A Historic First. A Powerful Beginning: Women Automotive Summit Mexico 2025

Mexico City witnessed something extraordinary last week.

The first-ever Women Automotive Summit arrived in Mexico. The debut brought together 479 attendees from 13 countries, 231 onsite, 248 online, and 21 speakers from OEMs, Tier 1 & 2 suppliers, technology, mobility, consulting and manufacturing.

What unfolded was far more than a first edition. It became a milestone moment, a space filled with ambition, honesty, connection and the shared belief that Mexico is ready to lead the next chapter of progress in the automotive industry.

This summit belonged to every individual who brought their story, their energy and their curiosity to the room and to the screen.

Setting the Stage: A Keynote That Shifted the Room

Driving Change: Redefining Leadership for a New Era of Mobility with Mayra González Velasco

The day began with a keynote that immediately changed the tone of the entire summit. Mayra González Velasco spoke with a rare combination of strength and vulnerability, reflecting on her unconventional leadership path and the realities of navigating a global automotive career as a woman.

“I didn’t want to copy-paste leadership. I wanted to find my own voice and become the role model I didn’t have.”

It was a reminder that leadership is not inherited it is created, shaped and owned. The room shifted. People leaned in. The summit had truly begun.

Above: Virtual keynote with Mayra Gonzalez Velasco, Divisional Vice President Marketing & Sales, Nissan Europe

Voices That Moved the Audience: Live On-Stage Conversations

Leadership in a Multicultural and Volatile Environment with Maru Escobedo, CEO (BMW Group Mexico)

Maru Escobedo’s conversation was a masterclass in grounded leadership. She spoke openly about navigating complex environments, stepping into roles she wasn’t sure she was “ready” for, and leading across cultures from Mexico to Germany to Brazil.

“Sometimes the biggest barrier is believing you are not ready. The truth is: you are capable long before you realise it.”

Heads nodded. People smiled knowingly. Her story dismantled the myth that confidence must come before action and reminded many that growth often begins the moment someone asks: “Why not you?”

Above: On-stage interview with Maru Escobedo, President & CEO, BMW Group Brazil. Interviewed by Jimena Tolama, Editor-In-Chief, Bloomberg Linea. 

Championing Change: Allyship, Diversity & Belonging with Jorge Vargas, Director (Daimler Truck Mexico)

Jorge Vargas brought a refreshingly practical view of allyship. He shared how his team redesigned truck systems to make long-haul roles more accessible for women, a change that resulted in a 20 percent increase in women entering those positions.

“Inclusion becomes real when barriers are removed. Allyship is listening, but even more, it is taking action that opens doors for others.”

It was a standout moment, highlighting how meaningful change happens when intention becomes action and when design decisions create real opportunities.

Above: One-to-one interview with Jorge Vargas, Product Strategy & Market Development Director & National Chief Diversity Officer, Daimler Truck Mexico

External Impacts on the Automotive Industry: Geopolitics, Tariffs and Sustainability with Lauren Brown, CEO (Mercedes-Benz Mexico International)

Lauren Brown offered clarity in a world filled with uncertainty. She unpacked global disruptions, supply chain shifts and the evolving responsibilities of automotive leaders with honesty and precision. Her message brought reassurance as well as urgency.

“Resilience comes from transparency and agility. Mistakes will happen, but the strength lies in how fast you pivot and what you learn from it.”

Her perspective grounded the day in global context and highlighted the importance of adaptable, informed leadership.

Above: On stage interview with Lauren Brown, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Mexico International. 

The Power of Collective Insight: Panels That Sparked Momentum

The panel discussions brought a new kind of energy, fast-paced, thoughtful and full of reflection. They connected lived experience with actionable insight, creating conversations that continued into networking sessions, coffee lines and online chats.

The Accelerating Change panel brought together leaders from Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen Group Services Mexico and Nissan Latin America. From the very first question, the conversation cut straight to the realities of leading transformation in a complex and rapidly evolving industry.

Ricardo Anaya opened with a line that immediately shifted the energy in the room and set the tone for everything that followed.

“The comfort zone is the enemy of change.”

His message landed because it spoke to something everyone in the audience recognised. Transformation is not a strategic slogan. It is the willingness to step into discomfort and lead through uncertainty.

Isela Garrido built on that idea with a focus on empathy and human connection. She reminded the audience that successful change does not begin with systems but with people feeling valued and understood.

“You cannot move an organisation if you do not first understand the people inside it.”

Her perspective reinforced that culture is not an abstract idea. It is built through daily interactions and the behaviours leaders choose to model.

Claudia Rodríguez added another powerful dimension, focusing on responsibility and legacy. She encouraged leaders to think not only about their own progression but also about the pathways they create for others.

“Change does not happen because we want it. Change happens because we make room for the next generation to go further than we did.”

Her words echoed across the room. Leadership is not just influence. It is stewardship, and it is measured by the opportunities left behind for others.

By the end of the session, one takeaway was clear. Change is not a moment. It is a mindset. It requires courage, empathy and a willingness to challenge the familiar. When leaders embrace those qualities, transformation becomes not only possible but inevitable.

Above: Ricardo Anaya, Director - Ford Motor Company, Claudia Rodriguez, Director - Nissan Latin Mexicana and Rosa Isela Garrido Barcena, Director- Volkswagen Group Services Mexico. Moderated by Dr. Tiffany Hamilton. 

The Seizing Opportunities for Women in Automotive panel brought together voices from Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Mexico and Stellantis. This conversation felt hopeful and energising and grounded in real examples of what opportunity can look like in practice.

For Evelin Nava Castaldi, Director - Stellantis, that moment arrived when her manager and all male team encouraged her to step into a leadership role shortly after becoming a mother.

“They were believing in me and I was not believing in myself, so I said yes.”

Her story reminded many that the first barrier is often internal confidence and that the right support at the right time can change someone’s entire trajectory.

Marianela Calderón spoke about purpose and the responsibility of shaping the environment for the next generation.

“We as women have to live with purpose. We are not different than men, we complement every decision in any organisation. I hope that in 2035 there is no gender bias.”

She highlighted how Kia Mexico invests early in talent through STEM programs and flexible policies that help women not only join the industry but also grow within it.

Montserrat Martínez added a powerful reminder about accountability and visibility in leadership.

“Your name is in every paper, in every email, in every WhatsApp. You need to care about what you are doing.”

Her message underscored that every interaction, decision and detail shapes both personal legacy and the culture that future talent will inherit.

The collective takeaway was unmistakable. Opportunities for women in automotive are expanding and the industry is stronger, more innovative and more human because of it.

Above: Evelin Nava Castaldi, Director - Stellantis, Marianela Calderon, Director - Kia Mexico & Montserrat Martínez, Director - JLR. Moderated by Selika Josiah Talbott. 

Turning Insight Into Action: Presentations That Redefined What’s Possible

The afternoon presentations brought clarity and forward-thinking strategy across electrification, talent and capability building.

Electrification: What It Really Means with Lizette Gracida (Toyota Mexico)

Lizette Gracida delivered a grounded view of Mexico’s electrification landscape, not hype, not theory, but reality. Her multi-path strategy showed how hybrid, BEV, PHEV and fuel cell technologies each play a distinct role in Mexico’s transition. Her honesty about infrastructure and policy gaps made the conversation more valuable, not less.

Attendees left with a clearer understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities ahead.

Above: On stage presentation, Lizette Gracida, Senior Director - Toyota Mexico

Talent Development Management & Best Practices with Blanca Ivette Cabral and Magarita Del Carmen Velazquez (Kautex)

The session from Kautex offered a different lens on transformation: it focused on people. Their shared how internal mobility, structured development and clear values shape a culture where talent grows from within. They emphasised that technical skills can often be learned quickly, but the human capabilities that drive influence, communication, empathy, collaboration, courage take longer and matter more over time.

The underlying message was simple: investing in people is not a “nice to have” it is a strategic advantage.

Above: On stage presentation, Blanca Ivette Cabral & Margarita Del Carmen Velazques, HR Manager - Kautex. 

Spaces for Growth: Workshops That Transformed Confidence

The workshops created space for deeper reflection and personal development, a chance to slow down, think differently and reconnect with personal purpose.

In the in-person workshop facilitated by Dr Tiffany Hamilton, participants explored identity, visibility, leadership presence and legacy. Many left with a renewed sense of confidence and clarity and a reminder that their seat at the table is earned, deserved and essential.

Above: Attendees engaging with on-stage leaders, asking questions. 

Closing Reflections

The first Women Automotive Summit in Mexico marked the beginning of something significant.

It revealed a community ready for progress, ready for collaboration and ready to take its place in shaping the future of the mobility landscape not someday, but now.

Every voice contributed. Every story mattered. Every moment built momentum.

Above: 35+ attendees from Ford Motor Company take the stage for group photo. 

A Final Thank You

There is deep appreciation for everyone who made the first Women Automotive Summit: Mexico possible:

• To the sponsors who believed in the vision and backed it.
• To the corporate members championing progress across the industry all year.
• To every speaker who brought honesty, courage and expertise to the stage.
• To every attendee who filled each space with curiosity, ambition and energy.
• To everyone who joined online from around the globe and became part of this moment.

Each person contributed to something that will continue to ripple far beyond a single day in Mexico City.

Below: Ricardo Anaya, Director - Ford Motor Company and Meshell Baker, Chief Confidence Ignitor. 

 

 

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

The summit may be over, but the momentum is not. New collaborations are taking shape. New ideas are being explored. New voices are stepping forward.

The Women Automotive Network 2026 summits are already in motion with Europe, Mexico, Detroit and more bringing the community back together for even deeper connection and impact.

For anyone considering joining as a speaker, attendee, partner or ally, the next chapter is already being written. Be part of the next chapter and join us in 2026! 

________________________________________________________________

From Inspiration to Impact: Exploring Corporate Opportunities Webinar

For organisations looking to deepen partnership, visibility and impact with the Women Automotive Network, there is a dedicated session designed for corporate teams and decision-makers.

The webinar is an opportunity to learn how corporate membership, sponsorship and long-term collaboration can support both business goals and talent development.