This film, produced in partnership with the Intel Foundation, follows the story of Ileana Valdez, a first-generation Latina software engineer whose path into technology was anything but conventional. Raised in a rural Texas suburb by immigrant parents from Mexico, Ileana’s early curiosity was shaped not by screens, but by national park visits, science kits, and family fossil hunts.

Her love of learning and creative problem-solving eventually led her to volunteer at a science museum, where she discovered the world of engineering — and later to a life-changing experience at the Y Sci Girls STEAM Camp in Rwanda, where she met women who showed her what a future in tech could look like.

Through intimate scenes with her family and reflections on the obstacles she’s overcome, the film explores how early access to STEM education, representation in engineering, and global mentorship programs can empower young women to pursue careers in science and technology. It also challenges the notion of who gets to build the future — and why it matters that development teams reflect the diversity of the people they serve.

As part of Goodfellow’s work in STEM and education-focused video production, this story represents the kind of cinematic, human-first storytelling we’re proud to create — celebrating resilience, identity, and the impact of opportunity.