Mexico City, September 5, 2025.— The Universidad Panamericana the book launch Execute by Doing: The Art of Making Things Happen, a work co-authored by Carlos Ruiz González, a professor at IPADE Business School, and Alejandro Basterra, an executive with extensive experience in the chemical industry and a UP alumnus of the School of Engineering.
The event, organized by Posgrados Panamericana, in conjunction with the School of Business and the School of Engineering at Panamericana, brought together students, academics, and professionals interested in honing their strategic execution and organizational leadership skills.
A Discussion on Execution and Leadership
The panel discussion was moderated by Cecilia Canal Garrido, M.A., Vice Rector of the Mexico City Campus. In addition, the event featured the authors: Dr. Santiago García Álvarez, Dean of the Mexico City Campus, and Agustín Zabulanes, MBA, a biomedical engineer with over 30 years of experience in the medical technology sector in Latin America. Together, they explored from multiple angles the challenges organizations face in transforming planning into tangible results.
Carlos Ruiz González opened the discussion by reflecting on the role of the leader as a “conductor” who coordinates and aligns efforts: “Much has been written about strategic planning, but execution is an art that is learned through practice”. Ruiz González emphasized that, although there are methodologies for planning, execution requires judgment, discipline, and constant adaptation.
For his part, Alejandro Basterra shared anecdotes from his career and emphasized the importance of aligning the company’s purpose with employee well-being:“Employee well-being must be at the heart of organizational activities. It has been proven that when employees are happy, customers are more loyal and the company’s profitability improves.”
Trust and organizational culture as cornerstones
One of the central themes was trust as a cornerstone of successful execution. Global studies were cited, such as theDDI Leadership Forecast, which reveals that 54% of employees do not trust their direct supervisor, and 68% distrust senior management. “Trust doesn’t just happen on its own. You have to work on it every day with authenticity and approachability,”, noted Basterra
The panelists agreed that consistent and well-targeted communication is essential for ensuring that the institutional vision permeates every level of the organization. The dean of the Mexico City campus shared how the Universidad Panamericana both formal and informal channels to reinforce key messages.
The challenge of aligning large and diverse teams
In an organization like the Universidad Panamericana, with thousands of staff members and faculty, alignment is a major challenge. The panelists explained that, beyond performance metrics, it is crucial to build a strong culture based on a clear purpose.
“At a university, the purpose is to educate. That unites the entire community. From professors to cafeteria staff, everyone contributes to the students’ education,”, they explained. They also discussed institutional pride and senior leadership’s commitment as factors that foster cohesion.
The Age of Unlearning and Agility
In a world changing at breakneck speed, the ability to “unlearn” has become another key topic of discussion. Carlos Ruiz González illustrated this point with examples such as Blockbuster, which failed to adapt to the streaming era, and Kodak, which lost its market leadership by clinging to physical formats.
Alejandro Basterra expanded on this idea by mentioning the Agile methodology, which originated in the software industry and promotes constant experimentation, rapid iteration, and continuous adaptation: “We can’t cling to what we know today. We have to be willing to reinvent ourselves even before it becomes necessary”.
A practical guide for leaders and entrepreneurs
"Execute by Doing" offers not only insights but also a practical framework featuring tools such as SWOT analysis, SMART goals, management by walking around, predictive indicators, the Shingo model, and psychological safety, among others.
The book is aimed at business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and students who want to improve their ability to make things happen, whether in a large corporation, a small business, or a personal project. “Planning is good, but execution is better,” concluded Ruiz González.
Find this book at: https://pendulo.com/libro/ejecutar-ejecutando_465615
Learn more about Panamericana’s graduate programs at: https://posgrados-panamericana.up.edu.mx/
