About Us
We believe good governance is quietly transformative
Zipa was formed to bring careful, independent thinking to the boards and owners who shape lasting organizations in Colombia.
Back to HomeOur Story
Founded on a simple conviction
Zipa began in Bogotá after years of observing how family businesses and growing organizations struggled — not from lack of talent, but from structures that hadn't kept pace with what they had become. Roles overlapped. Decisions stalled. Succession felt distant and unplanned.
Our founder worked closely with boards across several industries before recognizing that most governance challenges share a common character: they respond well to a calm, unhurried review rather than urgent intervention. That insight shaped everything about how Zipa works.
The name Zipa draws from the Muisca tradition that shaped this region of the Andes — a reminder that good governance has always been about stewardship: of people, decisions, and the long arc of an organization's purpose.
Today, Zipa serves a small number of clients at any given time. That is deliberate. We do not scale our roster at the expense of the attention each board deserves.
Our Mission
To help boards in Colombia govern with the clarity, structure, and independence that allows their organizations to move forward with confidence — and their people to lead with purpose.
Our Approach
We come alongside — not in front. Zipa advises, not directs. We listen before we suggest, and we offer only what the board can genuinely adopt. That kind of measured advisory relationship tends to produce the most durable results.
Who We Serve
Family businesses preparing for a transition. Established companies strengthening oversight. Nonprofit boards building better rhythm. We work in Spanish and English, across Bogotá and the rest of Colombia.
The People
A small, careful team
Each member of Zipa brings a particular kind of attention — to governance, to people, and to the specific character of every organization we work with.
Andrés Castellanos
Founding Advisor
Over fifteen years advising boards and ownership groups in Colombia across financial services, manufacturing, and the social sector. Andrés leads governance reviews and the Stewardship Study engagements.
Laura Velandia
Board Practices Lead
Laura specializes in board structure and director development. She brings experience from both private company governance and nonprofit board design, with a focus on practical, adoptable frameworks.
Felipe Morales
Risk & Succession Advisor
Felipe focuses on succession planning and governance risk within family-owned enterprises. He facilitates board discussions with the patience and care that sensitive conversations require.
Our Standards
How we hold ourselves accountable
We apply to ourselves the same standards of clarity, independence, and stewardship that we encourage in every board we advise.
Client Confidentiality
No client information is referenced, shared, or used outside of the engagement — ever. We keep explicit protocols for data handling and communication, and revisit them regularly.
Independence in Practice
We do not accept referral fees or indirect compensation from any party connected to a client engagement. Our advice is shaped by the board's interests, and nothing else.
Engagement Documentation
Each engagement begins with a written scope and ends with a written summary. Nothing is left implicit — both parties know what was agreed, what was reviewed, and what was recommended.
Feedback After Every Session
We invite boards to share what was useful and what could be clearer at the close of every session. That feedback shapes how we continue — and how we improve.
Continuing Advisory Practice
The governance field continues to develop. Our team follows emerging research, participates in professional networks, and updates our frameworks accordingly — so clients receive current, considered thinking.
Clear Terms, No Surprises
Pricing, scope, and deliverables are agreed before work begins. If something changes during an engagement, we discuss it openly before proceeding.
Governance in Context
Why governance advisory matters in Colombia
Family businesses account for a significant share of private economic activity in Colombia, and many reach a point where informal decision-making no longer serves them well. When ownership and management overlap — as they so often do in early-stage companies — the absence of clear roles can quietly limit what the organization achieves.
Board advisory in this context is not about imposing a foreign framework. It is about helping each organization understand its own decision-making patterns and choose the structures that reflect its values and its stage of development. Zipa works with that specificity in mind.
Governance questions that boards in Colombia frequently encounter include: how to separate ownership interests from operational decisions; how to bring independent perspectives into a closely held board; how to document and communicate succession intentions without creating premature anxiety; and how to build risk awareness into a board culture without making every meeting feel like a compliance exercise.
These are questions with no universal answer — but they respond well to thoughtful, unhurried advisory support. Zipa's services are designed for exactly that kind of work: careful, specific, and conducted with full attention to the organization's own pace and priorities.
Work With Us
Ready to have a quiet, honest conversation about your board?
We welcome initial conversations without any obligation. If there's a fit, we'll find it together.
Get in Touch