Ernesto Morales: Building Big Ideas That Bring People Together
Some people build careers. Others build connections. Ernesto Morales does both.
From his early days crunching numbers in healthcare to leading community partnerships for global brands, Morales has spent over two decades turning big ideas into real impact. His path wasn’t fast or flashy—but it was steady, thoughtful, and people-first.
“Big ideas only matter if they solve big problems,” Morales says. “I’ve always focused on what people need, not just what’s possible.”
Starting with Structure: Early Years in Finance
Morales began his career at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, working as a senior accountant. In the late ’90s, the job was numbers-heavy and procedural. It gave him a strong foundation in how organizations function behind the scenes.
“It taught me how systems work—and where they don’t,” he says. “That helped me later when I needed to build new ones.”
From there, he moved to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he analyzed contracts and grants. Again, the focus was structure and detail. But Morales was already thinking ahead.
“I started to notice that every spreadsheet had a story behind it. That’s when I got more curious about people.”
Learning the Language of People and Partnerships
That shift led him into the world of professional associations. At PIHRA (Professionals In Human Resources Association), Morales became Manager of Membership and Development. Suddenly, he wasn’t just handling data—he was building relationships.
He then took on a leadership role at the Latin Business Association, working directly with small businesses and corporate sponsors.
“Community work requires trust,” he says. “That’s when I learned how to listen, not just pitch.”
A Turning Point at Pepperdine University
One of the key chapters in Morales’s career came at the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business, where he served as Director of Corporate Relations from 2006 to 2009.
There, he led efforts to connect the school with major companies like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Amgen, Coca-Cola, and Wells Fargo. His work generated over $14 million in new revenue opportunities.
But for Morales, the numbers were just part of the story.
“What I really learned at Pepperdine,” he says, “was how to link purpose and partnership. It’s not just about business goals. It’s about mutual benefit.”
Stepping Into Strategy Roles
Morales then moved to Cordea Consulting, a healthcare IT firm, where he served as Vice President of Business Development. In that role, he led both short- and long-term planning.
In 2010, he became Executive Director of Business Development at Rose Hills Memorial Park, the largest single-site memorial park in the world. There, he focused on outreach to the Hispanic community, creating strategies to better serve and engage a diverse audience.
“We weren’t just marketing,” he explains. “We were learning how people grieve, how they celebrate life, and what matters to them culturally.”
Founding North Star Alliances: A Big Idea With a Clear Mission
In 2012, Morales launched North Star Alliances (NSA)—a firm dedicated to community engagement, public strategy, and partnerships.
Over the last decade, NSA has led more than 1,100 projects for high-profile clients, including Google, The White House, Coca-Cola, LA Metro, the City of Los Angeles, LAUSD, and L.A. Care.
Each project is different, but the goal stays the same: build trust and drive meaningful change.
“I didn’t want to create another marketing agency,” Morales says. “I wanted to build something that could help cities, companies, and communities work better together.”
Serving the State and Staying Grounded
In 2018, Morales was appointed by California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon as a State Commissioner for the California Employment Training Panel. It’s the state’s leading program for supporting job creation and workforce development.
He also serves on the board of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, continuing his work to uplift underserved communities.
“Being part of these groups keeps me close to the people I care about,” he says. “It’s not about the title—it’s about the responsibility.”
Lessons Learned and What Comes Next
Looking back, Ernesto Morales credits his career growth to staying focused on people, purpose, and persistence.
“You can have all the degrees and experience in the world, but if you don’t care, it won’t land,” he says. “I’ve tried to bring care into every room I walk into.”
With an MBA and a business degree from Pepperdine University, and a long track record across industries, Morales has built a career based on bridging gaps—between people, cultures, and sectors.
And he’s not done yet.
“There’s still work to do,” he says. “There are still stories to hear and communities to reach. That’s what drives me.”
