBA graduate and Vice-President of Operations at FedEx Express in Mexico; Leticia Gammill, Security Channels Leader at Cisco, and Founder and President of WOMCY; Fernando Sepúlveda, President of the Association of Mexican Entrepreneurs in the United States; and Alex Sánchez, President and CEO of Florida Bankers Association, to name a few.

Some of the students shared their experiences and key takeaways obtained during the North America Residency:

“A very good mix of cultural immersions, and macro environment and insight lectures, as well as leadership development content. I found it inspiring. We are in a global business environment; nothing is purely regional, given the interaction with and impact on each other. We need to think about how to make the world sustainable and care about humanity.” Li Li, a Chinese student at the School of Management, Xiamen University.

“EGADE and Miami Herbert Business Schools did a very good job with the online experience for this residency. Not only did they invite good speakers, but we also had the opportunity to practice negotiation skills and leadership exchange experiences, strengthening our abilities to shape and define the future. I appreciated the coffee chats to network with our colleagues from different parts of the world. I was surprised by the positive economic theory of Paulo Leme showing us that the post-Covid reopening of the economy can lead to sustainable, non-inflationary growth. Another key takeaway for me was the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to produce and innovate together to compete for vis-a-vis with the rest of the world. I am more aware now of how they want to proceed and the importance of thinking in terms of regions to create specific synergies.” Sarah Soenen, a Belgian student at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University.

“A key component of thriving in the new normal produced by the Covid-19 pandemic is blending a deep level of resilience with professionalism. The two factors were brilliantly displayed throughout the residency, as was an astute demonstration of why the OneMBA program academics are at the top of their respective academic games (the talk on negotiation was spot-on). My key takeaway from the North American residency, on the region’s business environment, is that the area is one of vast opportunities, but with deeply ingrained complexities and paradoxes. I enjoyed discussing the topic of sustainability in business. I found it particularly interesting to see how the issue of sustainability is no longer a choice, but a necessity, for modern business. I also enjoyed the different talks on health and wellness. Personally, a lesson I have learned from the ongoing pandemic is the need to show (and demand) empathy for others when our worlds circle out of tilt. I genuinely hope it is a lesson that we all remember after the pandemic ends.” Bob Enofe, a Nigerian student at Sao Paulo School of Business Administration, Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP).

“I really had a great time during these days. The content was great and very helpful for my studies on the region. The level of interaction with my peers was much more profound and productive than our previous residency, which was unexpected given the constraints of the virtual environment. North America is booming again. After several years of self-isolation, the US government is showing signs of re-engagement with the outside world. Mexico and Canada are going to profit from the reopening of the US markets as the vaccination plans roll out before schedule. The US economy and Florida Banks were the technical meetings I enjoyed the most. But what stole my heart and my mind was Saturday’s session, where self-development took the stage. Again, congratulations to the EGADE/UM teams who worked hard to bring truly personal experiences (life mindfulness) into the ‘Zoom world.’” Gabriel Cambuí, a Brazilian student at Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami.

“The experience was awesome! It is so great to have the opportunity to share the best of our region with people from all over the planet, our culture, our food, our people, and the way we do business. With the pandemic slowly going away, I think we have all learned that the only way we can get out of this and future challenges is by working together. North America is a huge economic bloc with huge potential and the capacity to cooperate with other regions in the globe in the quest for development, sustainability, and social improvements. I believe the most relevant topics for the current situation revolve around well-being, work-life balance, leadership through uncertainty, and innovation. Both the synchronous and asynchronous lectures equipped us with many tools and knowledge that we can easily use and bring back to our workplace.” Emmanuel Echeverría, a Mexican student at EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey.

“Although it was a 100% virtual residency, the presentations, discussions, and panels were extremely revealing regarding economic data and impacts throughout each North American country and as a cluster. My most important takeaway is that USMCA, as one of the world’s most profitable and developed commercial agreements in the globe, nowadays depends on traditional industries that may well disappear in the near future due to the accelerated technological disruption boosted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We also had great talks on the increased importance of developing and maintaining a humane mindset.” Mauricio Lecea, Mexican student at EGADE Business School.

Another exiting day at the North America Residency of the #OneMBA. Our EXATEC Roberto Sanchez showed to our international leaders the most common and savory dishes that Mexico offers. ¡Buen provecho! ? ? ? @robersanchezva pic.twitter.com/kLNfgQp906

— EGADE Business School (@egade) March 13, 2021

This global residency is one of the four included in the OneMBA curriculum. This time there were participants from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Rumania, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, United States and Venezuela.

OneMBA students are from an international consortium of schools that offer this executive global program, and are senior-level executives who live and work across the globe.

The consortium schools are:

• EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
• Sao Paulo School of Business Administration, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP), Brazil
• Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, Netherlands
• School of Management, Xiamen University (SMXMU), China
• Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, United States

The global executive program OneMBA was launched in 2002 and its first class graduated in 2004. Today, its network of 1,400 graduates in leadership positions is spread across 50 countries.

EGADE Business School and the Tec School of Engineering and Science present a webinar on algorithms and the ethics of Artificial Intelligence, within the EGADE Future Forum series.

By ASTRAYA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Even though Artificial Intelligence Artificial and its tools enjoy a certain degree of autonomy, they do not measure up to human intelligence, stated Ramón López de Mántaras, research professor at the Scientific Research Council (CSIC) in Spain.

“At present, the ethics of these tools fall to programmers and the teams behind them, not the tools themselves,” said the also founder and Director of the CSIC Artificial Intelligence Research Institute.

The expert spoke within the webinar “The dictatorship of algorithms. Leading the ethics of Artificial Intelligence” as part of the EGADE Future Forum series.

The event was moderated by Jacob Escobar, Director of EGADE’s Specialization in Digital Strategy and the Master in Business Analytics, and enjoyed the participation of Luis Eduardo Falcón, Director of the Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence of the Tec School of Engineering and Science (EIC).

When asked if a machine could replace a human being, López de Mántaras commented that “many human tasks, such as creativity, and strategic and analytical capacities, will not be automatable.”

“The business mindset should focus on creating human-machine teams,” he said.

López de Mántaras explained that to avoid algorithmic bias, multidisciplinary, diverse teams must be formed and ethics experts incorporated in order to monitor and intervene in the development of an application or algorithm.

The webinar, which was co-presented by EGADE Business School and Tec’s EIC, can be viewed here.

This 20-week program starts on April 13th, with the objective of providing the tools, knowledge and guidance necessary to design successful labor inclusion projects for persons with disabilities.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Persons with disabilities can face multiple barriers to joining the workforce that prevent their full inclusion in the work environment, on equal terms with others.

Therefore, to assure genuine organizational inclusion, it is important to have a comprehensive, cross-cutting project, taking into consideration diverse design and implementation aspects.

With this objective, EGADE Business School’s Center of Conscious Business for a Sustainable Future, together with Movimiento Congruencia and Éntrale, an alliance for the labor inclusion of persons with disabilities, is extending an invitation to the latest edition of the +Talento Diploma Course, which will be offered in an online format for the first time ever.

The 20-week program, which starts on April 13th, provides the tools, knowledge and guidance necessary to design successful labor inclusion projects for persons with disabilities that participants will be able to implement in their organizations.

During the program, they will learn about the concepts of disability; regulations, appropriate terminology and accessibility parameters; recruitment of persons with disabilities and inclusive culture; inclusive internal and external communication; and techniques related to awareness and working team training, among other topics.

The +Talent Diploma Course has been taught in person in Monterrey since 2014, and in Mexico City as of 2016. To date, it has prepared more than 140 executives from 50 companies in Mexico as specialists in the design of labor inclusion projects for persons with disabilities.

Download the brochure for the online edition of the +Talent Diploma Course here, and request further information here.

TALENT DIVERSITY, A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Directors from EGADE Business School, Movimiento Congruencia and Éntrale, an alliance for the labor inclusion of persons with disabilities, gave their opinions on the competitive advantage offered by the +Talento Diploma Course, as well as the awareness, insight and knowledge required to manage talent diversity:

“We know that a diverse working team can enrich organizations and contribute positively to the achievement of their objectives. However, accomplishing the inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities involves a certain degree of complexity. This is why we need to develop competencies and apply them in the design of projects that, when implemented in the organization, will bring us closer to a culture of labor inclusion. The +Talento Diploma Course does all of this,” explained Christiane Molina, Director of the Center of Conscious Business for a Sustainable Future.

“Preparing and empowering our collaborators with the +Talent Diploma Course has allowed us to identify and cover areas of opportunity related to inclusion in our company. We have been able to reinforce our commitment to equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, recognizing that talent does not have a disability. I also had the opportunity to attend the presentation of the impeccable final projects of four companies that completed the +Talent Diploma Course, which showed me the two main benefits of taking it: the first is directly reflected in the training of specialists on the subject, and the second in the design of comprehensive, cross-cutting projects on labor inclusion for persons with disabilities,” commented Fernando Méndez Elizondo, Vice-President of Human Resources at CEMEX México and Movimiento Congruencia board member.

“The +Talento Diploma Course is, without doubt, the ideal tool for initiating your program on labor inclusion for persons with disabilities. Over the past few years, we have seen how participating companies have advanced exponentially in their inclusion initiatives, achieving excellent results in a very short time,” said Fernando Estrada Franco, Executive Director of Éntrale, an alliance for the labor inclusion of persons with disabilities, and President of the Ibero-American Network of Inclusive Companies.

STATISTICS

Employment and disability issues in Mexico
 

• The labor force participation rate for persons with disabilities is 29.9%, which is low compared to 53.7% for persons without a disability. 69.6% of persons with disabilities aged 12 years or more are not economically active. (INEGI: Population and Housing Census, 2010).
• Just 25% of persons with disabilities who work have a written employment contract and social benefits 25%. (CONAPRED, 2020).
• Regarding the main problems declared by persons with disabilities, 30% refer to the lack of access to employment opportunities. (ENADIS: National Survey on Discrimination, 2017).

March 8, International Women's Day, is a time to remember the fight for women’s rights and gender equality led by thousands of women throughout history.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

As part of Tecnológico de Monterrey, EGADE Business School recognizes that March 8, International Women's Day, is a time for individual and collective reflection on the progress made in gender equality and on the inequalities and barriers that continue to exist, preventing the full development of girls and women.

The following are reflections by an EGADE Business School student, alumna and professor, creating awareness among the community in order to continue to advance towards a society where everyone, men and women alike, can achieve their full potential.

“Let’s take a few moments to recognize and show our appreciation for all the women from our past, since, precisely, thanks to them we can enjoy the opportunities and rights we have today,” said Adriana Meave, entrepreneur and Full-Time MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship student.

“I would love to remind women how exciting it is to be a woman with all the contrasts we enjoy. Tell them to dare, to believe in themselves. You should only compete with yourself because respect, equality and equity should be gender-neutral,” commented Adriana Hernández, EGADE MBA alumna and Supply Chain Manager for Latin America at Panduit.

“Let’s collaborate with each other to create new opportunities. And men can also help to make these key positions available to us in every context of society,” stated Christiane Molina, professor, researcher and Director of EGADE Business School’s Conscious Business for a Sustainable Future Center.

View the complete video here.