🇲🇽: Team members: Carlos Sánchez Rojas, Paulina Garcia, Eli Gaxiola, André Feria Pacheco Ortiz, Itzi González, Daniel Hernández, Martin Mancera, and Alonso Moreno.
1) What was the core objective of your initiative, and how did it align with HBS Online’s mission of empowering global change?
To empower women employees globally through scalable leadership, wellbeing, and community models—turning corporate spaces into engines of social impact. We believe in connection-driven, real-world change.
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2) Can you describe the leadership approach that made your initiative successful? How did you foster collaboration among diverse participants? Â
Diversity became our strength by building a common language around impact.
3) What were the biggest challenges your team faced, and how did strong management help overcome them?
Time zones, remote collaboration, and balancing responsibilities were tough. We overcame them with structure, open communication, and strong mutual trust. And time. We had to develop a global-impact proposal in just a few weeks, with high standards and limited bandwidth. We overcame it by setting clear priorities, trusting each other’s strengths, and staying grounded in our purpose.
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4) How did this initiative create measurable impact for the nonprofit partner or the communities they serve?
EmpowerHER is based on a model that boosts engagement, fundraising, and leadership development within companies, scaling CARE’s reach in areas without physical volunteering.
5) What key leadership lessons did you and your team learn through this experience?
That clarity of vision builds trust, and trust fuels action. Leading with purpose turns obstacles into momentum.
Innovation & Strategy-Focused Questions:
6) How did your initiative incorporate innovative thinking to solve the nonprofit’s pressing business challenge?
We reimagined corporate engagement as an impact tool—with the use of digital communities, peer-led programs, and positive psychology to engage employees where physical volunteering isn’t possible.
7) What strategic frameworks (e.g., SWOT, design thinking) did your team use, and how did they contribute to success?
We combined strategic tools with behavioral science to create a proposal that is both human-centered and scalable. We did applied Design Thinking to uncover the emotional and structural barriers women face in corporate environments, and used other frameworks to evaluate feasibility and long-term impact.
Also what set our approach apart is the integration of psychological principles like the Pygmalion Effect—a psychological principle first identified at Harvard in the 1960s, demonstrating how expectations can shape performance. We paired this with the engagement framework and key actions of Más yo que nunca (More Myself Than Ever), a methodology I’ve developed and taught for over five years. This program focuses on emotional literacy, inner leadership, and frustration tolerance—competencies we view as just as strategic as any business tool.
By combining these elements, we didn’t just build a proposal—we created a replicable model that merges emotional intelligence with corporate strategy, enabling meaningful empowerment from the inside out.
8) How did you ensure that your solutions were scalable and sustainable for long-term impact?
We developed EmpowerHER as a flexible, low-cost proposal using digital platforms and self-sustaining engagement models—designed to grow with participation and adapt across companies and regions. We built a self-reinforcing engagement model with 4 key magnets that grow stronger with participation, minimizing costs while maximizing reach.Â
Team & Collaboration Questions:
9) With participants from around the world, how did you manage cross-cultural and remote teamwork effectively?
While our team wasn’t cross-cultural in the traditional sense, we did navigate remote collaboration across time zones within the same continent. Clear roles and mutual respect made coordination smooth and effective.
Reflection & Future Impact:
10) If you were to lead a similar initiative again, what would you do differently based on this experience?
We’d bring in feedback loops earlier—testing and refining elements of the proposal with more direct input from potential users and corporate partners.
11) How can other communities or organizations replicate the success of your model?
Start with listening. Build from real needs, keep it flexible, and design with simplicity so others can adopt, adapt, and scale it easily.
12) What advice would you give to future HBS Online learners participating in the Community Challenge?
Lead with clarity and heart. Focus on real-world impact, stay open to feedback, and don’t be afraid to create.
🔥 PART 1: Vision and Start
13) Can you describe your startup in one sentence? What was the motivation that led you to this path?
EmpowerHER is a concept proposal that turns corporate engagement into a scalable engine for women’s empowerment and social impact.
It was born from the desire to make purpose, leadership, and wellbeing accessible to everyone, even in places where visibility and resources are limited.
14) How did your leadership journey begin? What does this startup mean to you personally?
My leadership journey began the moment I chose authenticity over perfection. EmpowerHER is not just a proposal—it’s the evolution of what I’ve been building for years.
Over five years ago, I created Más yo que nunca (More Myself Than Ever) , a personal self development program designed to help individuals reconnect with their voice, inner strength, and sense of purpose. The course has impacted people across different sectors, proving that change becomes sustainable and contagious when we empower from within.
EmpowerHER brings that same philosophy into the corporate world. It’s deeply personal to me because it confirms what I’ve seen over and over again: when people feel safe to be fully themselves, they lead—and when they lead, they lift others.
15) What was the biggest management challenge you faced in your first steps? How did you overcome it?
Time. We had to develop a global-impact proposal in just a few weeks, with high standards and limited bandwidth. We overcame it by setting clear priorities, trusting each other’s strengths, and staying grounded in our purpose.
🚀 PART 2: Innovation and the Digital Future
16) How does the theme of “shaping the digital future” reflect on your startup?
EmpowerHER was designed as a digital-first solution, proving that meaningful engagement and impact can thrive without physical presence. It redefines how companies can support social causes in a connected world.
17) How do you work with artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and data? Are these technologies a tool or a vision for you?
They’re both. We see them as tools to scale inclusion and a vision to reimagine how companies engage with purpose. Tech should enable deeper human connection, not replace it.
🌱 PART 3: Team, Culture, and Leadership
18) What leadership principles do you follow to maintain and develop team spirit?
Clarity, trust, and emotional safety. When people feel seen and valued, collaboration flows naturally.
19) What were the values ​​that kept you and your team on their feet during difficult times?
We all had different pressures, time constraints, and responsibilities. There were moments where I felt the weight of carrying the full vision, but instead of getting caught in frustration, I reminded myself that everyone was showing up the best they could. I chose to focus on trust, collaboration, and the value of our connection—and that made all the difference. Â
We respected that everyone had different time limits and personal demands—but what kept us going was a shared sense of purpose. Everyone showed up in their own way, and that collective effort made the difference.
🌍 PART 4: Impact and the Future
20) What problem do you aim to solve and create a lasting impact in the world?
We aim to address emotional illiteracy and the lack of frustration tolerance—two silent barriers to personal and collective growth. EmpowerHER was designed to foster emotional safety, confidence, and resilience in the workplace, especially for women who have been conditioned to stay silent or shrink themselves. The long-term impact we seek is a world where emotional intelligence is as valued as performance.
21) Where do you see this initiative in five years? How does your leadership perspective serve this vision?
In five years, I see EmpowerHER implemented in companies across regions, becoming a catalyst for inclusive leadership, corporate wellbeing, and social impact. My leadership style—rooted in authenticity, emotional awareness, and strategic action—helps sustain that vision by building movements that are human-centered and scalable.
22) What is your most important advice to young leaders or entrepreneurs?
Build from who you are, not who you think you should be. Learn to sit with discomfort—it often means you’re growing. And remember: clarity and purpose beat perfection every time.Â
Meet the Team
Paulina Garcia:
”As a speaker representing the Mexico Chapter and winner of the Connext 2025 at Harvard Business School Online, I am proud to share our journey and the impact of our project focused on empowering women in the workforce. Our initiative tackled systemic barriers that limit female participation and advancement in key industries across Latin America. By combining data-driven strategies with inclusive leadership training, we developed a scalable model that equips organizations to not only attract but also retain and elevate women in their teams. Winning at Connext was a testament to the urgency and relevance of this work, and to the strength of collaboration across cultures.
This experience was truly life-changing—it expanded my perspective, deepened my commitment to inclusive growth, and connected me with an inspiring global network. I am especially grateful for the extraordinary team I had the privilege to work with; I’m truly inspired by each one of my teammates, and winning alongside them was the highlight of the entire experience.
To future students: don’t underestimate the power of your voice and your ideas. Use every opportunity to challenge the status quo, build bridges across borders, and lead with purpose. The world needs your vision—and platforms like BEX and Connext are where that journey begins.”
André Feria Pacheco Ortiz:
”Participating in and winning the Harvard Community Challenge was one of the most enriching experiences of my professional journey. I learned the power of collaborative work and the real impact a well-executed idea can create. I felt inspired by my teammates and motivated to keep seeking scalable solutions to real-world social problems.”
Martin Mancera:
“Being part of the first Latin American chapter to win the HBS Connext has been a deeply enriching experience. Beyond the recognition, the most valuable part was learning from an exceptionally talented team, whose diverse perspectives and commitment inspire me to grow personally and professionally.”
Itzi González:
“This year, I had the honor of serving as a volunteer in the Harvard Business School Community Challenge Mexico 2025—an experience that proved deeply transformative on both a professional and personal level. As a member of the winning team, I contributed to the development of a project centered on women’s empowerment. This initiative not only enabled critical reflection on my own empowerment journey, but also deepened my understanding of the role individuals play in fostering more equitable and inclusive communities. Working alongside global leaders in a highly stimulating and purpose-driven environment offered valuable insights into leadership, social impact, and the effectiveness of collective action. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to supporting initiatives that advance the professional growth of women, grounded in the belief that equitable access to tools and opportunities is essential for leadership and systemic change.”
Daniel Hernández:
”Although I wasn’t able to travel and present in person, being part of Connext 2025: Leading the Digital Future —organized by Harvard Business School Online— was a deeply meaningful experience. Witnessing the remarkable work of my fellow Mexican participants and seeing my name displayed on such a prestigious international stage was both an honor and a reaffirmation of the impact we can generate from Mexico in the global conversation on innovation and digital transformation. This participation symbolizes the power of connection and leadership beyond physical borders.”
🇲🇽: Team members:
- Carlos Sánchez Rojas,
- Paulina Garcia,
- Eli Gaxiola,
- André Feria Pacheco Ortiz,
- Itzi González,
- Daniel Hernández,
- Martin Mancera, and
- Alonso Moreno.
