📚 MY CURRENT RESEARCH

I am a Lubar Family Research Fellow for Columbia University; I am currently doing research about the Ecuadorian Agrarian Reform. I expect my paper "Lived Experiences in Ecuador's Agrarian Reform" to be published in January 2026. This is my (tentative) abstract...

Ecuador’s agrarian reform, launched in the 1960s amid rising rural unrest and the decline of the hacienda system, sought to address acute land scarcity in the highlands. In the Amazon region, instead of large-scale redistribution of hacienda estates, the state increasingly turned to colonization of the Amazonian lowlands, channeling landless serranos into frontier zones through agencies such as the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Reforma Agraria y Colonización (IERAC). Scholars have often judged the reform a failure for its limited reach and uneven implementation. Yet oral histories collected in a trip to the Amazon region in the province of Sucumbíos complicate this picture. Settlers recall leaving Bolívar, Cañar, Azuay, and Santo Domingo in the 1970s, motivated by land hunger and state promises of fifty hectare plots. Their testimonies describe arduous journeys by foot, bus, or occasional flights, followed by the struggle to clear dense forest and survive in what many remembered as “un infierno verde.” Life depended on mingas, precarious credit, and the organization of cooperatives such as El Recreo, while institutions like IERAC marked out boundaries and enforced the rule that only those who worked the land could retain it. Over time, colonists established schools, roads, and stable communities, transforming wilderness into places where they could raise families and claim dignity as propietarios. For many, owning land was synonymous with autonomy: “un orgullo… cuando quiero trabajo y cuando quiero descanso nadie me molesta.” While the policy fell short as a nationwide redistribution of wealth and power, it profoundly reshaped everyday life for those who it did reach hereby disrupting the status-quo of the Ecuadorian land reform as a failed one.

Some pictures of my sixteen-hour fieldwork road trip into the Amazon. A special thank you to all the amazing people I interviewed.

📝 SOME OF MY ARTICLES

I recently published my first op-ed for Forbes, following a series of articles highlighting thriving Ecuadorians and key regional developments around the world. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with notable figures, including Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Norway, among others.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

La Universidad de Columbia sostuvo un panel con cuatro ecuatorianos talentosos en el mundo de negocios

En este artículo de Forbes Ecuador analizo el conversatorio organizado por el Club de Ecuatorianos de la Universidad de Columbia, que reunió a cuatro profesionales ecuatorianos destacados en empresas líderes de Estados Unidos. A través de sus trayectorias, el panel reflexiona sobre migración, crecimiento profesional, networking y las distintas formas de devolver al Ecuador desde el exterior.

In this Forbes Ecuador article, I cover a panel organized by the Ecuadorian Students Club at Columbia University, featuring four Ecuadorian professionals working at leading U.S. companies. Through their personal journeys, the discussion explores migration, professional growth, networking, and meaningful ways to give back to Ecuador from abroad.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

¿Qué dijo el primer ministro de Noruega acerca de la crisis energética que enfrenta el Ecuador?

En este artículo de Forbes Ecuador, relato las declaraciones del primer ministro de Noruega, Jonas Gahr Støre, quien reconoció que Ecuador atraviesa una crisis energética compleja, pero que también posee un enorme potencial para impulsar energías solar y eólica. Subrayo que sus palabras resaltan tanto la urgencia como la oportunidad de transformar nuestra matriz energética con soluciones sostenibles y a largo plazo.

In this Forbes Ecuador article, I convey the remarks of Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, who acknowledged that Ecuador is facing a complex energy crisis but also has enormous potential to expand solar and wind power. I emphasize that his words highlight both the urgency and the opportunity to transform our energy matrix with long-term, sustainable solutions.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

Felices los ignorantes "Ignorance is a bliss"

En Felices los ignorantes desmontó el consuelo de la “feliz ignorancia”: explico, desde lo externo (status quo, valores heredados) y lo interno (autoengaño, miedo a la incomodidad), por qué negar una verdad es más fácil —y más contagioso— que admitirla. De Thomas Gray a Sócrates, concluyo que la única salida es acaparar las verdades, por incómodas que sean, y dejar de endulzarlas.

This column dismantles the comfort of “happy ignorance,” showing—externally (status quo) and internally (self-deception)—why denying truth is easier and more contagious than facing it, and argues, from Gray to Socrates, for owning uncomfortable truths.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

¡Oro para Ecuador! Los robots que conquistaron China

En este artículo de Forbes Ecuador celebro que el equipo de robótica de la Universidad UTE conquistó el primer lugar en el Robot Challenge China 2024, demostrando el talento y la innovación ecuatoriana en un escenario internacional. Destaco cómo este logro histórico subraya el potencial de nuestra juventud para competir y triunfar a nivel mundial.

In this Forbes Ecuador article, I celebrate how the University UTE’s robotics team took first place at the Robot Challenge China 2024, showcasing Ecuadorian talent and innovation on the global stage. I emphasize how this historic achievement highlights the potential of our youth to compete and succeed internationally

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

Ni izquierda ni derecha: el fracaso de los abslutos

En esta columna de Forbes Ecuador cuestiono los absolutos ideológicos de izquierda y derecha, y sostengo que los extremos suelen conducir al fracaso. A través de ejemplos regionales y del contexto histórico, propongo un liderazgo pragmático, enfocado en resultados y en las personas, más allá de las etiquetas políticas.

In this Forbes Ecuador column, I question the ideological absolutes of the left and the right, arguing that extremes often lead to failure. Through regional examples and historical context, I propose a pragmatic, results-driven leadership that puts people before political labels.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

Estas son las tendencias de IA en la banca latinoamericana

En este artículo de Forbes Ecuador exploro cómo la banca latinoamericana está usando IA para automatizar procesos y mejorar la atención al cliente. Resalto que el 75 % de estas aplicaciones se enfocan en eficiencia operativa.

In this Forbes Ecuador article, I explore how Latin American banks are using AI to automate processes and improve customer service. I note that 75% of these applications focus on operational efficiency.

Written For: Forbes Ecuador

Ecuador tiene el cuarto salario mínimo más alto de Latinoamérica

En este artículo de Forbes Ecuador destaco que Ecuador tiene el cuarto salario mínimo más alto de la región, con $470 mensuales. Señalo que esto refleja un esfuerzo por proteger al trabajador frente al costo de vida.

In this Forbes Ecuador article, I highlight that Ecuador has the fourth-highest minimum wage in Latin America at $470 per month. I note this reflects efforts to protect workers amid rising living costs.

📽️ 40 VIDEOS I THINK ARE WORTH WATCHING

As an avid YouTube watcher, I’ve curated a list of 40 (ish) fascinating videos that have deeply influenced how I think, feel, and engage with the world. From mind-expanding ideas to quiet moments of human truth, these clips have challenged my assumptions, sparked curiosity, and reshaped my understanding of everything from history to happiness. I hope they move you too. Below are my top twelve (in no particular order) but feel free to check out my entire selection here.