Host Committee

Gala Chairs

At the heart Maya's Hope Lotus Ball are the dedicated Gala Chairs, whose unwavering commitment and passion drive the success of the charitable ball.

  • Semanti is a Partner and Analyst at Gilead Capital, an investment firm with a concentrated, small-cap focused strategy. Before joining Gilead Capital, Semanti spent four years as an Analyst at Brandes Investment Partners, L.P., a value-strategy investment firm. She began her career with investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and private equity at Metalmark Capital.

    Semanti earned her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School.

    Semanti has known Maya since 2007 and joined as a Director in March 2021. Having grown up in the Philippines, Semanti was particularly drawn to the mission of Maya’s Hope. She is excited to be part of an organization that directly impacts disadvantaged children by facilitating emergency medical care, including life-saving surgeries.

  • Michael is a Portfolio Manager at Tocqueville Asset Management in New York City, where he manages discretionary investment portfolios for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Before joining Tocqueville in 2008, Michael was an Associate Director and Assistant Portfolio Manager within the Specialized Investment Management Group at Bear Stearns Asset Management since 2003. He began his career at Bear Stearns in 2000 as an analyst supporting the firm’s institutional marketing and client service efforts, focusing on the not-for-profit and family office market. This background has been instrumental in helping to organize the efforts of Maya’s Hope. Michael received a BS in Finance and International Business from New York University, Stern School of Business, and a JD from the Fordham University School of Law.

    Michael has known Maya on a personal level since 2005 and has been involved in Maya’s Hope from the beginning. He has always been interested in helping others who are less fortunate, particularly children.

    Michael, a native New Yorker, currently resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his husband, Monte, and their son, JT. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, painting, skiing, swimming, going to the beach, and most recently, making sure to squeeze in a daily dose of Wordle.

With their exceptional leadership and vision, the Gala Chairs ensure that the Maya’s Hope Lotus Ball shines as a beacon of hope and positive change.

Meet the Host Committee 2023