Small team.
Deep expertise.

Ricardo Trujeque is an entrepreneur and dedicated educator with a 25+ year career at the intersection of technology, communications, and education. He has co-founded several SaaS companies spanning digital media content production and distribution, marketing automation, language assessment, disaster resilience, and immersive environments for training and education.

He has led ideation, planning, and product management, working closely with teams across operations, marketing, software development, and sales to bring transformative solutions to market. He has also consulted for private and public organizations internationally.

A renowned program and course author, and seasoned lecturer, Ricardo has been a long-time collaborator with UBC, contributing to cutting-edge educational programs since 2021. His programs at UBC Extended Learning, focused on AI, Data Management & Analysis, Digital Transformation, Cloud Strategy, Digital Media, and Simulation, have attracted over 500,000 student enrolments.

Earlier in his career, Ricardo pursued doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Education, where his research focused on experiential learning and the implementation of technology in educational contexts, reaching PhD candidacy in 2003. While mid-way through his dissertation, he made the difficult decision to step away from completing the degree to focus on a technology company he had co-founded a couple of years earlier — which was entering a period of rapid growth and preparing for an IPO — while also supporting his young family. This decision, however, shaped a career grounded in applied innovation, bridging theory and practice through the real-world implementation of emerging technologies, including AI, cloud computing, simulation and digital twins, automation, and immersive learning environments.

Juan Manuel Díaz Guzmán is a media production specialist and digital marketing strategist with over five years of experience creating content for more than ten brands across North America and Latin America. His career spans corporate communications, social media strategy, and audiovisual production, with a consistent focus on translating business goals into creative, audience-driven communication.

At Explora Studios, Juan coordinates media production workflows between internal and client teams, films and edits audiovisual content for academic and corporate programs, and integrates generative AI tools into production processes to improve efficiency and output quality.

Previously, Juan led communications at Cumbres International School in Mérida, Mexico, where he implemented digital marketing strategies that attracted 500+ qualified leads annually and aligned institutional communications with national brand strategy. As founder of Branders MX, he managed four simultaneous client accounts and increased average customer engagement by 12%+ through data-driven social media strategies. Earlier, as Public Relations Coordinator for the Mayor of Mérida, he coordinated 200+ events and managed relationships with public officials, NGOs, and civil society representatives.

Juan holds an MBA from University Canada West, graduating with Distinction (GPA 3.93), and a degree in Organizational Communication from Universidad Anáhuac Mayab. He holds certifications from HubSpot, the Digital Marketing Institute, Google, and Semrush, among others.

Anne Vo is a project coordinator and adult education specialist whose work sits at the intersection of learning design, organizational efficiency, and cultural responsiveness. She holds a Master of Education in Human Development, Learning, and Culture from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Critical Practice from the University of the Arts London, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Bristol.

At UBC Extended Learning and Explora Group, Anne serves as the central point of contact among stakeholders — coordinating multiple concurrent projects, liaising with faculty, subject-matter experts, and production teams, and ensuring deliverables meet timelines and quality standards. She leads the design of accessible Canvas learning environments and coordinates filming logistics and studio operations. Alongside this, she conducts labour market and competitor research for proposed adult education programs, contributing to curriculum consultation and funding applications.

Her research background in self-regulated learning, motivation, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) informs both her coordination practice and her approach to building inclusive learning environments for diverse communities.

Prior to joining UBC, Anne spent several years teaching Business English in Vietnam at EdSpace and Everest Education, tutoring 20+ students toward their target scores and admissions goals. Earlier, as Senior Strategic Planner at Galaxy Communications in Ho Chi Minh City, she led PR and marketing strategies for brands including Heineken, Unilever, and UNIQLO, delivering a 20% increase in brand visibility for a major client within one year.

Nicole Dingle is a Research Analyst a key member of the Explora team and central to its ongoing collaboration with UBC Extended Learning’s Academic Services. She delivers market research, competitive analysis, and strategic recommendations that help faculty and institutional partners design new educational programs and strengthen existing offerings. Working across internal and external cross-functional teams — producers, editors, designers, and clients — she ensures projects meet deliverables on time and to a high standard.

Her work spans the full research lifecycle: scanning peer and aspirational university programs, analyzing labour market data and job trends using tools like Lightcast Analyst, identifying target audiences and prospective student demand, and deploying surveys and stakeholder consultations to inform program viability. She translates these findings into both executive summaries and detailed reports, with clear recommendations on curriculum focus, delivery format, tuition benchmarking, and program positioning.

Beyond research, Nicole advises faculty and staff through early-stage program development — scoping briefs, assessing supply and demand factors, and reviewing proposals against UBC and BC Ministry of Advanced Education requirements. Her ability to bridge an academic mindset with an entrepreneurial one makes her a trusted partner for complex, high-stakes program decisions.

Nicole holds a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from UBC — completed with a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Scholarship — and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto Mississauga, where she graduated with High Distinction and received the R.W. Van Fossen Award in English. Her background also includes writing consultation, editorial leadership, and digital course production using HTML/CSS and Adobe tools.