You’ve probably heard the term "power couple" tossed around about Hollywood A-listers or political titans in D.C. But in Chicago, specifically the South Side, the names Martin Nesbitt and Anita Blanchard carry a different kind of weight. They aren't just names on a donor wall or faces at a gala. They represent a specific brand of quiet, institutional influence that has shaped everything from private equity to the birth of presidential children.
Honestly, it’s hard to talk about the modern history of the Obama family without talking about Marty and Anita. But reducing them to just "friends of Barack and Michelle" does a massive disservice to what they’ve actually built on their own. We're talking about a top-tier private equity founder and a pioneering surgeon who have spent decades balancing high-stakes careers with a deep-rooted commitment to their community.
Who Exactly are Martin Nesbitt and Anita Blanchard?
If you aren't from the world of Chicago finance or medicine, here is the quick version. Martin "Marty" Nesbitt is the co-CEO of The Vistria Group, a private equity firm that manages billions of dollars. He’s the guy who basically invented the modern airport parking industry with "The Parking Spot" before pivoting to even bigger things.
Anita Blanchard, on the other hand, is a powerhouse in the medical field. A long-time professor and OB-GYN at the University of Chicago, she didn't just practice medicine; she led it. As the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, she oversaw the training of over a thousand residents and fellows.
But for most of the world, their "claim to fame" is much more personal. Anita is the doctor who delivered both Sasha and Malia Obama. Marty is the guy Barack Obama calls when he needs to clear his head on the basketball court or talk through the future of the Obama Foundation.
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The Vistria Group and the "Profit with Purpose" Model
Marty Nesbitt doesn't just chase returns. He’s been very vocal about a philosophy he calls "doing well by doing good." It sounds like a marketing slogan, but at Vistria, it's basically the operating manual. They invest in sectors like healthcare, education, and financial services—areas where public policy and private capital collide.
Think about it this way. Instead of just buying a company to gut it and flip it, Nesbitt’s firm looks for businesses that solve actual societal problems. One example he often cites is an investment in high-school completion programs for adults. It helps the economy, helps the students, and—yes—makes money for investors. It's a pragmatic, Chicago-style approach to capitalism.
- Founded: 2013 (with partner Kip Kirkpatrick)
- Focus: Healthcare, Knowledge & Learning, Financial Services
- Impact: Over $10 billion in assets under management (as of recent filings)
Anita Blanchard: Beyond the Delivery Room
While Marty was building businesses, Dr. Anita Blanchard was cementing her legacy at UChicago Medicine. It’s easy to focus on the fact that she delivered the "First Daughters," but her real impact is in the diversity of the medical field.
She spent over two decades focused on medical education. Why does that matter? Because she was the one making sure that the next generation of doctors actually looked like the community they were serving. On Chicago’s South Side, that isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a life-or-death necessity.
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She eventually retired from her role as Professor and Associate Dean in 2022, but she hasn't slowed down. She’s active on the board of the Art Institute of Chicago and remains a fixture in civic leadership. She’s often the person bridge-building between the ivory towers of academia and the actual streets of Kenwood and Hyde Park.
The "First Friend" and the Obama Legacy
The bond between Martin Nesbitt and Barack Obama goes back decades, long before the Secret Service was involved. They met through Michelle’s brother, Craig Robinson. They were just guys playing basketball and raising kids in the same neighborhood.
When Obama decided to run for President, Marty didn't just cheer from the sidelines. He served as the national treasurer for both the 2008 and 2012 campaigns. You don't hand the checkbook of a billion-dollar presidential campaign to someone you don't trust implicitly.
Today, Marty serves as the Chairman of the Obama Foundation. He is the architect overseeing the construction and the mission of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. It’s a massive undertaking, fraught with local politics and high expectations, but if anyone has the temperament to navigate it, it's Marty.
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Why Their Story Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we are still talking about them. The reason is simple: they represent a blueprint for "impact."
In an era where many successful people flee to gated communities or disconnect from their roots, the Nesbitts stayed. They live in the same South Side community they’ve always lived in. They’ve managed to bridge the gap between "the room where it happens" in D.C. and the realities of Chicago's South Side.
Surprising Details You Might Not Know
- Athletic Roots: Marty credits a lot of his business success to lessons learned on the basketball court under coach Jack MacMullan. It was about being "part of the whole."
- Bold Moves: Marty's family actually thought he was crazy for leaving a stable job at General Motors to go to business school. He was the first in his family to go to college—giving up a "good job" was a huge risk.
- The Pritzker Connection: Before Vistria, Marty worked closely with the Pritzker family (yes, the ones who own Hyatt and the Governor’s mansion). He co-founded The Parking Spot with Penny Pritzker.
Actionable Insights from the Nesbitt-Blanchard Playbook
If you’re looking to build a career or a legacy that looks anything like theirs, here is what you can actually take away from their journey:
- Invest in "Intersectionality": Look for opportunities where private interests meet public needs. Whether it's in your career or your community service, that’s where the real impact (and growth) happens.
- Trust is Currency: Marty became the "First Friend" not because he was the smartest guy in the room (though he’s plenty smart), but because he was the most reliable. In business and life, being the "port in the storm" is a rare and valuable asset.
- Mentorship over Ego: Anita Blanchard’s career wasn't just about her own surgeries; it was about the 1,000+ residents she supervised. True power is the ability to train your successors.
- Stay Rooted: Despite their global reach, they remain focused on Chicago. Focus your energy on a specific place or cause where you can see the results of your work firsthand.
Next Steps for Following Their Work
If you're interested in the projects they're currently leading, you should keep an eye on the Obama Foundation's progress reports regarding the Presidential Center's community benefits. Additionally, tracking The Vistria Group's latest acquisitions in the healthcare space provides a masterclass in how private equity is evolving to meet social challenges in 2026.