I began this note from Monterrey Mexico, at a hotel at the edge of the Parque Fundidora, a metal foundry that has been converted into a giant park with museums, amphitheaters and the largest man-made river in Latin America.
I learned a bit more about the park’s use and its history Wednesday afternoon when we arrived in Monterrey because students on our global leadership trip were greeted by the Secretary of Tourism for the state of Nuevo Leon. Like in the U.S., Mexico is made up of states, and like in Texas, the leaders of Nuevo Leon are very proud of the fact that their state, which shares a small part of the U.S. border with Texas, is considered the economic powerhouse of their country.
Even before arriving at the Torre Ciudadana, a giant government building, our students had learned a bit about adaptability. Although Monterrey is just an hour flight from San Antonio, we’d experienced flight delays and unseasonable cold and rain – the weather in Monterrey is much like San Antonio, and like San Antonians, people in Monterrey are ill-equipped for cold.
During a question session, Deputy Secretary Stephan Kipper directly confronted misperceptions about Mexico, noting that Nuevo Leon has recently built a superhighway that is heavily patrolled by law enforcement and very safe. On our second day, we heard more about how Nuevo Leon is trying to establish itself as one of the safest cities in Mexico, both for the quality of life of the people who live there, but also for visitors. Monterrey is one of 3 Mexican cities that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, part of a partnership between the U.S., Mexico and Canada that includes 11 U.S. cities and 2 Canadian cities, for a total of 16 sites. Our students visited the BBVA Stadium that will host the World Cup, watched the women’s Rayadas team play in the rain, and heard directly from Francisco Rodriguez Ruiz, a former soccer commentator who is managing preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
Rodriguez encouraged students to find the nexus between their passion, noting that while he was an obsessive soccer fan, he knew he would never be good enough to play, and their talents, offering tips for how to build relationships by listening to the hearts of others.
Student leaders who joined us had a chance to hear directly from business leaders, including the passionate team at Softtek, where the innovation team is working with the Mexican Ministry of Public Health to use AI to make health appointments more meaningful for the patients. We heard from leaders at one of Monterrey’s largest and most established global companies, CEMEX, about how they sought to make the production of cement more sustainable. At Prodensa, Juan Carlos Posada shared how their company has built a business niche supporting global manufacturing companies that want a successful Mexican experience, and encouraged them to follow their instincts as they pursue their career paths.
Our students also soaked in the culture of Mexico, starting with the food, and visiting with peer high school students at Prepa Tec, a private school with a STEM focus, and touring the university Tec de Monterrey. As we left, the students exchanged hugs and social media handles. At Tec de Monterrey we also visited with Jose Antonio Torre from the Center for the Future of Cities, who described a process of engaging the community around the university in a process of community rebuilding.
Sharing reflections on the eve of our departure, our students spoke about the generosity of our hosts, all high-level people who took time out of their busy schedules to welcome young leaders from the United States, and how many of them would love to return to Mexico. We’re so grateful to our partners, the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, who make this trip possible for our students. We adults enjoyed every stop on our trip, but the joys are doubly so seeing this magical place through the eyes of our students, who leave experienced global travelers.
Jeanne Russell
Executive Director
CAST Schools
