An Interview Perspective: Insights from Christophe Suchy, Co-Founder of Global Citizen Consulting
Christophe Suchy, Co-Founder of Global Citizen Consulting, shared perspectives on the investment migration industry, personal approach to work, and market developments in a recent discussion structured around ten questions.
Weekend routines and work-life balance
Suchy divides time primarily between Panama City and Boquete in the Chiriquí highlands. Weekdays center on professional activities in the city, while weekends are typically spent in Boquete, where the higher altitude supports a slower pace. Activities include coffee on the terrace, walking, reading, and reflective thinking that often intersects with professional considerations. The demands of operating both a consulting firm and a technology company blur traditional distinctions between weekdays and weekends. The focus remains on maintaining control over the calendar rather than adhering to a rigid five-day work structure.
Business priorities for the current year
Three primary objectives guide the firm’s direction. The first is to demonstrate that a fully independent advisory model can achieve seven-figure revenues without adopting a high-volume approach. The practice centers on two core service offerings: an entry-level exposure audit and a more comprehensive exit architecture engagement. The second objective involves completing the productization of the firm’s methodology so that service quality does not depend on the physical presence of the founders. This includes a structured discovery process and a documented planning system designed for consistent application. The third goal is to position the firm’s Insights platform as a primary resource for clients seeking objective assessments of jurisdictional strategy, distinct from content that functions primarily as marketing.
Current industry concerns
A central concern is the ongoing industry tendency to prioritize transactions over long-term strategy, with clients often bearing the subsequent costs. Jurisdictions previously presented as stable have, in some cases, rapidly become sources of risk. The European Union has strengthened its stance to the extent that the operation of a citizenship-by-investment program may now serve as grounds for suspending visa-free access. The United States has imposed entry restrictions on citizens of two Caribbean countries linked to their programs. Treating a passport as a standalone product creates a single point of vulnerability. The broader risk is reputational contagion, as the category is frequently judged by its most transactional participants, affecting advisers focused on substantive work.
Current reading
Suchy is reading Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain, which examines the period from 1985 to 1997 between Jobs’ departure from Apple and his later return. The account focuses on the lesser-known intervening years at NeXT, including periods of failure and near-bankruptcy that contributed to later discipline and leadership. The narrative is viewed as relevant to work with clients in transition, illustrating that periods of reinvention often occur outside public attention and that independent development following institutional setbacks can be formative.
Entry into the investment migration field
Suchy’s path into the industry followed an indirect route. Both he and his co-founder, Gail, had previously worked as founders and operators on cross-border transactions and structuring. The practical dimension emerged after relocating to Panama in 2020 during the COVID-19 period, when border closures highlighted constraints faced by many individuals. Restructuring their own lives across jurisdictions revealed operational frictions not typically addressed in promotional materials. Inquiries from peers gradually intensified, leading to the formal establishment of Global Citizen Consulting in 2024.
Notable professional experiences
The most significant moments often involve advising clients against particular courses of action rather than facilitating transactions. One example involved a client initially intent on a program that would later have exposed him to restrictions now observed in the market. After a detailed assessment of exposure and the design of an alternative structure, the client retained the recommended approach years later. Such instances, in which clients rely on advice that prioritizes long-term outcomes over immediate transactions, are regarded as central to the advisory role.
Notable market developments in the past year
A significant shift has been the rapid change in perception of passports from pure assets to potential liabilities. Previously, the prevailing view held that additional citizenships primarily expanded optionality. Recent developments include European Union discussions of suspending visa-free access for nationals of countries operating citizenship-by-investment programs, alongside United States entry restrictions affecting citizens of specific Caribbean jurisdictions. Concurrently, the United States introduced its own residency pathway, the Gold Card, involving a seven-figure contribution. The contrast between large-country initiatives framed as policy and similar mechanisms in smaller jurisdictions labeled as problematic, together with the speed of these changes for individuals who had sought certainty, represents one of the more unexpected developments.
Reflections on past decisions
With the benefit of hindsight, earlier development of personal optionality and relocation planning would have been preferable. The move to Panama occurred in 2020, prompted in part by global disruptions. While the outcome proved positive, the decision could have been made under more stable conditions and on the founders’ own timeline. This experience informs current client advice: optionality is most effectively designed during periods of relative stability, when leverage remains available, rather than under external pressure.
Industry figures of note
Christian Kälin is identified for his role in developing the broader field of investment migration. Regardless of subsequent industry trajectories, his efforts transformed a peripheral concept into a recognized global market and engaged governments in formal consideration of the model. While Global Citizen Consulting operates as an independent practice intended to provide an alternative to large-scale vendors, the foundational contribution of establishing the category is acknowledged.
Outlook for the next five years
The anticipated trajectory involves continued residence between Panama City and Boquete and the maintenance of a deliberately small firm structure. Work is expected to operate increasingly through established methodology rather than personal involvement of the founders. The client base is projected to center on individuals requiring substantive structural planning, including entrepreneurs and family offices focused on international tax architecture rather than short-term solutions. Global Citizen Consulting aims to be recognized as an independent resource valued for providing objective assessments. Greater emphasis is expected on analytical questions concerning the movement of capital and families as traditional assumptions regarding citizenship and taxation continue to evolve. The consistent priority remains the development of frameworks capable of remaining effective amid changing conditions.
Christophe Suchy, Co-Founder of Global Citizen Consulting, shared perspectives on the investment migration industry, personal approach to work, and market developments in a recent discussion structured around ten questions.
Weekend routines and work-life balance
Suchy divides time primarily between Panama City and Boquete in the Chiriquí highlands. Weekdays center on professional activities in the city, while weekends are typically spent in Boquete, where the higher altitude supports a slower pace. Activities include coffee on the terrace, walking, reading, and reflective thinking that often intersects with professional considerations. The demands of operating both a consulting firm and a technology company blur traditional distinctions between weekdays and weekends. The focus remains on maintaining control over the calendar rather than adhering to a rigid five-day work structure.
Business priorities for the current year
Three primary objectives guide the firm’s direction. The first is to demonstrate that a fully independent advisory model can achieve seven-figure revenues without adopting a high-volume approach. The practice centers on two core service offerings: an entry-level exposure audit and a more comprehensive exit architecture engagement. The second objective involves completing the productization of the firm’s methodology so that service quality does not depend on the physical presence of the founders. This includes a structured discovery process and a documented planning system designed for consistent application. The third goal is to position the firm’s Insights platform as a primary resource for clients seeking objective assessments of jurisdictional strategy, distinct from content that functions primarily as marketing.
Current industry concerns
A central concern is the ongoing industry tendency to prioritize transactions over long-term strategy, with clients often bearing the subsequent costs. Jurisdictions previously presented as stable have, in some cases, rapidly become sources of risk. The European Union has strengthened its stance to the extent that the operation of a citizenship-by-investment program may now serve as grounds for suspending visa-free access. The United States has imposed entry restrictions on citizens of two Caribbean countries linked to their programs. Treating a passport as a standalone product creates a single point of vulnerability. The broader risk is reputational contagion, as the category is frequently judged by its most transactional participants, affecting advisers focused on substantive work.
Current reading
Suchy is reading Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain, which examines the period from 1985 to 1997 between Jobs’ departure from Apple and his later return. The account focuses on the lesser-known intervening years at NeXT, including periods of failure and near-bankruptcy that contributed to later discipline and leadership. The narrative is viewed as relevant to work with clients in transition, illustrating that periods of reinvention often occur outside public attention and that independent development following institutional setbacks can be formative.
Entry into the investment migration field
Suchy’s path into the industry followed an indirect route. Both he and his co-founder, Gail, had previously worked as founders and operators on cross-border transactions and structuring. The practical dimension emerged after relocating to Panama in 2020 during the COVID-19 period, when border closures highlighted constraints faced by many individuals. Restructuring their own lives across jurisdictions revealed operational frictions not typically addressed in promotional materials. Inquiries from peers gradually intensified, leading to the formal establishment of Global Citizen Consulting in 2024.
Notable professional experiences
The most significant moments often involve advising clients against particular courses of action rather than facilitating transactions. One example involved a client initially intent on a program that would later have exposed him to restrictions now observed in the market. After a detailed assessment of exposure and the design of an alternative structure, the client retained the recommended approach years later. Such instances, in which clients rely on advice that prioritizes long-term outcomes over immediate transactions, are regarded as central to the advisory role.
Notable market developments in the past year
A significant shift has been the rapid change in perception of passports from pure assets to potential liabilities. Previously, the prevailing view held that additional citizenships primarily expanded optionality. Recent developments include European Union discussions of suspending visa-free access for nationals of countries operating citizenship-by-investment programs, alongside United States entry restrictions affecting citizens of specific Caribbean jurisdictions. Concurrently, the United States introduced its own residency pathway, the Gold Card, involving a seven-figure contribution. The contrast between large-country initiatives framed as policy and similar mechanisms in smaller jurisdictions labeled as problematic, together with the speed of these changes for individuals who had sought certainty, represents one of the more unexpected developments.
Reflections on past decisions
With the benefit of hindsight, earlier development of personal optionality and relocation planning would have been preferable. The move to Panama occurred in 2020, prompted in part by global disruptions. While the outcome proved positive, the decision could have been made under more stable conditions and on the founders’ own timeline. This experience informs current client advice: optionality is most effectively designed during periods of relative stability, when leverage remains available, rather than under external pressure.
Industry figures of note
Christian Kälin is identified for his role in developing the broader field of investment migration. Regardless of subsequent industry trajectories, his efforts transformed a peripheral concept into a recognized global market and engaged governments in formal consideration of the model. While Global Citizen Consulting operates as an independent practice intended to provide an alternative to large-scale vendors, the foundational contribution of establishing the category is acknowledged.
Outlook for the next five years
The anticipated trajectory involves continued residence between Panama City and Boquete and the maintenance of a deliberately small firm structure. Work is expected to operate increasingly through established methodology rather than personal involvement of the founders. The client base is projected to center on individuals requiring substantive structural planning, including entrepreneurs and family offices focused on international tax architecture rather than short-term solutions. Global Citizen Consulting aims to be recognized as an independent resource valued for providing objective assessments. Greater emphasis is expected on analytical questions concerning the movement of capital and families as traditional assumptions regarding citizenship and taxation continue to evolve. The consistent priority remains the development of frameworks capable of remaining effective amid changing conditions.
The NATLAN will promptly inform you of any new developments. If you have any questions or require an individual assessment of your situation, you may schedule a consultation with our company