Quijano & Associates had the honor of hosting the event “Boards creating Value”, organized by Business Families of Panama, of which we are a proud sponsor. The event brought together business leaders, academics, and governance experts to discuss the importance of family and corporate governance bodies in ensuring the sustainability and long-term success of family-owned enterprises in the region.

Family businesses as a social and economic cornerstone: Throughout history, family businesses have been a vital socioeconomic pillar in Latin America. In Panama, while some have disappeared due to a lack of professionalization, many others have endured and evolved thanks to two decisive factors: the commitment of owners to long-term continuity and the effective functioning of Family Governance Bodies (FGB) and Corporate Governance Bodies (CGB).

The value of renewed governance: The event emphasized the unique challenges faced by business families in today’s complex and competitive landscape. It highlighted the need to renew governance structures—both family and corporate—as tools not only for control and transparency, but also for strategic coordination between boards and executive teams.

Within this framework, the role of independent directors was underscored as vital to developing strategic capabilities and effectively managing emotional dynamics within family ownership, ensuring continuity and sustainable value creation across generations.

At Quijano & Associates, we firmly believe that sound corporate governance is a key driver of sustainable value creation and a safeguard for family legacy preservation. As a sponsor of the Business Families of Panama Foundation, we proudly support initiatives that foster dialogue, leadership development, and the advancement of governance best practices.

Our role as hosts of this event reaffirms our commitment to strengthening Panama’s business ecosystem and to promoting robust, transparent, and forward-looking governance structures—cornerstones of responsible management and long-term success.