In 2022, María Ángela was wrapping up her master’s degree in international business and exploring career opportunities in London when she received an unexpected call. ARZYZ, the family-owned aluminum business co-founded by her father and grandmother, was undergoing a leadership transition. With her father stepping down, she was asked to return to Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, to join her brother, the newly appointed CEO, in leading the company into the future.
“I never imagined working in the family business,” says María Ángela. “But given all the opportunities my family provided me, it was my turn to give back.”
ARZYZ is one of Mexico’s largest companies in the non-ferrous metals sector, with three manufacturing plants in Mexico and 3,000 employees. María Ángela joined as director of marketing and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), where she became the company’s sole female executive. Embracing her new role, she took charge of rebranding and sustainability initiatives, while paving the way for other women in leadership positions.
Her responsibilities quickly expanded beyond marketing, sustainability, and inclusion efforts. As ARZYZ shaped its 2030 business strategy — focused on opening two new plants and transitioning from a family-run operation to a more institutionalized structure — she worked closely with the executive team to align the strategy with the CEO’s vision and market demands. “We’re at a critical juncture,” she explains. “Professionalizing our processes is key to achieving our goal of becoming a global player.”
At this pivotal point in her career, María Ángela recognized the need for additional training in leadership, change management, and strategic planning. “After finishing my master’s degree, I dove straight into the family business. I needed to understand how other companies elevate their operations to the global level where we aim to be in a few years.”
The Executive Program in Strategy and Organization at Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education provided María Ángela with the necessary tools to meet these challenges head-on.
Developing a Global Strategy
The two-week, in-person program focuses on strategic management, organizational theory, and personal leadership. Participants learn how to create a strategy that aligns with their organization, culture, and their industry’s competitive environment. The curriculum includes lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises to give participants the tools to diagnose and solve strategic problems and create action plans to implement real change and sustain a competitive advantage.
“I gained the tools to align our senior leadership team to drive sustainable global growth,” María Ángela shares. “The exposure to seasoned leaders and their decision-making processes was especially invaluable. I would describe it as transformational.”
She found sessions on value creation and capturing, managing change, and navigating industry challenges particularly valuable. “I often stayed after class to engage with faculty, who were incredibly generous with their time and insights.”
Learning alongside global business leaders allowed María Ángela to discuss strategic growth, industry trends, new market opportunities, and talent acquisition strategies — insights she is now applying in ARZYZ’s 2030 strategic plan.
“I took away three key lessons,” she reflects. “First, strategy must always align with execution. A vision is only meaningful when it’s backed by structured implementation. Second, innovation is the driver of growth, and it looks different for each company. So, we must continually explore new technologies and business models that suit us. And third, leadership is about impact. A good boss is important, but a true leader makes a deeper influence and carries greater responsibility.”
Leading into the Future
With new insights gained from Stanford GSB Executive Education, María Ángela is strategically positioning ARZYZ for global expansion. “The program broadened my understanding of how businesses thrive in diverse global markets,” she explains. “It provided me with invaluable perspectives on navigating geographic, demographic, and socio-economic landscapes, which are essential for shaping our global strategy.”
Focused on the next steps, María Ángela recognizes the power of these learnings in accelerating ARZYZ’s growth. She’s planning to return to Stanford GSB Executive Education with the executive management team for a custom-tailored program to continue aligning their leadership vision with future opportunities.
“I’ve fully embraced the GSB’s slogan: ‘Change lives, change organizations, change the world,’” she says. “My role goes beyond execution — it’s about inspiring and aligning teams toward a long-term vision. Thanks to this program, I now feel equipped to take our family business to the next level.
