San Diego Red is recognizing the figures who helped shape the year, and in the 2025 Business Leader category, the honor goes to Elisa Ibáñez, the first woman to serve as president of Coparmex Tijuana.
The distinction highlights both a solid professional trajectory and a milestone moment for one of the region’s most influential private-sector organizations. With her appointment, Ibáñez becomes the first woman to lead Coparmex Tijuana in more than six decades, taking on the role at a time marked by economic, labor, and social challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A certified public accountant and human capital specialist, Ibáñez brings more than 30 years of professional experience to the position. Since 2009, she has been a partner at Impuestos al Capital Humano within Mauricio Monroy Contadores, where her work has focused on tax, labor, and social security matters—key areas for business development and regulatory compliance.
Her involvement with Coparmex has been long-standing. Before being elected president, Ibáñez served on the organization’s board of directors and held the position of treasurer. She also led the Labor and Social Mobility Commission and participated in specialized committees at both the regional and national levels. Her appointment as president of Coparmex Tijuana was approved unanimously.
In a recent interview with San Diego Red, Ibáñez said she assumes the role with a strong sense of responsibility, fully aware of Coparmex’s role as a bridge between the business community, government authorities, and society. She has emphasized the need to strengthen internal unity, promote open dialogue, and expand participation within the organization, particularly among women and younger generations of business leaders.
Breaking Barriers in a Traditionally Male-Dominated Space
Ibáñez has acknowledged that becoming the first woman to lead Coparmex Tijuana was not something she immediately processed. Over time, she says, her focus shifted away from gender and toward the responsibilities of the position itself. What matters most, she argues, is not whether a leader is a man or a woman, but whether they have the preparation, commitment, and availability required to serve effectively.
Historically, Coparmex leadership reflected the organization’s identity as a business advocacy group with a strong public stance and a confrontational role when necessary. For years, that profile was often associated with male leadership. Ibáñez challenges that notion, noting that firmness, authority, and credibility are rooted in knowledge and responsibility, not gender.
Her presidency marks not only a personal achievement, but a broader shift in how leadership within the private sector is evolving in the region.
