2026 On The Move: Travel, Uncertainty, and the BOKS Community by Maria Mondeja

Maria Mondeja of BC&MC reflects on a journey shaped as much by people as by places. Drawing on her experiences across the alliance, she captures the spirit of connection, curiosity, and collaboration that defines BOKS—where professional relationships often evolve into something more personal, and where each destination becomes an opportunity to strengthen our truly global community.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I love to travel.

Travel means different things to different people, but for me, it has always meant freedom. You see, I was born in Cuba, an island (or more accurately, an archipelago) under a restrictive communist regime that made travelling abroad nearly impossible. And to quote Frank Herbert, one of my favourite authors, “being forcibly bound to a place… fills you with a longing to travel. It creates a need to make far voyages and see strange things. Eventually, travel comes to mean freedom”

Thus, I have become one of those internet memes of people who are always either on a trip, planning a trip, or thinking about future destinations.

I am also very fortunate to be part of a global community of friends and colleagues who are consistently warm and generous in their welcome—regardless of whether we have met in person before. This has certainly been my experience with all BOKS members I have had the pleasure of visiting on their home soil. One of the rewards of belonging to BOKS is precisely this global reach: more often than not, there is a member in the city you are visiting, genuinely interested in meeting.

MADRID — A CITY THAT FEELS LIKE HOME

My first trip abroad this year took me to Madrid, a place that never disappoints.

Over dinner at the lovely Club Matador with David González Pescador, Managing Partner of Glezco Asesores y Consultores, what struck me most was not what we discussed, but what we didn’t. Business topics were there, of course, but they were not the focus. Instead, the conversation naturally moved toward life stories, experiences, and the kind of exchanges that leave you looking forward to future encounters. It is perhaps in those moments that relationships are truly built.

David also told me about the first cultural exchange under the Staff Mobility Initiative, hosted in Santander, where Glezco has its headquarters—an initiative that reflects BOKS’ potential and its intention to be more than a business network, bringing meaningful value to its members and their collaborators.

I also had the chance to share a memorable seafood lunch with Jacinto Colorado, founder of VÍA CONSULTORES. In Chile, we greatly admire the work Jacinto has done in growing the firm and see him as an inspiration for our own accounting and tax practice.

Our conversation also covered the development of the BOKS Global M&A initiative—its launch, evolution, and future—as well as the broader ambition within the network to build something that truly transcends borders by leveraging the collective expertise and connections of its members in a practical way.

With both David and Jacinto, we agreed on the network’s potential and its impressive growth, particularly given how young BOKS still is. But becoming a true powerhouse requires more than reach. It demands a genuinely international mindset—one that actively leverages contacts, expertise, and capabilities to build initiatives that go beyond organic referrals. In the end, it is not only about being ready for when things happen, but about helping make them happen.

MALTA — SMALL ISLAND, GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

My next stop was Malta—considered one of the most beautiful places in Europe, and a mandatory destination for anyone who has ever held a fascination for the knights and the Crusades, as the island was for many years home to the Knights of Saint John, also known as the Hospitallers.

In Valletta, I had the pleasure of meeting Adrian Sciberras and Rachel Grech from Firstbridge, Cleven D’Amato and Rana Zalghout from A4 Services, and Geraldine Noel from Acumum – Legal & Advisory.

Over breakfast at the historic Café Cordina, what began as a conversation about Malta’s economic positioning quickly expanded into a broader exchange of perspectives—on regulation, growth, and what makes certain jurisdictions stand out and become attractive destinations for international business.

Malta’s story is, in many ways, a reminder that resilience and adaptability matter (probably now more than ever)—that countries, and firms alike, can reinvent themselves, find their niche, and play roles far greater than their size might suggest.

But beyond the macro view, what stayed with me was something simpler: the ease of the conversation, the openness, and the genuine willingness to share knowledge. There is a certain generosity among members in these exchanges that should not be taken for granted.

Sidenote: I would be remiss to end my notes on Malta without recommending a visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, one of the most extraordinary churches I have ever seen. My advice: don’t Google it, don’t look at photos—just go. Let it catch you completely off guard and awe you the way it did me.

TUNISIA — AN AFRICAN GEM

My last stop on my BOKS member visits was Tunisia, a country with a history so layered that it almost forces you to slow down and pay attention.

There, I met with Mehdi Maazoun, Partner at AMF and a member of the Instance Générale de Partenariat Public-Privé (IGPPP). We quickly discovered a shared passion for history, which made it a real treat to listen to Mehdi bring the country’s past to life—from its Carthaginian, Roman, and Ottoman periods, to its more recent history and challenges. There is nothing quite like hearing these stories from someone on the ground to bring to life what one may learn from books.

Mehdi also explained Tunisia’s evolving role as a near-shoring destination for European countries, particularly in the industrial city of Sousse, and how it is leveraging its history and strong ties to France to position itself as a bridge between Europe and other African countries.

This visit was made particularly meaningful by taking place during Ramadan, offering a valuable perspective on how culture and religion shape daily life and business practice in Tunisia and other Muslim-majority countries. It was a reminder that markets do not exist in a vacuum—they are shaped by many non-market factors that we must strive to understand to deliver greater value to our clients.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I want to close this post with some final reflections on this trip, which covered around 40,000 km and took me far and wide across different continents, cultures and levels of development.

First, it has become clear to me that, across all the BOKS members I have met, a common theme consistently emerges: the importance of in-person encounters, the value placed on the human side of the community we are building, and a genuine interest in preserving and strengthening those relationships. For many, the true value of BOKS lies in its people. Let’s not take that for granted.

Second, this is my third trip in less than five years that has been impacted by conflict. And just considering the first four months of this year, I am sure many would agree that it feels like we are living on a rollercoaster.

There is a ripple effect to global events that we are all trying to understand—and more importantly, to navigate: increasing geopolitical tensions, inflation and rising prices, supply chain disruptions, weakening of democratic institutions, economic sanctions, AI, generational shifts… the list goes on.

If you felt a bit exhausted just by reading it, you are probably not alone. I recently heard it put this way: “We are not in a time of change, but in a change of times.” And perhaps that is exactly the right way to look at it—things are not going back to what they used to be. The cat is out of the bag, so to speak.

This new epoch requires us to be resilient, adaptable, and open-minded—willing to learn, experiment, and fail, then try again. It calls for building strong, reliable, and far-reaching communities that enable us to support one another, understand one another, and act with greater empathy.

In a time of almost infinite options, social networks, and digital marketing, the most valuable currency remains the same: trust.

Shared interests may bring people together, but trust is what transforms those connections into a meaningful community.

Let’s keep meeting, building, and growing the BOKS community. Let’s not stay in our lane, but look beyond our borders and professions, and build something greater than the sum of its parts. I believe we will all be better for it—as individuals and in the way we serve our clients.

Until we meet again…