About Us

Empowering Students
Everywhere to Learn Mandarin

Mandarin Matrix is an award-winning online learning platform specifically designed for students learning Mandarin as a foreign language. 

The customizable, cloud-based reading solution supports learners from kindergarten through secondary school and is used by over 75,000 students in Hong Kong, the USA, and the UK, and across 25 countries worldwide. 

Our curriculum and learning solutions are built on a pedagogically strong foundation, using the principle of spiralled learning as a fun and engaging way to support students in achieving linguistic excellence in the four key language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Awards and Accomplishments

  • 2013 – Mandarin Matrix was founded in Hong Kong

  • 2014 – Winner of the Academics’ Choice Smart Media Award

    A leading international educational award honoring excellence in mind-building media and toys

     

  • 2016 – Named as a partner for the US-China Strong Foundation’s 1 Million Initiative

    A program supported by Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping to strengthen US-China relations by teaching 1 million US K-12 students Mandarin Chinese by 2020

  • 2019 – Selected as a partner for The Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP)

    A UK programme funded by the government to support schools in delivering intensive Mandarin study, training teachers, and helping schools increase the number of pupils studying Mandarin

  • 2020 – Winner of the Edventures Global Business Acceleration Fellowship ‘Audience Favorite’ Award

    Awarded as the best EdTech companies in the Asian market

  • 2020 – Finalist of 2020 Global EdTech Startups Awards (GES Awards)

    The Awards identify, showcase, and recognise the world's most promising EdTech startups of the year

  • 2021 - Mandarin Matrix Academy Launched

    Mandarin Matrix Academy launched online to continue students' learning journey during COVID-19 pandemic 

  • 2022 – Finalist of 2022 Bett Awards of the ‘Primary – Digital Learning Product – Language & Literacy’ category

    The Bett Awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies that exhibit at the Bett show and supply Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for education

  • 2022 – Received the WASC Accreditation to become the first accredited Chinese content and curriculum

    The Accrediting Commission for Schools and Curricular, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is a world-renowned accrediting association that recognises excellence in learning

  • 2022 – Mandarin Matrix App launched on JioPhone, JioBook, and JioSTB

    The Mandarin Matrix Chinese learning app provides opportunities for thousands of learners across India's largest telecom network

  • 2023 – Mandarin Matrix APP to be fastest growing Edtech APP on Jio Devices

    We reached more than 375k downlaods on JioStore for JioPhone, JioBook and JioSTB

Meet the Team​

David Tait

David Tait

Founder and
Executive Chairman

David is an innovator and strategic thinker with over 25 years of experience in value creation at the highest level in Asian publishing. A ground-breaking exponent of Mandarin education technologies in language learning, he is building a global team to help millions of the world’s children learn Mandarin. A re-programmed submariner and microbiologist, he has an MBA from the University of Leicester.
yalan

Yalan King

Chief Commercial Officer

Yalan is an innovator of AI-based personalised language learning products and services. Previously Director of Marketing at Content Guard, a Microsoft/Xerox Corporation spin-off that pioneered Digital Rights Management solutions and services to e-Publishers, Yalan is co-founder and President of The Mandarin Institute and a Program Director for STARTALK, part of the U.S. National Security Language Initiative.

Raj

Raja Kanthan

Chief Technology Officer

Raja is a senior international business executive with over 20 years hands-on management experience including founding BT Internet, the UK internet service provider. Prior to Mandarin Matrix, Raja held senior positions at Cable & Wireless, Reach, and British Telecom. Raja holds a BSc (First Class Hon.) from City, University of London, an MSc from Imperial College London, and an MBA from Bayes Business School London.

Aisling

Aisling Quinn

Chief Operating Officer and
Head of European Operations

Aisling Quinn has worked with Mandarin Matrix from genesis to adolescence. As a mother with three children learning Mandarin, she focuses on the development lens, demanding that traditional teaching methods be more interactive and compelling. Aisling has a BA in Consumer Science and she brings a scientific approach to both the product and human capital employed on three continents.

 
Jimmy Lo

Jimmy Lo

Director of Operations
Asia

Jimmy holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Hong Kong Shue Yan University. He joined Mandarin Matrix in 2014 and is mainly responsible for managing Mandarin Matrix Online Classroom, overseeing customer support processes, and developing strategic customer support operations to further enhance customer’s satisfaction. 

Cecilia

Cecilia So

Director of Business Development
North America

Cecilia has a solid career in K12 publishing. She has been supporting educators in North America, Europe and Asia with print/online materials for over two decades. With training in eLearning and curriculum design, Cecilia is passionate about promoting interactive classrooms. She has a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology. 

Jenny_v2

Jenny Luo

Director of Support
North America

Jenny is the point of contact for all North American clients and partners’ support needs. She previously worked at the College Board and has a rich experience in supporting Chinese language education initiatives and has collaborated with many national and international organizations. She is based in New York City and speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

 
Andrea Poon

Andrea Poon

Director of Product

Andrea joined Mandarin Matrix as a writer and product developer in 2017. Over the years, she has participated in all of the product development process. She is now the first and last person responsible for delivering products of the highest standard. Andrea has a Bachelor’s degree in Language Studies and a Master’s degree in Applied English Linguistics.

Keiko

Keiko Hargraves

Director of Staff
Director of Asian Business Development

Keiko, a native Japanese speaker, is the Director of Asian Business Development at Mandarin Matrix. Her background spans Hong Kong, Japan, and the UK, enriching her experiences. She worked briefly in a stock company preceding a fulfilling airline career before joining Mandarin Matrix. With an English degree, Keiko has raised bilingual children and extended her skills to translation services and teaching. Driven by a passion for education, she believes in the empowering potential of learning Mandarin and foreign languages.

Chiahua-new

Chiahua Chang

Head of Communications and Business Development, Asia Pacific

Chiahua is a fully qualified Chinese teacher with teaching experience in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and the UK. She’s especially experienced in IB programs as she is also an IB MYP examiner. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Literature and an MBA. She currently heads up business development in Mandarin Matrix for the Asia Pacific region.

Tan-Laoshi

Dr Dali Tan

Senior Education Adviser

Dr. Dali Tan is Professor of Chinese and Chair of the World Languages Discipline Group at the Northern Virginia Community College.  She recently received the Marshall Brannon FALVA Award for Excellence in World Language Teaching and represented Virginia as its Teacher of Year candidate at the regional level at Southern Conference on Language Teaching in 2022. She has been teaching Chinese in the United States for almost three decades with extensive experience teaching Chinese to students from 5th grade to college seniors as well as adult learners and heritage Chinese school students.

Dr Tan has served on the NECTFL (Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Board, and President of CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary-elementary Schools), on the College Board SAT II Chinese Committee for five years and the AP Chinese Development Committees for two years. She has conducted many AP Chinese Workshops and APSIs face to face and virtually in the United States and internationally since 2006. She has been a frequent presenter at international, national and regional conferences.

Dr. Tan’s research and pedagogical articles have been published in China, Canada, the Great Britain and the United States. When her student, 2003 Presidential Scholar from the state of Maryland, named her “the most influential teacher” in his educational career, she received the Teacher Recognition Award issued by U.S. Department of Education.

Athena

Athena Birch

Head of Social Media and Digital Marketing

Athena joined Mandarin Matrix in 2020 as the Head of Social Media and Digital Marketing. She works alongside the Marketing and Design team to create innovative and engaging content that is representative of the company’s vision. She is studying Politics and Public Administration at Hong Kong University. In her free time, she likes to hike, spend time with her dogs, and relax at the beach.

Jered

Jered Vittachi

Junior Editor & Research Associate

Jered was born and raised in Hong Kong. He joined Mandarin Matrix in 2017 as a junior editor and research associate to provide support to the MMX team. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from De Montfort University in the UK. In his spare time, Jered enjoys reading, watching anime, and playing both trading cards and video games.

 
Jennifer-So

Jennifer So

Writer and Book Developer

Jennifer is an experienced Chinese teacher with 20 years of experience, who specialises in IGCSE, IB, AP, A-level and Pre-U. She has worked in Singapore, China and the USA for a decade engaging in Hospitality and China trade.

In addition to a Chinese Language and Literature degree, she also obtains Child Care and Family Development Diploma and she dedicates her time to helping children with special needs in a church.

Yan

Yan Lai

Customer Liaison Officer

Coming Soon

Reita Wong

Reita Wong

Art Director

Reita holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She joined the Mandarin Matrix team in 2015 and is mainly responsible for the illustration and design of Mandarin Matrix books and other marketing artworks.

Tsoi Yam

Tsoi Yam

Art Director

Tsoi joined Mandarin Matrix in 2019 after working in a University Press for two years. As a graphic designer, she expresses ideas and stories visually, and is committed to creating simple and effective materials that enhance student’s interest in learning. When not working, she is either out for a run or getting her hands dirty with clay.

Lewi

Lewi Chan

Graphic Designer

Lewi joined Mandarin Matrix in 2021 after finishing his study on Creative Media in Hong Kong Design Institute. Designing and drawing are his passion. Being a graphic designer, he creates teaching and marketing materials. He is also a big fan of anime, some of his inspirations were inspired by it. In his spare time, Lewi enjoys listening to music and exercising.

Judy

Judy Fung

Accountant

Coming Soon

Charles

Charles Chang

Finance and Administration

Charles joined the company in 2012 as a general administrative and accounting assistant. He has previously worked for many organisations in various industries in the USA, Hong Kong and China. He is responsible for warehousing, shipping, and purchasing; also deals with suppliers and handles printed products.

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