In Conversation

Mercedes Mateo Díaz is Education Division Chief at the IDB Group, where she leads an ambitious initiative to rethink education and strengthen the learning ecosystems to equip citizens with 21st-century skills. She coordinates the research, design, and execution of innovative education projects. Her work covers different areas of international development and social policy, with a strong emphasis on inequality.

Ignacio de la Vega is Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Faculty and Internationalization of Tecnológico de Monterrey since February 1, 2021. The previous three and a half years, Ignacio served as Dean of EGADE Business School and the Graduate Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He has a proven track record as an entrepreneurial leader in academic, financial, and government sectors. Prior to joining EGADE, he served as CEO of Global Babson, an organization that integrates the Global Centers of Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College, where he developed innovative programs and collaborative research initiatives with a focus on entrepreneurship.

He participated in the setting up of the Prince Mohammad Bin Salaman College (MSBC), in Saudi Arabia along with Babson College, Emaar Group, Lockheed Martin, and the Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman. Prior to this, Dean de la Vega was Chief Learning Officer of BBVA worldwide, where he collaborated directly with the Chairman, the CEO and the Group Executive Committee in the transformation of the corporate training model.

He was also President of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which studies trends in entrepreneurship in the world, and brings together more than 450 researchers and collaborators in 90 countries.

For twenty years, Dean de la Vega worked as a teacher, researcher, and Director at IE Business School where he led the International Center for Entrepreneurship and the Development of Business Initiatives. In recent years, he has also been an active entrepreneur and investor in several start-ups and SMEs.

PhD in Management Sciences from the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM). MBA from California State University, Fullerton; MBA from San Ignacio de Loyola University (USIL); and master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Lima. Economist from the University of Lima.

Current vice president at the University of Lima. Former dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, director of the International Business Undergraduate Program, head of the Center for Entrepreneurship and researcher of the Scientific Research Institute at the same university.

Current full professor at the University of Lima, with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She has also served as professor of the Master’s Program in Management at UNMSM.

Author of the book Pymes Verdes (Eco-Friendly Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises);

co-author of the chapter “Current Situation and Challenges in Peruvian Universities” in Handbook of Higher Education in Latin America: Deans’ Views and Overviews, Saarland University Press; and co-author of the chapter “PRME Latin America and the Caribbean Chapter” in the book Responsible Management Education. The PRME Global Movement by Principles for Responsible Management Education. Author of several articles published in national and international journals.

Current member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Latin American and Caribbean Advisory Council; member of the PRME Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Chapter Advisory Committee; and member of the Editorial Board of 360: Revista de Ciencias de la Gestión, a journal published by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) Academic Department of Management Sciences.

She has also participated as a member of the Academic Committee at the XIX Congress ALTEC 2021 (Latin- and Ibero–American Association for Technological and Innovation Management).

Former chair of the PRME Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Chapter, a United Nations-supported initiative; member of the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) Innovation, Science and Technology Committee; and jury member in international innovation competitions such as Desafío Intel, Young Americas Business Trust – Organization of American States (OAS) and Wayra at Telefónica del Perú, among others.

She has received scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) to attend the International Deans’ Course Latin America 2015/2016, and from the United States Department of State – Phelps-Stokes Fund, 2000.

Afifah Darke is Deputy Editor in the QS Intelligence Unit based in Singapore. Before joining QS, she was a digital journalist at Channel NewsAsia, where she covered daily local and regional breaking news. She was also a News Assistant at CNBC Asia, working on the flagship show Squawk Box with a global team of producers and editors. Afifah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the National University of Singapore. She can be contacted at afifah.darke@qs.com