Zapata-Cantú, Laura Esther

Laura Zapata Cantú is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey, where she has held various positions throughout her 25-year professional career at the institution. At the same time, Laura participates in consulting processes on strategic planning and institutional strengthening issues, both for private sector companies and civil society organizations. Since 2018 she has been a counselor of the Mexican Red Cross, Monterrey Delegation where she chairs the committee of the School of Nursing and Technician in Medical Emergencies. She has been a visiting professor at different universities, teaching courses on business strategy, knowledge management, and organizational learning: Master's Degree in Strategic Management and Innovation Management offered by the Postgraduate University Institute, sponsored by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Alicante and the Carlos III University of Madrid; at the Department of Business Economics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain and the ICN Business School in Nancy, France. From 2003 to 2004, she served as Director of the International Liaison Office of the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Barcelona, a period in which the office was opened in this city, allowing the Tec to link and strengthen itself with the prestigious universities of this region. Since January 2006, she has been a member of the National System of Researchers (CONACYT), receiving the appointment of Level 2 Researcher in January 2017. She is the author of more than 20 articles in indexed journals, more than 15 chapters' book, and is co-author of five academic research books. Her research works are oriented to the management and strategic planning in small and medium-sized companies, the impact of information technologies in the area of human resources, knowledge management, and organizational learning. She currently focuses on organizational changes derived from studying the future of work and its impacts on organizations. In 2008, she received from the Tecnológico de Monterrey the award for Teaching and Research Work from the Division of Administration and Finance, where she also obtained the distinction of associate professor. From 2009 to 2014, she held the research chair for European Studies on Development and Competitiveness at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, from which she supported and promoted the participation of the Tecnológico de Monterrey in various international university linkage projects in the Framework Program 7 of the European Union. among which are: PILA (Intellectual Property in Latin America) 2009-2011, SUMA (Sustainability University Management) 2010-2012, and EQUALITY 2012-2014. From this last project comes the initiative Premio Mujer Tec. From March 2018 to February 2022, she was Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at EGADE Business School where she was also Director of the MBA Programs, Monterrey Campus (2011-2018). In these positions, she has stood out for her support for her team's growth, as well as for the transformation of the postgraduate program portfolio, the incorporation of online programs, and the introduction of alternative graduate credentials. Her strengths include strategic vision, educational innovation, creativity in problem-solving, and critical thinking. Laura Esther Zapata Cantú obtained a bachelor's degree in Marketing and a master's degree in Administration from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey. She received the degree of Doctor of Administration from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain, where she lived with her family from 1999 to 2004. Laura has been married to José Luis Pineda since October 1996, and she is the mom of Emilio and Eugenio.