Marianela Santos

Career

Passionate about innovation, inclusion and technology, Marianela Santos leads with vision in digital transformation and high-impact ESG strategies.


With decades of entrepreneurial experience, she has founded and scaled companies in smart technology, green data centers and social impact, always aligned with global challenges.


Board Member with more than 15 years of participation in Boards of Directors, Advisory and editorial. Marianela is an experienced board member and is valued for her Digital Transformation, ESG profile and her strength in strategic vision with Sustainable Finance.

Marianela Santos

Education

Pan-American Institute of High Management (IPADE) - Board Chairpersons and Senior Board Members

2025

Harvard Business School Online - Sustainable Business Strategy

2023

Stanford University - Family Office Program - Next Generation in Sustainability and Social Impact

2022

EGADE Business School (ITESM) - Energy Management Specialization

2020

International Finance Corporation - World Bank (IFC) - Digital Transformation, IFC Digilab

2019

Pan-American Institute of High Management (IPADE) - ADECAP Executive Program, Private Equity

2016

Inter-American Investment Corporation – Kellogg University - Corporate Governance for Family Businesses

2015

Directors College EGADE Business School (ITESM + Stanford) - Corporate Governance and Boards of Directors

2014

EGADE Business School (ITESM) - Executive Program for Board Members

2013

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School - Innovation, Marketing and Sales Strategies

2011

Pan-American Institute of High Management (IPADE) - ADIT Executive Program, Innovation and Technology

2010

Pan-American Institute of High Management (IPADE) - AD2 Executive Program, Business Management

2009

Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) - Bachelor's Degree in Electronics and Digital Systems

1988-1993

Entrepreneurial Experience

Coahuila Valley Ecosystem (A.C. + SAPI)

October 2023–Present

Co-founder and Board Member

Nearshoring initiative in STEM education, ICT, Industry 5.0 and inclusion for the state of Coahuila. Linking between the needs of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturing cluster and the competencies of technicians and engineers in IT/Industry 4.0.

Orben Tecnología (Orben Tech) SAPI de CV

July 2020–Present

Founding Partner, CEO and Board Chairwoman

Smart buildings and green data centers: ESG strategy through energy efficiency and IT/OT convergence. UL Spire certification. Design, digital twin, operation, ESG indicators, and ROC (Remote Operations Center). Partnerships with Cisco, Panduit, Vertiv and Honeywell.

Kalpa Ventures

August 2019–Present

Founder and CEO

Advisory, mentoring and international capital raising for startups and SMEs with ESG strategy: inclusion, environmental and social impact. Success cases include Global Nanotechnology and Zucherage.

ALSUN Tech S.A. de C.V.

January 2019–Present

Founding Partner

Innovative aluminum structure solutions for solar panels.

Hecho con Capacidad, A.C.

August 2017–Present

Founder

Non-profit civil association dedicated to promoting labor inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Uno a Uno Taller Protegido, S.A. de C.V.

October 2013–Present

Partner

Manufacturing and bottling of personalized water by people with intellectual disabilities. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and circular economy principles.

Health Angel Monitor Systems, S.R.L. de C.V.

October 2009–November 2016

Partner (Acquired by a Private Equity Fund in 2016)

Telemedicine for Mexico–US migrants. Online measurement of medical parameters, video integration and mobile visualization.

Orben Comunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

June 1995–March 2018

Founder, CEO, Board Chairwoman and Board Member

CEO for more than 23 years. Presence in more than 52 cities and 1600 clients in Latin America. More than 250 technological certifications. Recognized by Nortel, Polycom and Juniper. Clients include PEMEX, Telefónica, CEMEX, Office Depot, among others.

Speaker Engagements

2025

Womentum

Panel on female leadership in STEM

2025

Innova 4.0

Innovation panel organized by the Automotive Cluster of Saltillo Municipality

2025

Johnson Controls

Women's Global Network Entrepreneurs Fair

2024

WeConnect

Panel at the CALA regional conference

2024

Senate of the Republic

Infrastructure and technological challenges of nearshoring

2024

Tec Campus Monterrey

Digital entrepreneurship Mexico–Silicon Valley

2024

Red SumaRSE Coahuila

ESG, the new paradigm

2024

Universidad Panamericana

Innovation and entrepreneurship

2024

BNI Oaxaca

5th anniversary event of BNI Oaxaca groups: Expand your horizons

2023

World Engineering Education Forum

Panel: Ecosystems to attract and retain female engineers and scientists

2023

1st Women's Forum IPADE Business School

Panel for the community of businesswomen, representing the AD2 program (Top Program)

2023

Data Center Dynamics DCD Cancún

Add a T for Transparency to Data Center ESG Strategy

2023 y 2024

AER-Xignux

Business and climate change risks: a vision for the next 10 years

2023

Saltillo Entrepreneurship Network

Fireside Chat: entrepreneurship experiences

2023

Inc MTY

Angel investment: a sustainable and inclusive vision

2023

Rotary Club Valle Oriente Monterrey

ESG Strategy

2023

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

Sustainability Forum in Value Chains. Participation of United Airlines, Mattel and CP-KCS

2023

DEM Business and Marketing Leaders

Successful investment projects

2023

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

ESG Fundamentals (with Deloitte and Basham as co-speakers)

2023

Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Monterrey Chapter

ESG, the next paradigm

2023

EFE Consulting Group

Innovation and resilience (International Women's Day)

2022

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

EWDP keynote conference: resilience and ESG

2022

EGADE Business School

Shark Tank for master's degree final projects in innovation and finance

2022

Grupo Xignux

Risk Management Forum - ESG criteria in risk management

2022

Inteligencia Financiera

International Summit: ESG as a driver of organizational change

2022

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

ESG Panel at the Innovation Forum

2022

IPADE MEDE Program

Capital raising in international markets

2022

Irish Institute Cumbres

Stories that inspire

2022

ITESM School of Architecture

Circular economy