Eleni Kounalakis

About Eleni Kounalakis

Eleni Kounalakis has spent her career fighting for opportunity—as a businesswoman, diplomat, and California’s 50th Lieutenant Governor. A proud native Californian and mother of two, she is a bold, solutions-driven leader unafraid to take on the state’s toughest challenges.

Eleni’s California story began with her father, who immigrated to the United States as a refugee from Greece. At just 15, he worked in the fields and paid his way through college by waiting tables—ironically, at California’s Governor’s Mansion. One generation later, Eleni made history as the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of California.

After earning her MBA from UC Berkeley, Eleni joined her father in building one of California’s most respected housing development firms, AKT Development. As president, she led the company through its largest period of growth, spearheading the development of affordable, middle-class communities that now house over 200,000 families in the Sacramento region.

From eleniforca.com