Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Claudia Sheinbaum

Discover the career path of Claudia Sheinbaum, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is a Mexican politician, scientist, and academic. Most notably, she is the first woman to hold the office of president in Mexico, assuming the role on October 1, 2024. Previously, she served as the Head of Government of Mexico City from 2018 to 2023. Her background blends scientific expertise with a prominent career in Mexican politics.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1989: Earned undergraduate degree in Physics

In 1989, Claudia Sheinbaum earned an undergraduate degree in physics at UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico).

1994: Master's Degree

In 1994, Sheinbaum earned a master's degree.

1995: Joined UNAM Faculty

In 1995, Sheinbaum became a faculty member at the Institute of Engineering at UNAM.

1995: Ph.D. in Energy Engineering

In 1995, Sheinbaum obtained a Ph.D. in energy engineering.

2006: Returned to UNAM and published articles

In 2006, after a period in government, Sheinbaum returned to UNAM and began publishing articles in scientific journals.

2007: Contributed to IPCC report

In 2007, Sheinbaum contributed to the "Industry" chapter of the WG3 (Mitigation) report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4AR.

2012: Included in proposed cabinet

In 2012, López Obrador included Sheinbaum in his proposed cabinet for the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources as part of his campaign for the presidential election.

2013: Lead author for IPCC report chapter

In 2013, Sheinbaum served as a lead author for a chapter in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report.

2014: Joined Morena

In 2014, Sheinbaum joined López Obrador's splinter movement, the National Regeneration Movement (Morena).

August 2017: Won Morena's poll for Head of Government candidate

In August 2017, Sheinbaum won the National Regeneration Movement's poll to determine the party's candidate for the head of government of Mexico City, securing first place with 15.9% of the vote.

December 2017: Stepped down as mayor of Tlalpan

On 5 December 2017, Sheinbaum stepped down as mayor of Tlalpan to register her pre-candidacy for Head of Government of Mexico City.

April 2018: Campaign Launch

On 1 April 2018, at her campaign launch, Sheinbaum prioritized fighting crime, generating jobs, maintaining pensions, and expanding the Mexico City Metrobús system.

July 2018: Elected Head of Government of Mexico City

On 1 July 2018, Sheinbaum was elected to a six-year term as the head of government of Mexico City with 47.08% of the vote.

December 2018: Inaugurated as Head of Government

On 5 December 2018, Sheinbaum was inaugurated as Mexico City's head of government, becoming the first elected female head of government and the first from a Jewish background.

June 2019: Announced six-year environmental plan

In June 2019, Sheinbaum announced a new six-year environmental plan to reduce air pollution, plant trees, ban single-use plastics, promote recycling, improve water service, and construct transportation corridors, among other initiatives.

2019: Declared gender violence alert in Mexico City

In 2019, Sheinbaum declared a gender violence alert in Mexico City, establishing the SOS *765 hotline and creating safe pathways.

2019: Implemented gender-neutral uniform policy

In 2019, Sheinbaum implemented a gender-neutral uniform policy for students in state-run schools, allowing them to wear uniforms of their choice.

2019: Started Cablebús Cable Car System Construction

In 2019, Sheinbaum introduced the Cablebús cable car system. Construction on lines 1 and 2 started that year, becoming a new form of public transportation for the city.

2022: Sheinbaum attends Mexico City's gay pride march

In 2022, Claudia Sheinbaum, as the head of government of Mexico City, attended the city's gay pride march. Sheinbaum is a self-described feminist who advocates for gender equality, LGBT rights, and the legalization of abortion.

June 2023: Resignation to contend in the presidential candidate selection

On June 12, 2023, Sheinbaum announced her resignation as head of government of Mexico City, effective June 16, to participate in the internal selection process for the presidential candidacy of Juntos Hacemos Historia. Following this, speculation about her nationality arose, prompting the release of her birth certificate.

November 2023: Registered as precandidate of Sigamos Haciendo Historia

In November 19, 2023, Sheinbaum registered as the sole precandidate of Sigamos Haciendo Historia, the successor coalition to Juntos Hacemos Historia.

February 2024: Registered candidacy at the National Electoral Institute

On February 18, 2024, Sheinbaum formally registered her candidacy at the National Electoral Institute (INE).

March 2024: Launched presidential campaign

On March 1, 2024, Sheinbaum launched her presidential campaign at the Zócalo, presenting her proposals and reiterating her dedication to continuing President López Obrador's Fourth Transformation policies. She also pledged to pass "Plan C" and implement new social programs.

June 2024: Sheinbaum wins presidential election

The election took place on June 2, 2024, and Sheinbaum was projected as the winner by the INE's quick count. On June 6, district tallies confirmed her landslide victory, making her the president-elect, achieving the highest vote percentage since free and fair elections began.

October 2024: Inauguration as President of Mexico

In October 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum assumed office as the 66th president of Mexico, marking a historic moment as the first woman to hold the position.

October 2024: Resumption of diplomatic relations with the U.S. ambassador to Mexico

In October 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum resumed diplomatic relations with Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, after a suspension due to U.S. criticism of Mexico's judicial reforms. Sheinbaum introduced new protocols mandating that Salazar communicate with the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs for federal government engagement, changing the previous practice of direct communication with Mexican cabinet members.

October 2024: Sheinbaum sworn in as president

On October 1, 2024, Sheinbaum was sworn in as president of Mexico, becoming the first woman and the first person of predominantly Jewish heritage to hold the office.

October 2024: Decree acknowledging the State's responsibility for the Tlatelolco massacre

On October 2, 2024, the anniversary of the Tlatelolco massacre, Sheinbaum issued a decree acknowledging the State's responsibility for the killings, including a public apology delivered by Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez.

October 2024: Fusion of SEGALMEX and DICONSA into Food for Wellbeing

On October 22, 2024, Sheinbaum announced the fusion of SEGALMEX and DICONSA into Food for Wellbeing (Alimentación para el Bienestar) to support small local producers, offer quality products at affordable prices, and contribute to food self-sufficiency. Over 24,500 DICONSA stores will be reorganized, rehabilitated, and rebranded to Wellbeing Stores to Generate Happiness (Tiendas del Bienestar para Generar Felicidad).

October 2024: Reestablishment of CFE and Pemex as public entities

On October 30, 2024, Sheinbaum published a constitutional amendment reestablishing the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Pemex as public entities, reversing much of the 2013 energy reform.

October 2024: Bill enshrining constitutional supremacy

On October 31, 2024, Sheinbaum published a bill enshrining constitutional supremacy, limiting legal challenges to constitutional amendments strictly to procedural grounds, in response to a Supreme Court draft opinion proposing to partially overturn the judicial reform bill.

November 2024: Attended the G20 summit

In November 2024, Sheinbaum took her first trip abroad as president to attend the G20 summit. At the summit, she proposed allocating 1% of global military spending to reforestation efforts and advocated for expanding the United Nations Security Council. Sheinbaum also held bilateral meetings with various world leaders.

November 2024: Sheinbaum congratulates Donald Trump on his 2024 United States presidential election victory

On 6 November 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 United States presidential election. Following Trump's threats of a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, she warned that such tariffs would risk common businesses.

December 2024: Elevation of social programs to constitutional law

On December 2, 2024, Sheinbaum elevated several social programs to constitutional law, providing financial assistance to senior women aged 60 to 64 with the Women's Wellbeing Pension, offering medical care to the elderly and people with disabilities through the House to House Health program, and expanding financial aid to all families with children enrolled in the public basic educational system with the Rita Cetina Gutiérrez Universal Scholarship.

December 2024: Dissolution of autonomous bodies

On December 20, 2024, Sheinbaum signed a bill that dissolved autonomous bodies overseeing telecommunications, economic competition, and transparency, simplifying government functions. The Secretariat of the Civil Service was transformed into the Secretariat of Anticorruption and Good Governance, and new cabinet positions were added.

December 2024: Expanded powers for Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection

On December 31, 2024, Sheinbaum published a bill that expanded the SSCP's powers, enabling greater collaboration with the Attorney General's Office and improving intelligence gathering across all levels of government.

2024: Investment in port modernization

In 2024, Sheinbaum announced a MX$33 billion investment to modernize six ports across Mexico: Ensenada, Baja California; Manzanillo, Colima; Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán; Acapulco, Guerrero; Veracruz, Veracruz; and Progreso, Yucatán.

2024: Expansion of passenger rail network

In 2024, Sheinbaum committed to expanding Mexico's passenger rail network, restoring the Mexican State's authority to use railway lines for passenger transport services. In late 2024, she inaugurated the final sections of the Tren Maya and announced plans to integrate freight services and extend the network.

February 2025: Sheinbaum threatens retaliation following Trump’s executive order implementing tariffs

On 1 February 2025, following Trump’s executive order implementing tariffs, Claudia Sheinbaum threatened both tariff and non-tariff retaliation. Two days later, the two leaders reached an agreement to suspend the tariffs for one month, with Sheinbaum committing to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to the border and Trump pledging to take action against weapons trafficking to Mexico.