At Komunika Latam, we brought together business leaders, representatives from industry associations, and spokespersons from the public sector, academia, and civil society at the Hyatt Regency Panama City for a new edition of Spaces that Transform, the executive gathering dedicated to inclusion, talent development, leadership, and trust. The session combined a keynote presentation and two peer-to-peer conversation panels, closing with a reflection that connected the day’s key learnings.
From Pride Leaders to Spaces That Transform
The forum was born as an evolution of the Pride Leaders project, which we started two years ago. The initiative moved from showcasing leadership stories to opening learning conversations about how inclusion, trust, and people development strengthen reputation, sustainability, and talent attraction.
Guillermo Tejada, head of our PR, Digital and Marketing Communications unit, welcomed attendees and framed the purpose of the gathering: to speak with honesty and rigor so that these topics translate into practices that support operations and results. We were joined by partner organizations such as Hyatt Regency Panama City, CASEM, Pride Connection, and Sumarse, as well as media outlets as voices for dissemination.
Culture as a starting point
The Minister of Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, opened the session with a keynote presentation on the role of culture in talent development. She stated that culture is a driver of economic and social development, and that authentic, empathetic leadership shapes the health of an entire organization. She also emphasized that Panama can position itself as a regional hub for creativity by combining its multicultural richness with technology and early talent development.
Two panels: from day-to-day to management
The first panel, Stories that Lead, moderated by Paulina Rodríguez (Komunika Latam), brought together Susana Mendoza (Panama Canal), Bhernadett Anthea Villanueva (ITSE), Oscar Sosa (Terpel), Julio Mosquera-Stanziola (ANREH), and Ana María García (Grünenthal LATAM). The conversation brought inclusion into the operational sphere: measuring diversity with rigor reveals biases in recruitment and promotion, and policies deliver results when there is consistency between discourse and practice, prepared ecosystems, and a connection to sustainability.
The second panel, Companies that Evolve, moderated by Karla Mola (Sumarse), elevated the conversation to a leadership perspective with Juan Carlos Roldán (Komunika Latam), Juan Boyd (Veló Legal), Ana Sofía Alemán (ADP), and Diego Andrade (Hyatt Regency). The discussion made it clear that diversity on boards of directors improves results, reduces risks, and drives innovation when leadership supports it with KPIs and resources. It also highlighted that consistency between discourse and internal culture sustains reputation and opens access to ESG financing and new generations of talent.
What the 2026 edition leaves behind
Ana Carrasquero, Head of Internal Communications & Employee Engagement at Komunika Latam, closed the session by connecting the three segments through a shared perspective: moving from intention to action requires budget and deliberate time, and authentic leadership leads by example. Behind every indicator are people, and trust is built through consistency and coherence between what is said and what is done. Diversity in decision-making also shows verifiable returns in innovation, results, and sustainability, while projecting the company’s culture outward into society.
With this edition, Spaces that Transform reaffirms its place as a meeting point for those leading the conversation on inclusion and reputation in Panama and the region. At Komunika Latam, we will continue to build on these topics through upcoming content and events.
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