International Management Trip 2004

 The Monterrey Experience

Our Monterrey experience truly was both educational and exciting.  Our trip coordinator, Laurent Tran recorded his experiences for everyone to enjoy.  Please read along to find out in detail all the exciting and enlightening experiences he and the rest of the IMC trip participants had.

Monday, June 10^th:

We arrived in Monterrey on the first flight from Houston.  Beautiful weather greeted us as we entered the city.  Shortly after checking-in at our five-star hotel downtown, we took a cab to EGADE.

EGADE has a magnificent contemporary terra cote building.  The floor plan was designed to encourage interaction amongst the student body and the faculty with all the classrooms arranged along a circular corridor.

We started the afternoon with a welcome lunch with Dean Jaime Alonso Gomez, who greeted us a warm welcome.  Jaime was very excited that Rice MBA students accepted his invitation to come down to Monterrey.  He made sure that we would have a wonderful time.  Jaime has an infamous moustache that has nothing to envy that of Captain Hook!

Our first faculty seminar was held by Professor Carlos Romero.  He gave us his insights on corporate strategies and social responsibility in Latin America.  A few highlight are listed below:

• A corporation must find something hard to emulate, not just emulate
• Creative Destruction is the process of new products making older ones obsolete.  A product life time is now extremely fast.
• 14 millions Mexican workers are in the US è The US is the second largest source of income for Mexico
• China and Mexico do not manufacture the same products.  It’s misleading to think that all the manufacturing jobs that had been relocated to Mexico are now further relocated to China.
• A 20 million middle-class arose in China in the last two years è China is the largest emerging car market!
• We are the reflection of the society we live in.
• Culture acts as the filter impeding change.
• Most people don’t set a vision to grow? Do you know who are the three bests in your field?
• Ignorance and arrogance prevent development and creativity.
• Putting two oranges next to a rotten one will not un-rot it è Don’t think we can be educated and rich and survive if the rest of the world is poor.
• “Ecological Footprint” is the concept of how much land is required to support our consumption habit.
• Food For Thoughts:

It would take $6 billions to provide basic education to the Third World countries.  US consumers spend $8 billion/year on cosmetics.

Our early flight and the excitement of visiting a new city finally took its tow. After an early dinner and a few rounds of drinks, we called it a day.

On to Day 2

 More Information

• Did you know EGADE is located in the richest city in Mexico?  Learn More about EGADE and Monterrey Tec.

• The Rice MBA International Management Club wants your opinion on where its next trip will be.