Finance Leaders Gather at The 1% 2026 Event

In a year defined by symbolic milestones for Mexico’s business and sports communities, The 1% of Financial Leaders convened its first Finance Gathering of 2026, reinforcing its role as a platform for high-impact dialogue among the country’s top finance executives. Set within the framework of Grupo Modelo’s 100th anniversary, the meeting positioned finance leadership at the intersection of strategy, performance and long-term legacy.

More than 80 CFOs and senior finance leaders from multinational companies gathered at Grupo Modelo’s “Tanque de Gobierno,” where Lorena Madrid, CFO, Grupo Modelo, reflected on the expanding scope of financial leadership. “The role of the CFO is no longer limited to safeguarding financial results. We have become architects of transformation, stewards of vision and builders of enduring value,” she said.

Miguel González, CFO of the Middle Americas Zone, AB InBev, contextualized the gathering within a broader national narrative.

“This is a historic year: Grupo Modelo celebrates 100 years and Mexico hosts its third World Cup. We are creating a space where finance leaders, athletes and entrepreneurs converge under a common mindset of ambition and excellence,” he noted.

From Elite Sports to Executive Leadership

The session incorporated a high-performance perspective through a panel of former football legends, whose participation was coordinated by strategic partner STAD. Moderated by Jesús Barrón, the discussion translated principles from elite sports into lessons applicable to boardrooms and financial strategy.

• Sustained Excellence Requires Structure: Carlos Hermosillo highlighted that peak performance depends on preparation beyond visible results. “Success is built on understanding your team deeply. The challenge is not reaching the top — it is staying there.”

• Discipline as a Competitive Edge: Luis Roberto Alves “Zague” emphasized consistency and personal accountability. “Professionalism is comprehensive. Without discipline aligned to your purpose, sustained success is unattainable.”

• Vision as a Strategic Asset: Francisco Javier “El Abuelo” Cruz underscored the power of visualization and conviction. “Everything begins with a dream, but it is faith and clarity of vision that turn it into reality.”

For attendees, the parallels were evident: financial leadership, like elite sports, demands resilience, coordination, and long-term focus under pressure.

2026 Roadmap: Expanding the Finance Ecosystem

Closing the event, Víctor Medrano, Founder and CEO, The 1% of Financial Leaders, outlined an ambitious 2026 agenda designed to expand the organization’s strategic footprint.

The next milestone will be the 3rd Finance Leadership Talks on March 26, focused on macroeconomic outlooks and geopolitical risk. Medrano also announced the launch of the first Strategic Finance Summit, aimed at entrepreneurs and CFOs of small and medium-sized enterprises. The initiative seeks to democratize access to high-level financial insight and translate global best practices into scalable frameworks for growing companies.

In parallel, the organization will launch the Women CFO Community, a dedicated vertical to strengthen female representation in senior finance roles. A new alliance with Inroads de México and Red Mentoring de España will establish a structured mentorship program focused on transferring knowledge from today’s finance leaders to the next generation of CFOs.