Social Impact Meets Business: ESG Nuevo Leon Forum

With the idea that social sustainability can and should become a real business opportunity, Martha Herrera, Minister of Equality and Inclusion of Nuevo Leon, announced the 3rd ESG Nuevo Leon Forum: Innovation as a Driver of Equality and Inclusion, which will be held on March 3 at the EGADE Business School Auditorium.

Herrera highlighted that the agency promotes a vision of government that recognizes companies as strategic allies in social development, generating synergies that link economic growth with priority social causes.

The Ministry has consolidated a public–private collaboration model that supports companies in transforming their social commitment into measurable impact, reputational value, and real competitive advantages.

“From the beginning, we set out to promote collaborative work among government, academia, companies, civil society, and the state government to truly advance social sustainability within companies. Nuevo Leon, considered an economic engine of the country, clearly depends on the sustainability of its own companies. And when I talk about the sustainability of its companies, I’m not referring only to large corporations, because it is often believed that only large companies need all these mechanisms to achieve economic, environmental, social, and governance sustainability,” said Herrera.

The Forum is a free, open, inclusive, and purpose-driven event, designed so that companies of all sizes can access strategic information, practical tools, and case studies that enable them to integrate social sustainability into their business models and supply chains, in line with the demands of global markets.

“Today, companies do not need more speeches; they need allies. Companies generate wealth and well-being, and when they do well, the entire state does well. The Government of Nuevo Leon is building a model that supports them (companies) in integrating social sustainability as a real competitive advantage, one that allows them to grow, attract investment, and access new markets,” said Herrera. 

In an environment where major investments coming to the state require responsible supply chains, the Ministry promotes this space as a way to connect local companies and people to the benefits of economic development, strengthening Nuevo Leon’s competitiveness within global value chains.

In this context, academia and leadership development play a key role in preparing companies to face the challenges of sustainability, innovation, and global competitiveness.

Miguel Treviño, Director of the Monterrey Campus of the School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnológico de Monterrey, noted that “innovation, knowledge, and leadership training are key factors for companies to compete in an increasingly demanding global environment. Spaces such as the ESG Nuevo Leon Forum make it possible to translate social sustainability into real capabilities for organizations, strengthening their decision-making, their talent, and their impact on the economy and society.”

During the Forum, key topics will be addressed, including how to increase business valuation through ESG criteria, innovation in social impact projects, new purpose-driven financing models, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in sustainability.

In addition, the launch of a free online course for calculating Social Return on Investment (SROI) will take place, enabling companies and organizations to measure, manage, and communicate their social impact in alignment with international standards.

One of the central moments will be the presentation of results and the awarding of the 2025 Corporate Equality and Inclusion Award, an accompaniment framework designed based on the analysis of 16 international certifications and standards, which currently recognizes 26 organizations of different sizes and sectors, ranging from large corporations to small businesses, educational institutions, and organizations in the creative sector.

From the private sector’s perspective, strategic partnerships are consolidating as a key factor in turning social sustainability into economic value and a competitive advantage that is sustainable over time.

Ana Margarita Garza-Villarreal, Director of Public Affairs LATAM, Clarios, highlighted that “the vision we share with the Ministry and with the School of Government at Tecnológico de Monterrey is to bring additional companies into this ecosystem, where we all work together to multiply the positive effect of our individual actions. The invitation to companies and institutions of all sizes is to become informed, prepare, raise awareness, and act responsibly in the face of the challenges we face as a state and as humanity, including ourselves as an active part of the solution.”