Lisa Duarte has spent her career at the place where government, business, and civic life converge. Named one of Chicago Magazine's Top 50 Most Powerful Chicagoans, she leads advocacy efforts for a diverse portfolio of clients as President and CEO of Point of Difference Strategies, helping organizations navigate complex policy environments, build strategic relationships, and advance priorities at the local, state, and federal levels. Her approach is grounded in years of senior government service, giving her clients a view of the policy landscape that goes beyond strategy on paper.

She also serves as a Partner and Co-Chair of the Management Committee at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, one of the country's fastest-growing women-owned law firms and a recognized member of the Women Presidents' Organization's 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. In that role, she helps guide the firm's strategy, operations, and continued growth.

Before founding Point of Difference Strategies, Lisa served as First Assistant Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy under Governor JB Pritzker, overseeing 17 state agencies and more than 170 boards and commissions. She led major legislative and fiscal initiatives, supported statewide economic development strategies, and served as a key liaison to the business community. She also played a central role in Illinois' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping guide economic stabilization efforts and the deployment of more than $1 billion in federal relief funding.

Earlier in her career, Lisa served in the Chicago Mayor's Office as Legislative Counsel and later as Chief of Staff to the Mayor's Economic Council, where she helped shape the city's legislative agenda and economic priorities.

Lisa is a recognized voice in Chicago's political and civic landscape and regularly appears as a political analyst on WGN-TV's Election Night coverage, where she provides real-time insights on key races and their broader economic and policy implications.

She serves on the Board of Directors of Choose Chicago, the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Board of Directors of Arts Alliance Illinois, and was recently appointed to the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.