Returning Home With Experience, Purpose, and a Responsibility to Give Back

Couple of weeks ago, my team and I had the opportunity to spend meaningful time in Bogotá and Medellín, reconnecting with Colombia’s professional, institutional, and creative ecosystem. This visit was especially personal.

After 27 years living abroad, building my career in the United States, and spending over 15 years as a business owner, returning to Colombia as a professional, rather than as a student or visitor, felt both grounding and energizing. It was a moment to bring back what years of practice, leadership, and global exposure have shaped in me: the discipline of having run two companies, the responsibility of leading multidisciplinary teams, and the perspective gained from working across countries, cultures, and sectors.  This was about creating new relationships.

We met with leaders across construction, infrastructure, architecture, engineering, hospitality, tourism, government, academia, and media, individuals and institutions shaping Colombia’s present and future. Our goal was simple and intentional: to listen, to share experiences, and to explore how global knowledge and local expertise can meet with purpose.

As a multifaceted designer, my work has never lived within a single lane. Architecture, interiors, urban design, branding, environmental graphics, and strategy have always informed one another in my practice. That same integrative mindset guided every conversation we had: how design operates as a system, how it supports communities, how it scales responsibly, and how it can elevate both public and private initiatives.

What stood out most during this journey was the openness. The willingness to collaborate. The shared belief that Colombia benefits when knowledge circulates freely, when those of us who have built careers abroad return not to impose, but to contribute.

I’m deeply grateful to the organizations, institutions, and media partners who welcomed us, shared their time, and engaged in thoughtful dialogue. These conversations reaffirmed something I hold strongly: giving back is not a gesture, it’s a responsibility. This is not a conclusion. It’s a continuation.

Thank you to everyone who made these meetings possible. I look forward to building what comes next—together.

Paola Moya CEO & COO, Moya Design Partners (MOYA)

@bypaolamoya