Mafalda Ribeiro trained as a journalist. She has always worked in communications, and today, at 43, she is a Portuguese writer, speaker, and inclusion advocate, known for her inspiring perspective on acceptance, resilience, and identity. Living with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic condition often known as “brittle bone disease,” she draws on her experiences to raise greater awareness about the inclusion of people with disabilities and equal opportunities.

Ribeiro is the author of the booksMafaldisses – Crónicas sobre Rodas (2008) andGotas no Charco (2023), and has spoken at conferences, schools, companies, churches, hospitals, and TEDx events across the country. Drawing on her natural joy and strategic humour through writing, public speaking, and advocacy project development, she encourages audiences to face challenges with faith, optimism, and creativity, helping build a society that is more diverse in representation and, in turn, more inclusive.