Business Book Fair Debuts In Mexico With AI, Leadership Focus

The inaugural Business Book Fair, held Sept. 23–24 at El Cantoral, brought together more than 30 speakers and 18 conferences across four thematic blocks, establishing a new forum for business leaders to connect through books, networking, and discussion.

The event blended insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategy with the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in business. Organizers said the fair aims to build a community with local roots and global reach, with future editions planned for 2026 in Mexico City and abroad.

Keynote sessions emphasized the importance of critical thinking, curiosity, and socialization for executives navigating an AI-driven landscape. One speaker noted, “Critical thinking must be taught. Curiosity is innate but often suppressed by education. Entrepreneurs maintain curiosity throughout life, and socialization fosters empathy, letting us view problems from different perspectives.”

AI’s role in business strategy was highlighted throughout the event. Alejandro Enríquez of Comscore noted that while Mexico has 78 million internet users, only about 20% currently engage with AI tools. “Anyone with a business plan that ignores AI is lost,” he said, pointing to the rise of retail media and data-driven models.

Discussions also explored the next stage of AI adoption, with autonomous agents acting on users’ behalf. “AI already monitors stock portfolios and acts automatically. Tomorrow, agents will manage electricity grids, health systems, and even national borders,” a panelist explained, noting the importance of oversight and trust.

Leadership, entrepreneurship, and inclusion were central themes. Paula Santilli, CEO, PepsiCo Alimentos Latinoamérica, spoke on organizational power, while Adal Ortiz, president of COPARMEX CDMX, emphasized financial education. Diversity and inclusion were highlighted as drivers of employability and accessibility.

Gabriel Gurovich presented a standout insight, predicting a shift from B2B and B2C models toward “B2AI,” in which companies will sell directly to algorithms. Panels featured executives including Edmundo Vallejo (former CEO, General Electric Latin America), Luz Adriana Ramírez (former CEO, Visa Mexico), and Vincent Speranza (CEO, Endeavor Mexico), covering topics from succession planning and high-performance teams to startup scaling and investment strategies.

The fair also included informal activities such as Fuckup Night, where founders shared failures as learning experiences, and book signings with authors including Mauricio Arcq, Fernanda Guarro (3M Mexico), and Arnoldo de la Rocha (Pollo Feliz).

Organizers announced future initiatives, including monthly business book clubs, new digital content, and international editions of the fair.