Petra Smeltzer Starke

About

Czech-born American lawyer, published author, entrepreneur, influencer, and wellness advocate widely known for her multifaceted career spanning international law and public service. She has served as General Counsel to the White House Council of Economic Advisors and Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She is also the founder of the hot yoga and lifestyle brand SweatNGlow. 

Before fame

She was born and raised in a small town in what was then Czechoslovakia. From a young age, she excelled in chess and athletics. She went on to study international business, trade, and diplomacy at the Prague School of Economics while also working as a model. She eventually relocated to the United States, where she attended Georgetown University Law Center before graduating at the top of her class with both a J.D. and an LL.M. 

Trivia

She chronicled her journey, from growing up under communism to working in the White House and later launching a wellness brand, in her Czech bestselling memoir How Yoga Changed My Life. In 2024, she was named a brand ambassador for genetic diagnostics company Mainz Biomed.

Family life

She married former NFL athlete George Lawrence Starke III, with whom she shares a son named George Lawrence Starke IV.

Associated with

In addition to her counseling roles during the Obama administration, she also served on the transition team for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.