Patrick and Jessica left Seattle and moved to Panama with their 10-year-old son to create a new life for themselves, filled with the promise of personal and professional success. Patrick owned a small tech firm in Seattle that he could relocate to Panama because Panama makes it easy to set up businesses there. The main piece of the puzzle was connecting with other innovators in Panama.
Jessica was not as lucky.
A real estate agent in Seattle, she needed to apply for a work visa in Panama, and those are more challenging to get. To complicate things further, Patrick initially found it challenging to build a network of business contacts, so his firm wasn’t performing as expected.
Not having a solid social network made finding childcare for their young son difficult, and they continued to miss opportunities to expand their network and connect with innovators in Panama.
There’s No “I” in TEAM
They took turns attending networking events, seminars, and forums. Jessica cared for their son while Patrick attended the Digital Media LATAM conference, where issues like revenue generation, AI, and digital transformation were discussed.
Patrick met several like-minded people who were confronting similar issues and gained a couple of clients. Next time, it was Jessica’s turn while Patrick stayed home. She joined the Panama Business Club, which put her in contact with a top real estate firm in Panama City that was able to sponsor her work visa and get her a network of potential clients.
Growing Their Business Network
Patrick and Jessica connected with innovators in Panama. Being proactive and finding people who could help them build their professional networks was the answer. Understanding that an opportunity missed is an opportunity lost, Patrick and Jessica knew the importance of professional networks cannot be understated.
Jessica is now selling high-end real estate in Panama City. She continues to attend conferences and networking events to meet clients and find new opportunities. The more people she meets, the more potential clients she gets introduced to. Before she started attending these events, she hadn’t met anyone. Now that she regularly attends conferences, seminars, and networking events, her professional network has grown exponentially.
The same thing happened with Patrick. His small tech firm now provides technology for new, luxury, eco-friendly homes. He has his finger on the pulse of the tech market and the real estate market, and his network is growing exponentially.
Growing Their Social Network
Additionally, the expansion of their professional network has led to an expansion of their personal network. Jessica and Patrick have found their crew of young professionals with families living in Panama. When they first arrived, they could break out of their solitary lives. They became part of a community that helped each other with childcare and social gatherings.
The struggle of meeting people has turned into a growing network of colleagues and friends. Now, Panama truly feels like home.
Does Living in Panama Sound Interesting?
If you’re considering a relocation, why not consider Panama? So many others have found exactly what they were looking for in this tropical paradise. If we can help make your dreams come true, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ve been working with expats for years. And we can help you, too. Professionals in Panama find success and a magnificent lifestyle to go with it.