I'm Rafael, a graduate student at Stanford studying Learning Design and Technology (LDT). My path started in the Philippines, wound through Kodiak, Alaska, and has been shaped by a belief: the stories we tell, and who gets to tell them, determine whose knowledge is valued and whose voices are heard.

Before graduate school, I studied Hotel Administration at Cornell University, where I minored in Education and Leadership and discovered that my interest was in designing experiences that bridge cultures. This realization led me to found a video production company that helped mission-driven organizations translate their impact into compelling narratives, generating over $500,000 in funding and sales. I also spent five years as a Program Manager with See Stories, an Alaskan nonprofit, where I worked with 130 educators and 8,450 students to create 150 films documenting their communities.

I joined the LDT program to explore how evolving technology might elevate learning experiences in underserved communities. My background as an entrepreneur and filmmaker taught me to empathize deeply with users, to understand not just what they say, but what they need to thrive. I bring that lens to every project, combining strategic thinking with creative execution to design solutions that respect cultural context while driving measurable impact.

This portfolio documents my journey learning to build technology that works for the communities it claims to serve. I'm interested in roles at the intersection of product, marketing, and impact in edtech and mission-driven spaces, where I can apply my skills. If you're looking to leverage storytelling to reach new users and expand your technology's impact, I'd love to connect.