U.S. Ambassador Jean Manes is President and Founder of the Global Diplomat Advisory Group following over three decades leading large institutions and conducting international negotiations across multiple sectors at the CEO level. Extensive experience in managing complex global risk, Washington, DC political dynamics, strategic communications, and financial oversight. Most recently as the Acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based in Paris she led the U.S. strategy with 193 countries in this multilateral institution focusing on artificial intelligence, digital education, and scientific research as well as increasing private sector partnerships. She was Vice-President on the Executive Board of UNESCO and led key committees.

Prior, for four years as Civilian Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command, she served as the senior political advisor to two consecutive 4-star military commanders, advising on the full spectrum of foreign policy, political risk, defense, and security issues for 32 countries in the Western Hemisphere. This included promoting investment emphasizing “economic security is national security” and negotiations with the National Security Council, Department of War, Commerce Department, and State Department as well as the international finance community. 

As U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador for three years, she served as CEO of the 5^th largest Embassy in the Western Hemisphere leading a team of 1300 from 19 government agencies with over $500 million in annual resources. She worked with a major U.S. energy company to resolve disputes resulting in the largest foreign investment in the history of the country – $1.2 billion, which included facilitating access to multinational finance. Her mobilization of private and public sector funds, identification of game-changing issues, and ability to build coalitions to implement large scale initiatives directly contributed to a 40% reduction in homicides in the country and 50% reduction in illegal migration.

She has represented U.S. companies in technology, retail, energy, manufacturing, defense, and security in resolving international business issues. With decades of global experience working around the world, she has an expansive network of trusted executive contacts. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She has in-depth strategic communication experience having directed the overseas operations of 700 U.S. offices tasked with foreign audience engagement as well as managing $1.2 billion in resources for global public engagement.  

She received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award recognizing the top 1% of all senior executives as well as the Distinguished Civilian award from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Department of War. She is a Lifetime Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.