Mercedes de Guardiola is a Senior Manager at Varnum Street Strategies, where she advises frontier technology companies at the intersection of innovation and policy. She specializes in translating complex technical breakthroughs—quantum, space infrastructure, AI, and health tech—into strategic narratives that resonate with policymakers, investors, and media.

Mercedes has built her career navigating complexity, from directing communications for federal innovation challenges to developing brand strategy for Fortune 100 companies. At Luminary Labs, she led national campaigns for transformative programs addressing veteran suicide prevention, Lyme disease diagnostics, and space infrastructure development while managing stakeholder engagement across government, industry, and academia.

Beyond her professional work, Mercedes is a leading expert on Vermont's eugenics history. She authored "Vermont for the Vermonters": The History of Eugenics in the Green Mountain State (Vermont Historical Society, 2023) and testified before the Vermont Legislature during the state's 2021 apology hearings, continuing to advise on policy responses. She has presented her research at Harvard, Dartmouth, and Middlebury, and is available for speaking engagements and press inquiries on medical history and public policy.

Mercedes has been selected to serve as Director-at-Large on the Board of Directors of the New York Junior League (June 2026-2029), where she co-chairs Journey to Achievement, a partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA mentoring young people in leadership development. She previously chaired the League's parks restoration projects at St. Nicholas Park and Seward Park and was named a 2020 Woman to Watch for exemplary service to New York City. She is also a member of the Associates Committee and Children's Committee at The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering, supporting cancer research and pediatric patient care.

Mercedes earned her B.A. from Dartmouth College with a double major in History and Art History, receiving the Jones History Prize for best thesis in U.S. history and the Adelbert Ames Fine Arts Award for achievement in Art History.