Manuel Amezcua is a dreamer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and executive in the wealth management and insurance industry who is obsessed with adding value and solving problems in every room he enters. He currently serves as CEO of MassMutual Great Lakes and is also the founder of the Podium Group, which has a concentrated focus on serving professional athletes, business owners, and CEOs.
Inspired by growth and connection, Manuel is the host of At the Podium podcast and has spoken at 50 conferences and companies across the country, delivering messages centered on servant leadership, being a great teammate, and doing the things most will not – to achieve the greatness that most will never experience.
Manuel’s leadership philosophy is grounded in a commitment to hard work, having a mindset of abundance, and upholding a standard of excellence. He was named a 2023 and 2024 Inspirational Leader by Employ Humanity and has been recognized each year since 2019 as one of Detroit’s 500 ‘Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit’ by DBusiness Magazine, where he was also named the 2024 Mentor of the Year. He has been recognized as a Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) member in 2024.
An advocate and steward for his people, Manuel’s conviction of fostering a thriving company culture has led to the firm’s recognition on Metro Detroit’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For’ list annually since 2018, as well as Crain’s Detroit Business ‘Cool Places to Work in Michigan’ list in 2019, 2021, 2022, and, following the award’s title change, was recognized as one of Crain’s Detroit Business ‘Best Places to Work in Southeast Michigan’ in 2023 and 2024. MassMutual Great Lakes was also recognized as Employ Humanity’s Best Places to Work for 2025.
However, his devotion to support and empower others is not confined to the workplace. In his eight-year span leading MassMutual Great Lakes, the firm has sponsored and supported over 60 nonprofit organizations. Manuel has also received MassMutual’s national Community Service Award in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2024. He was also recognized with a 2023 Beyond Basics Impact Award and has received multiple MassMutual Foundation awards for his commitment to community impact.
Manuel believes that in order to make a profound impact in any area of life, it takes relentless hustle and grit coupled with gratitude and genuine goodness.
At the forefront of Manuel’s personal life are his wife, Samantha, and two children, Ava and Atlas.
Board Service: Manuel serves on the Executive Committee for the Game on Cancer and the DePauw University Advisory Board for the School of Business and Leadership. He also served as Chair of the Chicago Melanoma Research Foundation’s Wings of Hope Gala for three years. He has provided previous board service to the Melanoma Research Foundation, NAIFA Chicago, POSSE Chicago’s Leadership Council, the Center for Economic Progress, and the Reilly C. Bush Foundation.
