Bringing global development stories to life through immersive technology
"How do you make someone in Washington truly understand what it's like to farm in the Sahel during a drought? You let them experience it. That's the power of immersive technology at scale."
Challenge
Transform how the world's largest development institution communicates complex global challenges. Make distant realities tangible for decision-makers, donors, and the public.
Solution
Built an enterprise-grade immersive media program from the ground up - from strategy and procurement to production and deployment of 200+ experiences across VR, AR, and 360 platforms.
Results
- 200+ immersive experiences deployed
- Enterprise technology portfolio managed
- Annual IM Team Award recipient
How It Started
The World Bank discovered Roundme, the 360 platform I founded, while searching for ways to bring field operations closer to headquarters. What began as a platform demo turned into something bigger: an invitation to help build their immersive media capability from scratch.
I joined as a technology consultant with a mission to prove that VR and 360 content could do more than impress - it could change how people understand and act on global challenges.
The Challenge
The World Bank operates in 100+ countries, funding projects most people will never see firsthand. Reports and presentations can only convey so much. The real challenge wasn't technical - it was making distant realities feel immediate and urgent.
I had to build a program that could scale across a complex institution: navigating multi-million dollar procurement processes, aligning diverse stakeholders, and delivering experiences that worked for non-technical users in boardrooms, conferences, and field offices worldwide.
Climate and Environment
Some of our most impactful work focused on climate change and environmental conservation. These experiences transport viewers to the frontlines of climate adaptation - from drought-affected farmlands to protected rainforests.
The Sahel Virtual Journey takes viewers into one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions, showing how communities adapt to extreme weather through climate-smart agriculture practices.
The Congo Basin experience highlights forest conservation efforts across Central Africa, while our Kenya project showcases youth employment opportunities in sustainable land management.
Virtual Events and Exhibitions
When physical gatherings became impossible, we created virtual spaces that preserved the spontaneity and discovery of in-person events. These weren't just video calls with extra steps - they were navigable environments where attendees could explore at their own pace.
The Global Water Security Program's annual showcase and various virtual exhibition halls allowed thousands of participants to engage with World Bank initiatives without leaving their desks.
Institutional Projects
Beyond external storytelling, we built experiences for internal audiences - from interactive histories celebrating partner countries to sustainability showcases for IFC facilities.
The IFC Rooftop Garden tour lets visitors explore sustainable urban agriculture practices right at World Bank headquarters.
For Bangladesh's 50th independence anniversary, we created an interactive timeline tracing the country's development journey and partnership with the World Bank.
Training and Operations
VR proved especially valuable for training scenarios that are difficult, dangerous, or expensive to replicate in real life. The Staff Road Safety Program uses immersive simulation to prepare employees for field travel in challenging environments.
Recognition
The work earned recognition at the highest levels. I had the honor of meeting World Bank President Ajay Banga and his wife during the Children's Art Prize celebration - a project we developed with the GCSIM team that used immersive technology to showcase children's artwork from around the world.
Receiving the Annual Information Management Team Award validated what we set out to prove: that immersive technology, when thoughtfully applied, can make global development challenges feel personal and actionable.