PASMAA IPADE Alumni USA-Canada held its fall Magisterial Session on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, bringing together members, business owners, and executives for an evening on the economy, trade, and the future of North America. The program, A Conversation with Mexican Business Leaders, featured Dr. John Min, Chief Economist at Monex USA, and Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, former Secretary of Tourism of Mexico and former CEO of Bancomext. The session took place at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.
Magisterial Sessions are a core part of PASMAA's economic development agenda. Twice a year, the association brings high-level perspectives to IPADE alumni who build and run companies across Mexico, the United States and Canada, so they can make better decisions about markets, trade and growth.
PASMAA opens the program
PASMAA opened the evening with welcome remarks. Jorge Arellano García, President of PASMAA IPADE Alumni USA-Canada, presented the evolution of the association: from a small group of IPADE alumni who had built companies in Texas and wanted a common place to meet, learn from each other and make their voice heard, to an international business community with members across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"Our vision is to build lasting bridges between business leaders, institutions, and communities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico."
Jorge Arellano García, President, PASMAA IPADE Alumni USA-Canada
Representatives of local economic development organizations also joined, including Nick Wolda, President of Visit The Woodlands, and Jevon Gibb, CEO of The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership.
Economic and trade outlook 2027 with Dr. John Min
Dr. John Min, Chief Economist at Monex USA, presented the Economic and Trade Outlook 2027, "USA and Trade." Since joining Monex USA in 2018, Dr. Min has advised corporate clients on foreign exchange risk, global market trends, trade impacts, and international payment strategy. He also teaches economics at George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, and holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University.
For PASMAA members who buy, sell, or invest across borders, currency movements and trade policy aren't abstract headlines. They shape pricing, margins and timing decisions every quarter.
A conversation with Enrique de la Madrid
The second half of the evening featured a conversation with Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, independent board member and strategic advisor. His career spans government, finance, international trade and tourism: he served as Mexico's Secretary of Tourism from 2015 to 2018, led Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext) and Financiera Rural, and served as a federal congressman. He holds a law degree from UNAM and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
The conversation centered on a question that framed much of the night: Do you still believe that North American integration makes sense? For an audience of Mexican executives building companies in the United States and Canada, it was a direct and timely question.
At the close of the program, PASMAA presented certificates of recognition to Dr. Min and Mr. de la Madrid for their contribution to the session.
Building a cross-border business community
Magisterial Sessions are one piece of a broader effort. PASMAA members meet monthly, and the association holds networking events throughout the year. PASMAA has also built relationships with institutions such as the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston, the Small Business Development Center, Rice University's Baker Institute and regional chambers of commerce. Looking ahead, the association is developing a mentorship program for executives new to the United States and peer working groups built on IPADE's case method.
Thank you to our sponsors
The Magisterial Session was made possible by our lead sponsor, Prosperity Immigration Law, and our supporting sponsors AOG Living, Ernest Cohen & Rothschild, Monex USA and The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership. Thank you for supporting a community that connects business leaders across borders.
Further reading
- International Business Leaders Gather in The Woodlands for PASMAA Magisterial Session (Visit The Woodlands)
- El auge de PASMAA: Los líderes empresariales mexicanos encuentran su voz en Texas (Yahoo Finanzas, in Spanish)
Are you an IPADE graduate doing business in the United States or Canada? PASMAA's next Magisterial Session is a great place to start. Learn about membership.
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