Jose Zamora is the principal and founder of Ilumina Communications, a bilingual strategic communications consultancy that helps purpose-driven brands amplify their voice and impact. He is a communications leader with over two decades of experience advancing media innovation, collaboration, and freedom of the press across the Americas. Jose currently serves as communications advisor for the Central American Independent Media Archive and helps lead global advocacy for the #ZamoraLibre campaign.
Previously, he was Chief Communications Officer at Exile Content Studio and Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications at Univision News, where he helped amplify impact, build partnerships, and drive audience growth. Earlier in his career, he led the Knight News Challenge at Knight Foundation and managed over 100 grants focused on journalism and civic engagement.
A JSK Stanford Fellow, he holds degrees from Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Oxford University, and the University of Texas at Austin. He serves on the boards of the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Foundation, Radio Ambulante, Factchequeado and the International Center for Journalists.
Juan Yoshika is Director of Public Relations and Publicity at Ilumina Communications, where he leads media strategy, promotional campaigns, and narrative development for purpose-driven projects and platforms. A bilingual communications expert with deep experience across entertainment, civic engagement, and journalism, Juan brings over a decade of expertise building narratives that connect and campaigns that move audiences.
Prior to Ilumina, Juan served as Senior Manager at Acoustyle Communications, where he led the development of the agency’s Sports, Corporate, and Foundation Relations verticals. He oversaw strategic communications for high-profile clients, including Rimas Sports, Rimas Publishing, and Karol G’s Con Cora Foundation, driving visibility across the U.S., Latin America, and global markets. His work spanned executive advisory, athlete positioning, and securing industry recognition through leading media platforms. Before Acoustyle, Juan worked on award-winning publicity efforts at Univision, promoting major franchises such as Premio Lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, Mira Quién Baila, and the UEFA Champions League on TUDN. He also spearheaded digital and editorial strategies to boost voter turnout at both Meteorite and Univision, leading communications for nonpartisan civic engagement campaigns nationwide.
Ramón Zamora is Director of Research at Ilumina Communications, where he leads strategy, insight development, and knowledge partnerships across media, advocacy, and civic innovation. A trained anthropologist and digital strategist, he combines qualitative research, narrative development, and cross-sector collaboration to help mission-driven organizations communicate with clarity and impact.
Ramón is the founder of LabEtnográfico and the creator of elArchivo, a regional initiative to preserve and amplify the work of Central America’s independent media. He has led research-action teams across academic and nonprofit institutions and previously served as product manager at elPeriódico de Guatemala. He holds a master’s in Culture, Communication, and Technology from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.
Daniela Stepensky is Director of Product and Project Management at Ilumina Communications, where she leads strategy, execution, and digital innovation across client initiatives. A seasoned product leader and fractional CPO, she brings over 15 years of experience developing media, civic, and tech products—from launch to scale—with a sharp focus on user experience, impact, and growth.
Daniela has led product teams at the Huffington Post, AOL Music, Fusion (Disney-ABC & Univision), and Exile Content Studio, where she oversaw the creation of major digital platforms and NFT initiatives. She specializes in roadmap development, agile delivery, and tech-enabled storytelling across web, mobile, and blockchain environments.
Multilingual and globally experienced, Daniela holds a master’s degree from NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and a BBA in Marketing from Anáhuac University. She has consulted for startups, media companies, and innovation labs throughout the Americas.
