Jean Manes brings more than three decades of leadership at the executive level of government, diplomacy, and international business. She is recognized for integrating geopolitical risk, strategic communications, and complex negotiations to help organizations navigate volatility and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving global environments. She has extensive operational experience with large scale financial oversight and resource allocation responsibilities. Most recently, she led the U.S. policy agenda on artificial intelligence and education as the U.S. Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris negotiating with 193 countries. Previously, as Civilian Deputy Commander at U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Manes served as senior political advisor to two consecutive four-star commanders, shaping strategy across 32 countries in the Western Hemisphere. Operating at the intersection of defense, diplomacy, and economic statecraft, she advised on political risk, security cooperation, and regional stability. As U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, she led 1,300 staff across 19 agencies and managing more than $500 million in annual resources. She brokered high-stakes negotiations that resulted in a landmark $1.2 billion energy investment and her leadership contributed to measurable national outcomes, including a 40% reduction in homicides and a 50% decline in illegal migration. Manes has advised and represented U.S. companies across technology, energy, manufacturing, defense, and retail sectors, helping navigate regulatory environments, resolve disputes, and mitigate geopolitical risk in complex markets. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
