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Meet Our Team!
It is with great honor that, Ironically Speaking, presents its board...
Our Story
It all started as a small conversation in the back of history class, just a spark between two people who believed in something more.
Daydreaming about what could be, scribbling ideas in the margins of our notebooks while the world outside kept moving. Most people didn’t take it seriously. To be honest, we weren’t even sure we did. But something about that moment stuck.
Today, what began as a whispered dream in a classroom corner is a living, breathing reality. We built something out of nothing, not because we had all the answers, but because we dared to ask the right questions.
This journey is proof that no idea is too small, no voice too quiet, and no dream too far-fetched. If you're sitting in the back of your class, thinking what if, take it from us: that’s where the magic begins.
Meet The Team
The Board
Manuela Medeiros
Founder & Head of Content and Community
I was born in São Paulo in 2009 and my passion for literature began at an early age, nurtured by the countless hours I spent growing up in a place close to my heart—“Livraria da Vila.” Despite barely knowing how to read, this cherished library was more than just a building filled with books; it was a sanctuary for my inner child, a place where my afternoons after school were filled with the rustling of pages and boundless wonder. Though I didn’t yet know how to read, I would lose myself in the vivid illustrations, weaving together stories in my mind and conjuring worlds that transcended the limits of words. Today, this passion is carried inside me everywhere I go; from this website to university, I am living proof that old habits die hard. I will never stop writing.
While I may not have the power to single-handedly achieve justice and balance in society. But, like watering a seed a little each day helps it bloom into a flower, I believe that small, consistent actions can create change.
It was a true gift to be able to found this website; delving into countless pages and sites in search for the perfect source and the perfect quote. A true journey of wonder; not solely the question on how successful it will be but the question on my capability as a current 16-year-old writer, a future advocate for justice and a future author.
Vasco Rego
Co-Founder & Head of Partnerships and Technology
I was born in Lisbon in 2009, but moved to Madrid at the age of 1 and spent the following 9 years abroad, 4 in Spain and 5 in London. Living abroad at a young age helped develop my English and gave me a more international perspective, as well as an international upbringing. I've been enthusiastic about history since I was 7, starting by binge watching horrible histories I fell in love with the subject, particularly anything after the 16th century. And when you love history, you love politics; it’s only natural. My first involvement was an email to the mayor of Sintra in Portugal asking him not to close my favourite museum when I was 8, and it worked! (Somewhat, it closed a few years later, regardless). Since then, my interests have grown and become more specific, entering the realm of diplomacy and international relations and winning 9 best delegate awards at MUN conferences. Today, I strive to make an impact on the world, help my country, Europe, and the human species, and help young people globally have a voice that is heard.
Mattias Burnier
Co-Head of Creative strategy
I was born in London in 2009, and lived in São Paulo afterwards, and now Lisbon. Through my travels, I found my all-consuming interest in history back in year 4. A project for the silk road turned something mystical—told in folklore and fairytales—into real events involving real people who shaped our planet: of spice routes that would alter the course of the world and lead it to where we are today. Of course, it’s just one part of a billion that built our modern world, but that’s what fascinates me; the discovery of how small ideas can lead to massive change—the very essence of this platform.
And very early on, I was taught by my teacher, Mr Butcher, to question everything, and to question the answers I got. That lesson has shaped where I stand today, and one I’ll carry into my future. Without the simple question of ‘why’, I wouldn’t have discovered my obsession with geopolitics or the drive to understand why leaders do what they do.
Whether through understanding the past or questioning the future, I want to keep uncovering stories and decisions that shaped our world. And if this website can spark even one person’s curiosity the way mine was sparked, then that’s already a change worth making.
Tiger Shen
Co-Head of Creative strategy
Hello Readers of Ironically Speaking, my name is Tiger Shen, and I was born and raised in Beijing, China; I immigrated to the US at the age of 8 to pursue education in Irvine, California. It's exactly due to this that I have garnered international experiences, bilingualism, and a unique point of view that has led me to develop a mindset of challenging my own echo chamber and pursuing truth! Frankly, I have always had a profound love for everything geopolitics, economics, history, and all things social science. Whether it's getting lost in Youtube rabbit holes where I end up wasting hours down the drain learning how Russia is more foe than friend to China, or losing the perception of time reading Lee Kuan Yew's "One Man's View of the World", I have always oddly enough been pulled by the gravity of anything social science. It is with this spark and passion, that has led me to cofound and write for Ironically Speaking; I hope that through writing and creating, I can inspire others and create a platform to foster intellectual curiosity.
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Gloria Deressa
Head of Marketing and Growth
I was born in London in 2008 and have lived between the UK and Ethiopia. Growing up in a culturally diverse environment showed me the importance of international relations and human rights. Seeing the challenges people face in these two different cultures made me want to learn more, find ways to help, and strive for change. I’ve been fascinated by history since I was a little kid -specifically classical history- because it forms the pillars of multiple cultures, especially in the West. I truly believe that learning about our past can help shape our future. Politics naturally followed, and I now take part in Model United Nations, even though I must admit I still get nervous speaking in front of others. Writing has become my escape, a way of sharing what I care about and working through those nerves.
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Martha Elias
Editor-in-chief
My name is Martha Elias, I am a passionate student at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I study history and focus mainly on world history, international relations, law and diplomacy. With my pieces I want to understand governance, examine the roots of today’s pressing questions and encourage a young audience to look beyond their own bubble. I hope to connect with you through my writings and invite you to discuss my ideas, young voices are more important than ever in today’s geopolitical climate! I look forward to writing pieces that contribute to building community and provoke dialogues among readers of Ironically Speaking.
Meet The Team
The Writers
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John Martello
Writer
John was born, raised, and lives in New York. He has been interested in history since high school, when it became clear that there are parallels between modern times and past events. This interest led him to complete two undergraduate degrees in History and Social Studies Education. While in college, John worked as a research assistant in the History Department, helping compile and analyze resources for a book project on German colonialism. In the spring of 2025, John completed his graduate degree in Educational Technology and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Curriculum and Instruction. John currently teaches high school Global History in New York. Outside of teaching, John enjoys running, cooking, reading comics, nonfiction, mysteries, and, of course, staying active in current events. Through his writing, John seeks to inspire, inform, and build a passion in readers to become more involved with the events around them.
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Anna Luiza
Writer
I am a Brazilian, born in Rio de Janeiro in 2006, and a Law student with a passion for history and writing that began at a very young age. I have had the opportunity to live in several different states across Brazil, an experience that showed me how diverse realities can coexist within the same country. This sparked my curiosity to explore these differences in other parts of the world as well, fueling my growing fascination with international relations. In high school, I had my first experience with Model United Nations, and even though it was brief, it showed me how young people can be true agents of change and how our generation seems genuinely eager to make a difference. Today, writing about what is happening around the world and sharing that information with others has become my way of turning curiosity into action, in the hope that my words can help others see the world through more critical and hopeful eyes.
Tiago Caixado
Writer
I was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and have lived in the town of Mafra for as long as I can remember. I am a political strategy and modern history enthusiast, with a recent background in political activism and political writing. I grew up in a multicultural environment, attending Park International School, which deepened my interest in cultural and social issues, particularly, the origins of different cultures.
I currently work part-time as an advisor to the Vice President of the Mafra branch of the Liberal Initiative Party. Writing is my escape from a world in which politics is not a common interest among young people, and it serves as a way to express my views on the real world, always grounded in facts.
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