In 2020, when the pandemic forced thousands of businesses across Mexico to shut down, a group of leaders met virtually with a single question in mind: How do we protect our people without jeopardizing the viability of our organizations?
There was no answer, but they all had something in common: the need to share, listen, and learn together. That moment marked more than a crisis—it ignited the value of a network that had been forming for years: the Conscious Leadership Circle.
This community, driven by the Conscious Enterprise Center at Tecnológico de Monterrey and the Conscious Capitalism Mexico Chapter, wasn’t created to provide foolproof solutions but to support companies and leaders through uncertainty.
Today, through a Business Membership, it brings together those who understand that leading goes far beyond financial decisions—it means responding with awareness amid complexity.
This article, based on an interview with José J. Ruiz, Chair of Conscious Capitalism Mexico and CEO of executive consulting firm Alder Koten, is more than an explanation of how this network works—it’s an invitation to understand why, in times like these, leading with consciousness is not optional; it’s the only sustainable path.
Conscious Capitalism in Action: More Than a Philosophy, a Living Network
Conscious Capitalism has evolved in Mexico over the past decade as an ethical and human-centered alternative to traditional business models. Inspired by pioneers like John Mackey and Raj Sisodia, it has taken root in Mexico thanks to alliances like the one between the Conscious Enterprise Center and the national Conscious Capitalism Chapter.
From this collaboration emerges a Business Membership that offers more than access to events or workshops—it offers a sense of belonging to a network of leaders who share values, real experiences, and difficult decisions.
The Conscious Leadership Circle strives to be a space of ongoing support, where the true value lies in open conversations about doing business differently, with a focus on more ethical, human, and sustainable practices.
The Gray Zone Where Community Shines
During the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of businesses faced what seemed like impossible dilemmas: how to care for employees while remaining viable, how to preserve value chains without breaking ties with suppliers, and how to respond to shareholders without abandoning purpose.
It was in this “gray zone” where the Conscious Leadership Circle emerged as an essential tool.
“When everything is black or white, you don’t need help. But in the gray zone, community is everything,” says José Ruiz.
Practicing Conscious Capitalism through this collaborative network allowed companies to share real-world strategies to navigate the crisis without losing focus on people or long-term sustainability.
Leading a company in today’s Mexico is not just a technical challenge—it’s an existential one. Every decision, from laying someone off to choosing which supplier to support, carries human, ethical, and often emotional weight.
Paradoxically, the higher one climbs in an organization, the more isolated leadership can feel. The Conscious Leadership Circle seeks to disrupt that isolation, creating a space where leaders can drop the act of having all the answers, not compete for the best speech, but rather share their toughest dilemmas with people who truly understand.
That honesty, which Ruiz points out is rare in traditional business settings, is precisely what gives this Business Membership its depth: it’s not about building a contact list, but a network of consciousness.
What Does This Business Membership Offer?
The Conscious Leadership Circle is a Business Membership model designed for business leaders across different industries and company sizes who face complex decisions in uncertain environments. It’s structured across three levels:
- CEO Journey: tailored for general managers and top executives, with exclusive gatherings to share real challenges and best practices.
- Conscious Champions: individuals within each company who live and uphold the principles of Conscious Capitalism internally.
- Extended Ecosystem: collaborators and stakeholders seeking to learn, participate, and amplify the impact of organizational awareness.
The membership includes monthly meetings, webinars, company visits, and continuous learning opportunities that help build capacity, share insights, and strengthen the business fabric through a logic of interdependence.
The New Leadership Requires Community
José Ruiz puts it plainly: the variables once considered “stable”—such as exchange rates, regulation, and political landscapes—are now changing at an unprecedented pace.
This means decision-making now depends more on judgment, ethics, and awareness than solely on data and spreadsheets.
That’s where the Conscious Leadership Circle stands out. Large companies learn agility from smaller ones, while startups understand how to strengthen their structures by observing the established players.
In the end, everyone involved discovers in each other a richer version of their strategy.
Toward an Economy for Everyone: The Deeper Vision of Conscious Capitalism
Another key point made by José Ruiz in this conversation is that Conscious Capitalism isn’t just for the “kind owner” or the “ethical boss”. It’s a call for everyone: employees, leaders, suppliers, and clients to see themselves as value creators and shared prosperity builders.
“The mission of Conscious Capitalism is to elevate humanity. That simple and that complex,” he summarizes.
And to do that, more than just goodwill is needed: it takes networks, support, questioning, and institutional structures that decentralize power and strengthen collaboration.
José emphasizes that being part of this Business Membership means recognizing that leadership today isn’t about knowing it all—it’s about learning together. It means sharing the burden of decisions and building a shared path toward a more just, human, and sustainable economy.
The Conscious Leadership Circle doesn’t offer magical formulas—but it offers something more valuable: a living community of leaders brave enough to lead with awareness.
If we’re going to change how business is done in Mexico, good intentions alone won’t cut it—we need community.
If you'd like more information, you can reach out to Tiziana Quattrociocchi at t.quattrociocchi@tec.mx