Lendera and RedGirasol stand out on the list of high-potential companies that, according to the specialized business journal, were able to transform to continue to develop their business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Two crowdfunding platforms cofounded by graduates of EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey were included on the Forbes México list “The 30 most promising companies 2021”.

These companies are Lendera and RedGirasol, which form part of the list of high-potential companies that, according to the journal specializing in the world of business and finance, managed to reinvent themselves despite the difficulties generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and were able to weather the adversity of the past twelve months.

LENDERA: CONNECTING CROWDFUNDING WITH LEASING FOR COMPANIES

Fernando Padilla Ezeta, EGADE Business School MBA graduate, is the company’s co-founder and CEO.

Lendera is a crowdfunding platform that seeks to connect investors with small and medium-sized enterprises which need to lease work equipment.

People who invest their resources through the company can acquire the equipment necessary for SMEs and obtain returns from leasing assets during the contracted time.

According to the publication, Lendera has managed to connect over 105 financial institutions, such as SOFOMES (Multi-purpose Financial Companies), which signed up to invest, creating a digital community that has attracted both companies and investors.

At present, the company founded in 2016 plans to start operating in the United States and Canada, as well as Europe, where Spain could be the first country to participate on that continent.

¿Quieres que tu empresa sea verde? RedGirasol conecta a personas y empresas que quieran instalar paneles con aquellas que busquen invertir en proyectos verdes. #Las30deForbes https://t.co/UOxq5jkYR0

— Forbes México (@Forbes_Mexico) February 27, 2021

REDGIRASOL: MERGING CROWDFUNDING WITH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY

Mauricio de Mucha, a graduate of EGADE Business School’s Master in Finance, is the co-founder and CEO of RedGirasol.

The crowdfunding platform emerged in 2016 to connect individuals and companies who would like to install solar panels with those that seek to invest in green projects.

According to the publication, the company currently has more than 10,000 investors, 500 financed solar generation systems in 28 Mexican states, and 200 panel installers on its platform, thereby preventing the emission of 1,740 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.

This system has enabled small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as homes, to save nearly 14 million pesos in tariff payments, while 11.2 million pesos have been paid in returns and installers have achieved sales of over 100 million pesos.

“(Being selected by Forbes México) rewards the effort, dedication and resilience displayed by the entre team for months and years. We reaffirm our commitment to continuing to prepare a medium that allows all of us to drive the energy transition and produce better conditions for the next generations,” De Mucha commented in a LinkedIn post.

Consult the full list of the 30 Most Promising Companies 2021 here.

A diverse group of international visiting professors from the United States, India, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Canada, and Venezuela have joined EGADE Business School’s faculty. 

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

EGADE Business School - Tecnológico de Monterrey is pleased to welcome the international visiting professors who have joined its distinguished Faculty for the January-March and April-June 2021 academic periods.

This diverse group of professors will be teaching courses in the remote format, enriching the experience of students from our programs and promoting international collaboration with innovative approaches in different areas:

Abhishek Nayak (India) is an assistant professor at University of Amsterdam Business School (Netherlands). He has been invited once more as a visiting professor to EGADE Business School to teach the courses Data Analytics & Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Business Intelligence. His research work focuses on advertising effectiveness and media synergy. Abhishek holds a Ph.D. in Business Studies Specialization in Marketing and a Master in Research Methodology in Management Science, IE Business School (Spain); an MBA in International Business, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (India); and a Bachelor of Technology, Nirma Institute of Technology (India).

Jaime Salas (USA) is a professor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (USA). EGADE Business School has invited him once again to teach courses as a visiting professor in the area of Service Management. Jim coordinates an international research team that collaborates with a leading European technology company in implementing service strategies and is a researcher at the Center for Services Leadership, Arizona State University. For over 10 years, Jim held leadership positions at AT&T in the area of corporate sales. He earned a Ph.D. and MBA, from W. P. Carey School of Business - Arizona State University (USA), and a B.A. in Marketing, from the University of Phoenix (USA).

James Ritchie-Dunham (USA) is President of the Institute for Strategic Clarity, cofounder of Vibrancy, and academic affiliate at Harvard University (USA) and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the course Strategic Management. He coauthored Ecosynomics and Managing from Clarity. He holds a Ph.D. in Decision Sciences, University of Texas at Austin (USA); MBA, ESADE; Master of International Management, Thunderbird School of Global Management - Arizona State University (USA); and a B.S. Petroleum Engineering, University of Tulsa (USA). He has completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard and MIT.

José Rivera (USA) has been, for the past 28 years, a faculty member at University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, and Wayne State University (USA). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor in the academic department Marketing and Business Intelligence. He has extensive professional experience in the automotive industry, collaborating at Daimler AG (Mercedes Benz), General Motors, and Chrysler. He holds an MBA, from Tecnológico de Monterrey, and a B.S. Mechanical Engineering, from UNAM.

Luis Felipe Cisneros Martínez (Canada) is a professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at HEC Montréal and Scientific Director of Pôle Entrepreneuriat / Repreneuriat / familles en affaires, at the same institution. He is the coauthor of the most important surveys on entrepreneurship in Québec: Indice Entrepreneurial Québécois and Portrait de l’Écosystème Startup de Montréal. He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor in the academic department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  He holds a Doctorate in Administrative Sciences, HEC Paris (France); Master in Control and Decision Systems, Université Paris IX (France); MBA and B.A. in Business Administration, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. 

Manuel Alonso Coto (Spain) is a professor at IE Business School (Spain) and Director of Digital Innovation in the Executive Education Division, at the same institution. He has joined EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the course Digital Marketing. He has coauthored diverse books, such as El plan de marketing digital and Marketing político 2.0, among others. He earned a Doctorate in Economic Sciences, specializing in Digital Marketing, from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain); Master in International Trade, EOI Business School (Spain); Executive MBA, IE Business School; and B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Universidad de Oviedo (Spain).

Marcio Amaral Baptista (Portugal) is an associate researcher at the Center for International Studies - University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor in the academic department Strategy and Leadership. He has two decades of experience as a global executive and consultant at Xerox Corp., Booz Allen & Hamilton, Go To Market Consultoria, and the Brazilian Navy. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); MBA, COPPEAD - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and B.Sc. in Economics, Rio de Janeiro State University (Brazil).

Meir Russ (USA) is a Professor Emeritus at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (USA). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the courses Leadership and Managing People in Organizations. He has published numerous scientific articles and performed a diversity of editorial activities, as editor-in-chief of the Online Journal of Applied Knowledge Management (OJAKM). He earned a Ph.D. in Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and International Business, from Ohio State University, and an MBA and B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering, from Tel Aviv University.

Spyros Angelopoulus (Grecia) is a professor of Information Management at Tilburg School of Economics and Management (Netherlands). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the course Business Intelligence. His research focuses on user behavior on online platforms, organizational adaptation during digital transformation, and user security and privacy issued on online platforms. He was selected as a “Cloud Faculty Expert” by Google, for his commitment to leading transformation in Cloud Computing research and education. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems and Management, University of Warwick (UK); M.Sc. in Engineering Management and Dipl./M.Eng. in Production Engineering and Management, both from the Technical University of Crete (Greece).

Tamara Carleton (South Korea, USA) is CEO and founder of Innovation Leadership Group, instructor in the program Continuing Studies, and collaborates at the Stanford University Innovation Lab. She is returning to EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach courses in the area of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is the author of the book Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation. She has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (USA); M.S. in Public Relations, Syracuse University (USA); and B.A. in Communications, George Washington University (USA).

Urbi Garay Lluch (Venezuela) is a professor at Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA). He is joining EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the course Corporate Finance. His research focuses on alternative investments, asset valuation, emerging markets, and corporate governance. His extensive scientific production can be found in numerous publications in journals, books, and case studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance, University of Massachusetts (USA); M.A. in Internal Economics, Yale University (USA); and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Venezuela).

Vicente Quesada (Spain) is a partner of the Rokk3r Fuel ExO global venture capital fund. He is returning to EGADE Business School as a visiting professor to teach the courses Fintech and Finance Innovation and Management of Microfinance Companies. He has served as CEO of Gauss Trading and Director of Santander Investment. He earned a Ph.D. in Business & Economics, from Harvard University (USA) and UNED (Spain), and a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering, from ICAI (Spain).

Learn more about the Global Visiting Faculty program here. 

Experts from London Stock Exchange Group and EGADE Business School share their vision of the role of the Data Scientist, within the EGADE Future Forum webinar series.

By ASTRAYA RODRÍGUEZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The impact of data analytics on strategic organizational decisions is becoming increasingly dominant.

The Cloud, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Deep Learning, to mention a few, are disruptive technologies that are here to stay, and, according to Erick Caballero, Commercial Director at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), their development will become even more exponential over the next few months.

According to a study conducted by his firm, 40% of organizations are considering doubling their investment in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence, the expert explained during the webinar “Intelligence in the digital era” of the EGADE Future Forum series.

Moreover, Jacob Escobar, Director of the Master in Business Analytics, EGADE Business School, commented that the role of the Data Scientist has also evolved and become a crucial strategic piece for driving the accomplishment of key business objectives.

The Data Scientist community, Caballero added, has grown 260% in the past two years, reflecting the relevance it has gained in organizations.

“The greatest challenges for this community were the available technology, finding talent and the lack of investment for these projects. Today everything has changed; the pandemic has been a catalyst for this area. We are witnessing developments that weren’t expected for another five to ten years, reduced to months owing to the urgent need for virtualization,” he said.

Technology is already here, and human intervention is indispensable, Caballero considered.

“Human creativity and strategic capacity are extremely difficult to program. An analytic, leading and multidisciplinary profile is crucial for data interpretation and strategy creation,” he assured.

Both experts agree that the COVID-19 crisis will continue to accelerate the implementation of disruptive technologies in organizations, growing the need for competent leaders with a comprehensive vision that combines strategy and technology.

Listen to the complete chat here.

The book, launched by publisher Editorial Digital del Tecnológico de Monterrey, can be found on Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Alex Iván Suárez Regalado, a student from the EGADE - UNC Charlotte MBA in Global Business & Strategy program, published a new book on the state-of-the-art of Lean philosophy, which is now available on diverse digital platforms.

The book, titled Estrategia y operaciones esbeltas. Camino directo a la sobrevivencia y desarrollo de nuestras empresas, was coauthored with Alberto Eugenio Novau Dalmau and launched by the university’s own publisher, Editorial Digital del Tecnológico de Monterrey.

This work focuses on the conceptualization of a Lean Manufacturing implementation model, structured on the basis of the Toyota production system.

“The proposal is to appreciate the Lean philosophy as a key strategy for operational development and enhancement aimed at maximizing overall organizational effectiveness orientated towards the principle of perfection,” Suárez Regalado affirmed.

The coauthors have experience in the industry and in the area of theoretical knowledge, as well as an extensive background in global enterprises in Latin America.

With this work, they seek to provide crucial knowledge and support to facilitate the satisfactory implementation of lean thinking through a logical, simple, and straightforward methodology comprised of six stages: Customer/Market, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Planning, Leadership, and Talent Engagement.

Apart from containing technical concepts for large companies, the book provides support for Latin American SMEs, as well as business people, entrepreneurs, senior management, administrative employees, operators, and all personnel interested in achieving progress within their work environment.

“Since companies initially define strategies and then follow transformative synergies applied to both the administrative and service levels, the need has emerged to contemplate lean thinking as the most promising philosophy for adopting a strategic guideline towards the growth of competitiveness and profitability.

“Endeavoring to manage lean operations at every level by means of a reduction or elimination of all the activities that do not add value to the product or service from the perspective of the end consumer is an executive priority. This will set our operations apart with lower costs, generate a strategic advantage for competing successfully in an increasingly demanding, globalized evolutionary setting, and, above all, allow us to assure the survival and sustained growth of our companies into the future,” Suárez Regalado explained.

The EGADE Business School student commented that the methodology presented in the book has been shared within Tec de Monterrey’s Lean certification program, implemented in the paint and automotive industries, and won recognitions, such as the CLAUT Prize 2016 from the Nuevo León Automotive Cluster.

Suárez Regalado earned a B.Sc. in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Universidad de Montemorelos and a Master’s in Quality Systems and Productivity at Tec de Monterrey. He is a certified Lean expert and has work experience in the higher education, health, automotive, mining, and government sectors, among others. He has co-authored chapters in several books and collaborated as an author on articles related to operations and the supply chain.

His new book is available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play.

The Director of Tec de Monterrey’s Center for the Future of Cities has faith in Mexicans’ solidarity, joint responsibility, empathy and unity to overcome the challenges the country is currently facing.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The Mexico of today faces several challenges but has the wherewithal to overcome them, considered Enrique de la Madrid, Director of the Center for the Future of Cities of Tecnológico de Monterrey.

In his conference “Mexico before the world and its conjuncture: What are we Mexicans going to do?”, the ex-Minister for Tourism, political analyst and speaker talked about the digital economy, the five crises that, in his opinion, Mexico is facing, and the need to build a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable country for everyone.

De la Madrid said that today, beyond the constant changes, we are experiencing a profound change of era, marked largely by a collaboration-based economy.

“Platforms such as Facebook, which does not produce content; Airbnb, which does not own accommodation; or Uber, which does not have any vehicles or its own drivers, have grown exponentially, capitalizing on the work of others and collaborating with them,” he commented.

The speaker explained to Executive Education program participants and community members of EGADE Business School, Guadalajara, that the arrival of the pandemic accelerated digitalization.

“E-commerce, telework, telemedicine, and online education have all grown exponentially. Many people have been using digital processes with which they were previously unfamiliar,” he commented.

In this global context, he explained, the Mexico of today is facing five crises:

• A profound economic crisis: “In 2020, the economy suffered an annual contraction of 8.3%.”
• A social crisis that translates into greater poverty: “During the pandemic, the population who cannot afford the basic food basket grew from 36 to 45 percent.”
• A health crisis: “There have been 1.7 million cases of COVID-19 in Mexico and 150 thousand deaths, according to official reports, although the latter figure is estimated to be closer to 500 thousand.”
• A crisis in public security and rule of law: “The presence of the military has doubled, but so has the number of homicides. And Mexico is ranked 104th out of 128 countries in the World Justice Project Global Rule of Law Index 2020.”
• A governance crisis: “The federal government and many local governments have different visions. There is a lack of proper coordination between citizens and the government.”

According to De la Madrid, Mexico can overcome its challenges on the basis of its macroeconomic stability and entry into the global economy, as well as its demographic dividend, geographic position, and energy resources.

To achieve this, he said, Mexicans need to define a course towards the construction of a more inclusive, sustainable country that makes better use of technological progress.

“The only way out of this is through solidarity, joint responsibility, empathy, and unity. Without the minimum consensus, we’re doomed to failure. We must defend the values in which we believe, such as democracy, freedom, inclusion, and the search for truth,” he stated.

The complete conference given by De la Madrid can be viewed here.

José Tam, Vice-President of Digital Transformation at Softtek, and Raúl Montalvo, Director of EGADE Business School at Guadalajara site, participate in a webinar from the EGADE Future Forum series.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

“It doesn’t matter which strategic plan we have, it needs to be updated now,” urged José Tam, Vice-President of Digital Transformation at Softtek.

The executive warned during the webinar “Digital transformation in business”, from the EGADE Future Forum series, that the health measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading have left permanent changes that will force companies to reset their strategies.

“The whole concept of the Low Touch Economy is something we have learned, because we, as individuals, consumers and executives, have changed our behavior, our way of buying, our way of interacting, and even the criteria we use for decision making,” he said.

Tam pointed out that in these times of pandemic, customers have learned that technology can be an ally.

“They are getting very used to self-service, to having digital channels available, in order to live their lives at home, with little interaction, endeavoring to protect their health as much as possible, and that’s why they are enthusiastic and willing to experience new business models,” he indicated.

He went on to explain that companies have learned to use more data and recognized the importance of capitalizing on the technology they have on hand.

“We have the opportunity to start over with a clean slate. A change in attitude requires a change in mentality, and, today, this is the greatest challenge companies face,” he stated.

Raúl Montalvo, Director of EGADE Business School at Guadalajara site, moderated the webinar which can be viewed in full here.

The President of the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE) and graduate of EGADE Business School has been recognized by the world’s largest business school accreditation agency for his extensive career and inspiring work generating a positive impact on society.

By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Carlos Salazar Lomelín, President of the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE), was recognized in 2021 as one of the 25 Influential Leaders of the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the world’s largest business school accreditation body.

This annual distinction is only awarded to outstanding graduates of the more than 870 AACSB-accredited institutions around the world whose inspiring work serves as a model for the next generation of business leaders.

Salazar Lomelín, who is also Chairman of the Board of the Undergraduate Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey, receives this recognition as a graduate of EGADE Business School and due to his extensive business, civic and academic career generating a positive impact on society.

“Carlos is a responsible business leader with a global vision and strong civic sense, deeply committed to training the future leaders that the transformation of Mexico and the world requires. It is an honor and a privilege to have extraordinary graduates like him in our community, who inspire us to be part of the solution to the great challenges we face, both in organizations and in our communities,” said Osmar Zavaleta Vázquez, interim Dean of EGADE Business School.

Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, AACSB Chairperson and CEO, added, “Carlos has inspired the world and is using business education to make a positive impact on society; our association is pleased to recognize him in the Class of 2021 Influential Leaders.”

In this respect, Salazar Lomelín stated: “It was a great surprise to find out about this recognition. As I always say, such awards seem undeserved since I don't act alone; whatever one achieves is the fruit of the work and dedication of many. I have surely received more from life than I deserve, so, in response, I must always follow the path of values, solidarity and the social dimension and share with the new generations."

Salazar Lomelín has extensive experience in the private sector, academia and social organizations.

Highlights of his career include being with FEMSA from 1973 to 2019, where he held various senior management positions in different subsidiaries, including CEO of Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and CEO of Coca-Cola FEMSA.

He was also CEO of FEMSA from January 2014 to December 2017, where he promoted the growth of the commerce, health and fuel divisions. During his tenure, the company grew to have approximately 300,000 employees in 11 countries.

In January 2019, he was elected President of the CCE, taking office in February of that same year. Under his leadership, the body has launched key initiatives, such as the decalogue “The social dimension of companies”; a proposal to reform the Mexican Pension System; a call for a National Agreement to face the health contingency generated by the coronavirus in Mexico; and the creation of Agenda 2030 Working Groups in alliance with the Mexico Global Compact and the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.

Salazar Lomelín has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics (1973) and a EGADE Master's in Administration (1989) from Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he has been a Professor of Economics for more than 40 years.

Within the institution, in addition to Chairing the Board of the Undergraduate Business School, he has also played a key role in promoting Leaders of Tomorrow, a social impact program for training transformative leaders, focused on academically outstanding young people who require 100% financial support to complete their undergraduate degree at Tec.

The Class of 2021 Influential Leaders of AACSB comprises 25 graduates of 25 AACSB-accredited business schools in 15 countries, who share their passion and dedication to lead and innovate in their industries and impact their communities.

EGADE Business School has AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditations, the “triple crown,” the highest recognition that a business school can obtain at an international level and that only 1% of the world’s business schools in the world can boast.

Learn more about the career and impact of Salazar Lomelín here.

Learn more about the AACSB recognition and the full list of 2021 winners here.

A businessman who graduated from EGADE Business School, Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal is among five graduates that Tec de Monterrey honored this year for their extraordinary lives and careers with a humanistic outlook.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal, businessman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the José Cuervo Group and a graduate of EGADE Business School, was recognized with the EXATEC 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award.

With this award, Tecnológico de Monterrey honors alumni who, throughout their extraordinary lives and careers in different fields, have demonstrated a spirit of leadership with a humanistic outlook.

Beckmann Vidal graduated from the ITESM High School in 1960, from Tec as a Public Accountant in 1965 and from EGADE Business School with a Master’s in Business Administration in 1969.

He is recognized for transforming the tequila industry in Mexico, driving its presence in the world and being one of the greatest promoters of the designation of origin of the distillate.

In addition, he stands out for being a philanthropist committed to education, work, health, culture, sports and sustainable development.

"It is an honor to have studied high school, my undergraduate degree and a master's degree at Tecnológico de Monterrey, an excellent institution to which I have always been very proud to belong, where I have great friends and great memories," said Beckmann Vidal.

This year, the outstanding businessman was one of five graduates who received the 2021 EXATEC Lifetime Achievement Award, in a virtual ceremony held within the framework of the Tec's 2021 Board of Trustees Meeting.

From more than 300 nominations for the award, the graduates that this year complete the list of winners are: Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón (Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Engineering, 1985), swimmer; Elisa Guerra (Master’s in Education, 2008), educator; Eric Hágsater Gartenberg (Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Engineering, 1968), Chairman of Grupo Chinoin; and Gimena Peña Malcampo (Bachelor’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1999), CEO of Pier2 Marketing.

The award ceremony was led by Rodolfo Rubio and Joaquín J. Lozano, Director of Alumni Relations. José Antonio Fernández, Chairman of the Board of Tecnológico de Monterrey, and David Garza, Rector and Executive President of Tec de Monterrey, gave congratulatory messages to the winning graduates.