HOST | Emanuel Pleitez

Emanuel was born and raised by a single mother in the Eastside of Los Angeles. It was his mother’s strength, hard work, and continual optimism that inspired Emanuel to be the person he is today– a leader who is dedicated to service and always has a positive outlook.

Emanuel graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Stanford University. While at Stanford, Emanuel was also the recipient of the Jerry I. Porras Visionary Leadership Award and the Cecilia and Tony Burciaga Community Development award. After graduation, Emanuel served as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs in the Equities Product Group of the Securities Division.  When President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, Emanuel was selected to serve on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition as a member of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Agency Review team.  After the Presidential Transition, Emanuel became the youngest candidate to run for a U.S. Congressional seat during California’s 32nd Congressional District Special Election in 2009.

Emanuel went on to get appointed by the President as Special Assistant to Chairman Paul Volcker and the Designated Federal Officer of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB).  After serving in the Obama Administration, he became a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.  Currently, Emanuel is the Chief Strategy Officer at Spokeo.

Emanuel continues to be greatly devoted to his community, and has a great deal of experience in the non-profit sector. He presently serves as the Chair of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund.  In addition, he advises LA CAUSA, New Leaders Council, No Labels, and the Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Foundation in Los Angeles.

Through this journey, Emanuel hopes to meet Latinos who are not only serving their community, but who are also driving the economy today for a better tomorrow.  He believes that “INSPIRA is about all Americans.  It’s about recognizing the potential of this country.”