PEDAGOGY
BIOGRAPHIES
A laboratory for ethical leadership Collectively, these projects illustrate how the TOG transcends academic formality to become a catalyst for transformation. They function as micro-interventions that operationalise the “triple bottom line” framework proposed by John Elkington in Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business . This compels companies to assess success through the integrated perspectives of profit, people and the environment. In this context, the MBA programme at ITESO emerges not merely as a credential, but as a laboratory for ethical leadership and a platform for catalysing change in strategic sectors of the Mexican economy. The organisations in these examples were initially proposed by the students themselves and, in most instances, are either owned by the students or where they are employed. During the in-company project, the students’ role involves conducting a comprehensive assessment of various philosophical, operational, strategic, financial and leadership aspects. Subsequently, students develop a business model and strategic plan that they then present to the business owners and executives of the companies at the conclusion of the course. This approach facilitates collaboration through the provision of feedback that empowers companies to enhance their capacity for managing innovation and developing sustainably. In the dynamic business environment of the 21st century, business education needs to undergo a profound reinvention. Institutions must resist commodification and recognise the industry’s transformative potential. Business schools must nurture professionals with technical expertise, social consciousness, ethical principles and a proactive engagement in creating a more equitable and sustainable world. By seamlessly integrating personalised mentorship, interdisciplinary learning and socially impactful projects, the ITESO MBA and its SAP model equip students to become leaders who understand that profitability and purpose are mutually reinforcing. As the programme’s culminating experience, the TOG lies at the centre of this integration, allowing students to engage deeply with real-world challenges and propose solutions that uphold human dignity and planetary boundaries. This educational approach has a significant impact on students’ professional trajectories, industries, communities and ecosystems, positioning the school as a beacon of transformative business education. Amid growing questions around business education’s legitimacy due to perceptions of its detachment from pressing societal and environmental concerns, ITESO’s model reaffirms the relevance and necessity of a human-centred, ethically robust and socially engaged approach. It reminds us that the future of business leadership hinges on intellectual prowess, innovation, a moral compass, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Martha Leticia Silva-Flores co‑ordinates the research, development and innovation (IDI) courses and previously headed the High-Impact Social Innovation Centre (CISAI) at ITESO University Business School in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her research focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship with social and technological implications. Silva-Flores holds a PhD in social science and a master’s degree in education and cognitive processes from ITESO Francisco Javier Vázquez Junior is MBA programme director and a professor at ITESO University Business School, where he has co-ordinated IDI courses and also serves as head of the school’s AMBA accreditation. In addition, Vázquez is managing director and a co-founder of Testing Mexico,a company that has received numerous awards for its innovative work. Vázquez holds a doctorate in values-driven leadership, a master’s in engineering for quality and an MBA, as well as postgraduate diplomas in competency-based education and educational management
Ambition • ISSUE 6 • 2025 27
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