Elva María Lara

My career journey began in a time when it was unusual for women to pursue engineering in Mexico. Nevertheless, I quickly achieved professional success as an Industrial Engineer. While still a student, I worked at a clothing factory, where I earned the trust of management and gained acceptance in a predominantly male environment.
I later pursued a Master’s in Planning Engineering, honing my analytical skills and systemic thinking. I applied these skills in logistics and analysis at Mexico’s top shipping company.
My entrepreneurial spirit led me to start a flower business alongside my corporate role. This venture instilled the confidence I needed to transition into consultancy work, specializing in logistics, marketing, and analysis. Managing my own business while working full-time demanded exceptional time management, a skill I honed to balance professional and family life.
Continuous self-improvement is vital in consultancy. I studied radio broadcasting to enhance communication, earned an executive data analysis diploma at Berkeley, and obtained a Master’s in Big Data. My quest for a broader perspective led to a Bachelor’s in Religious Sciences, enriching my understanding of human nature. Internationally, I perfected my English in Liverpool, enabling me to start a Post Diploma Degree in Business General Management at Camosun, Canada. This dedication to learning led to teaching roles at UP for over 20 years and La Salle, where I found immense fulfillment in mentoring young minds.
Professionally, my consultancy journey began with an inventory project for a music company and expanded to collaborations with medium to large enterprises. Notable projects include international logistics initiatives with McGraw Hill across Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile, as well as engagements with prominent organizations like PepsiCo in Mexico, Coca-Cola in Guatemala, and Apasco in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. I’ve also undertaken projects with multinational firms and government initiatives aimed at fostering the development of 500 microenterprises under Sagarpa’s purview in Mexico.