The Next Frontier for Shared Services Centers: San José, Costa Rica

April 9, 2025

9 am to 12 pm ET

Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén

San José

Costa Rica

Overview

Emerging as an increasingly attractive location for shared services centers (SSCs) in Latin America, Costa Rica is host to nearly 200 companies in the corporate and business processes sector. At this inaugural event, Council of the Americas convened heads of SSCs and key finance executives, providing an opportunity to meet, learn, and discuss key topics impacting SSCs at the regional level.

At the event, experts shared their strategic insights on how SSCs leaders can integrate artificial intelligence, automation, and talent retention strategies to these centers.

Registration: RSVP to Natalia Posada at cfoprogram@as-coa.org

Program Information: Lorrane Campos at lcampos@as-coa.org

Sponsorship Opportunities: Cyndi Balladares at cballadares@as-coa.org

Note: This event is only open for Shared Services Centers directors, heads of treasury, procurement, compliance, and accounts payable. If you are interested in sharing this invitation within your company, please contact cfoprogram@as-coa.org.

Agenda

9:00 to 9:30 am: Registration and Breakfast

9:30 to 9:40 am: Welcome Remarks

Maria Lourdes Teran, Vice President, AS/COA Miami

9:40 to 10:10 am: Session I - Costa Rica's Shared Services Center Landscape

A senior leader from the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (PROCOMER) will share insights on the country’s investment opportunities and the impact of SSCs on foreign direct investment (FDI).

Michelle Corriols, Director Corporate Services and Digital Technologies, Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER)

10:10 to 10:40 am: Session II - U.S.-LatAm Economic Outlook

A senior economist will provide insights on the evolving U.S.-Latin America relations and navigating the current economic landscape.

Alberto Trejos, Professor & Dean, INCAE Business School, and former Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica

10:40 to 11:00 am: Networking Coffee Break

11:00 to 11:50 am: Session III – SSCs: Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Talent Retention

A presentation on the impact of artificial intelligence and automation in SSCs, followed by a panel of experts discussing opportunities and challenges regarding talent retention strategies for SSCs in Costa Rica.

Paola Knizek, Director, Global Payments Solutions, Latin America Treasury Advisory, Bank of America
Alfredo Gomez, Consulting Partner, Deloitte

11:50 to 12:00 pm: Closing Remarks

Eduardo Argüello, Managing Director, Latin America Regional Sales, Bank of America

Speakers

Paola Knizek

Treasury Advisory Executive, Bank of America

As part of the GPS Advisory team, Paola Knizek is focused on advising Latin America multinational corporations (including Brazil) on how to structure, develop and optimize their Treasury groups as their businesses grow into increasingly global organizations. Paola has over 15...

Michelle Corriols

Director, Corporate Services and Digital Technologies, Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER)

With a professional journey of over 16 years at the Trade and Investment Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), Michelle Corriols has been a key figure in promoting Costa Rica's foreign trade. Since May 2024, she has held the position of director of Corporate Services and Digital...

Alberto Trejos

Professor and Dean at INCAE Business School, Former Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica

Alberto Trejos is a professor and dean at INCAE Business School and served as Costa Rica’s minister of foreign trade, and as chairman of CINDE (the Costa Rican Investment Board). Additionally, he is a director of South Africa’s Brenthurst Foundation, and the Arias Foundation for...

Alfredo Gomez

Partner, GBS Service Delivery Model, LATAM Location Strategy, Deloitte

Alfredo Gomez is the lead GBS Partner for Deloitte's Spanish LATAM Region. He has over 18 years of experience across all phases of shared services transformation from strategy and design to continuous improvement and technology enabled delivery in major GBS locations in LATAM.