About Mandarin Zest
Chinese is one of the most rewarding languages you can learn, and one of the most misunderstood. Too many learners start with the wrong materials, lose momentum without a clear path, and give up before they ever experience what fluency actually feels like.
Mandarin Zest exists to change that.
We're a global community of Mandarin learners, educators, and language enthusiasts united by one belief: that with the right structure, the right resources, and the right people around you, anyone can learn Chinese.
Who we are
Mandarin Zest was born in Brussels, where two European students discovered that the best way to learn Chinese wasn't in a classroom, but through community and materials built by people who'd been through the struggle themselves.
What started as a newsletter for fellow learners has grown into something much larger: structured learning resources trusted by thousands of students, live practice sessions, a weekly newsletter read by more than 2,000 learners worldwide, and a team of educators, native speakers, and language professionals spread across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
We don't teach Chinese from the outside. Every person on our team has lived it, the late nights decoding characters, the breakthroughs when tones finally click, the moment a conversation in a market or a boardroom lands in a way it never could in a textbook. Everything we build; textbooks, graded readers, vocabulary tools, study guides, is informed by that experience, reviewed by native speakers, and tested by our community before it reaches you.
The Management Team
Antoine Collard, Co-founder
Originally from Belgium, Antoine lived more than 5 years in Taipei, Taiwan. He graduated from a Chinese-taught master’s program in Political Science at National Taiwan University.
LinkedIn antoine.collard@mandarinzest.com
Dorota Maczuga, Co-founder
Originally from Poland, Dorota developed a passion for Chinese in high school and spent several years in mainland China and Taiwan. She earned a Chinese-taught Master’s in Political Science from National Taiwan University.
LinkedIn dorota.maczuga@mandarinzest.com
Gabrielle Merk, Membership Manager
Gabrielle is from Ohio, United States. She earned a BA in Chinese with a minor in Korean. She also spent one summer in Taipei, Taiwan, through the Fulbright Foundation.
LinkedIn gabrielle.merk@mandarinzest.com
Sunny Cheng, Consultant
Born and raised in Taiwan, Sunny grew up in a multilingual environment speaking Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. After studying at Fu Jen University, her journey took her to many different places, including Beijing. Having lived across different cultures, Sunny is passionate about languages, cross-cultural communication, and helping learners discover not only the language itself but also the stories, traditions, and perspectives that bring it to life.
Stephen Lloyd Anthony Raganas, Growth & Partnerships Assistant
Lloyd is from the Philippines and is currently studying International Business at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. His interest in Mandarin and Chinese culture has grown through his experience living and studying in Taiwan. He is passionate about cross-cultural communication, international collaboration, and global education.
Alice O'Connor, SEO Intern
Yu Lin, Coordinator
Yu is originally from Shenzhen and is currently pursuing a 3-year degree to become a certified Chinese teacher. She helps Mandarin Zest with proofreading teaching materials.
Paulina Lisowski, Project Management intern
Paulina is from New York and is currently studying Political Science, Economics, and Chinese at Baruch College. Her interest in Chinese language and culture grew through her academic studies and study abroad experience in Hong Kong. She is passionate about cross-cultural communication within international affairs and global education.
Joyce 史聳西, Mandarin Content & Education Intern
Originally from Taiwan, Joyce grew up speaking Mandarin and Taiwanese. She studied at National Tsing Hua University before moving to California. She is currently studying Linguistics at Foothill College. Joyce enjoys learning new languages and creating engaging Mandarin learning content.
