Xerophile was created with love by Monica Villavicencio and Stephanie Liu, friends-turned-creative collaborators who bonded over our love of stories and our belief that work, like living, is an art.
Our specialty lies in crafting narratives that inspire, delight and linger long after the last frame. We bring a deep curiosity, a reverence for people, and a highly collaborative spirit to our work — whether we’re helping clients reach their fundraising goals and expand their reach, or producing original documentary films. At heart, we’re creative problem-solvers who marry heartfelt storytelling with strategy to maximize impact. And whatever the project, we always find ways to sprinkle in a little poetry and play.
Meet the Founders
Monica Villavicencio | Co-founder
Monica began her career in public media, reporting and producing stories for NPR and the PBS NewsHour. She has a passion for long-term collaborations rooted in courage and trust and for crafting stories that are at least as narrative and character-driven as they are informative. In other incarnations, she’s written and produced an aviation-themed Filipino travel show and studied anthropology.
Stephanie Liu | Co-founder
Stephanie is a Chinese-American writer and filmmaker who believes that bearing witness helps us preserve the little pieces of the world we know. Before Xerophile, she worked on Twitter’s Live Video team, ABC News’ Washington bureau and the World Bank, where she produced multimedia from Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya and the Comoros. Born in Chengdu and raised in the Deep South, she has since called many places home.