After 17 years at the ORT Business School, Dr. Norma Pontet is embarking on a new professional challenge in Mexico. Her departure marks the end of a significant chapter for the faculty, during which she contributed to academic development, the consolidation of graduate programs, and the strengthening of ties with the business sector.
A new challenge with an international scope
The role he has taken on involves leading a region with multiple campuses and diverse circumstances, within a demanding and constantly evolving academic environment.
“Tec de Monterrey is a globally renowned institution with a clear commitment to social impact. The Northwest Region encompasses campuses in diverse settings, which means leading by listening closely, being sensitive to local realities, and having the ability to articulate a shared vision. What excites me most is precisely that: building alongside teams that already have a wealth of experience and contributing a perspective from the South that enriches the conversation.”
A career that leaves a lasting impression
During his time at ORT, Pontet was part of a sustained process of institutional growth, with a focus on academic quality, international accreditation, and relevance to the workforce.
“After nearly 18 years at a business school that has made a strong commitment to quality, international accreditation, and engagement with the business community, I have a pretty clear idea of what works in academic administration—and what doesn’t. But more than just a set of formulas, I take with me the conviction that real change is built with teams, not in spite of them. That is what I hope to contribute.”
Growth with Identity
When asked about the business school’s development over the years, she highlighted a rare balance: raising standards without losing its openness.
“I saw it grow in both rigor and openness at the same time—a balance that isn’t always easy to maintain. There was a sustained commitment to academic quality, internationalization, and relevance to the professional world. And that commitment took shape organically, backed by a great deal of hard work that isn’t always visible from the outside.”
In that vein, he highlighted one of ORT’s key strengths within the educational and business ecosystem: “The combination of academic rigor and a close connection to the business world. ORT doesn’t train for the classroom; it trains for the real world. And that’s evident in how graduates enter the workforce and how organizations seek them out.”
Leading from a collective perspective
A recipient of the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching in 2016 and the Titán Award in 2020, Pontet has developed a clear vision of leadership in academic settings, where consensus and collaborative efforts are key.
I learned that the role of a leader is not to impose a vision, but to create the conditions for a shared vision to emerge.
That perspective also shapes the way she interprets the achievements made: “I take with me genuine connections, lessons that weren’t part of any curriculum, and the certainty that what was achieved was a collective effort. Every accreditation, every redesigned program, every cohort that graduated with a stronger foundation: none of that was the result of individual effort.”
The Legacy: Culture and Meaning
Beyond institutional milestones, Pontet focuses on what endures in people and in the work culture.
I’m not looking to leave my name anywhere; I’m looking to leave behind a work culture in which quality and caring for others are not mutually exclusive. If even a little of that remains, that’s enough.
His departure marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Business School, which remains committed to academic development and to training professionals capable of leading in increasingly challenging environments.