Emiliana Sparaco is an experienced labor organizer whose journey through community service, political engagement, and union leadership spans more than two decades. Raised in Southern California, she began her activism as a youth volunteer in San Diego, participating in efforts with the San Diego Organizing Project and the National Conference for Communities and Justice. Emiliana Sparaco’s early exposure to social justice movements laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to empowering workers and advancing equity across diverse communities.
Emiliana Sparaco’s professional organizing career began with the Fight for $15 campaign, where she recruited and mobilized low-wage workers, led multiple strike actions, and won critical unfair labor practice charges against employers. She eventually became known for her ability to identify worker leaders and create momentum through grassroots mobilization. These early victories shaped her belief in bottom-up leadership and the power of strategic, sustained campaigns.
In 2020, Ms. Sparaco joined the staff of IFPTE, where she currently serves as an Organizer and Representative for one of the union’s California-based locals. She continues to empower members through committee development, organizing trainings, and leading issue-based campaigns. Her ability to connect with workers and transform collective frustration into organized action remains a hallmark of her approach, and her work has already yielded successful union election campaigns and strengthened internal organizing systems.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start everyday with tasks and priorities set based on weekly and monthly goals. I live by utilizing my calendar to help with management and staying on track.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I typically like to take the time to think about an idea for a while before writing it out. This allows me to think through possible scenarios or questions that will come up. From there, I take the idea to whoever I’m going to collaborate with to bring it to life.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Growing support for unionizing and democratizing the workplace.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Time management is key.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Spend time with people whose company you enjoy. And you will have a better time if you wear comfortable shoes.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I don’t think Oreo cookies are very good.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Prioritize getting a good rest.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a break and check-in with myself if I have the energy to continue with what I’m working on or decide if I need to come back to it later.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I have learned the importance of seeking people out that are interested in working together and are ready to put in the effort. Without that willingness and readiness to work together, it is impossible to successfully move any endeavor forward. Additionally, it’s a benefit to work with people that are interested in continuing to grow and will support your growth as well.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I do not consider any previous career experiences as failures but rather learning opportunities. That said, I have learned that it is not the best use of time or energy to try and make a working group functional if the individuals in the group are not interested in working together. You should not have to convince anyone who is truly interested in achieving a shared goal to work with you. You will have a better chance of accomplishing what you want by finding other people to work with.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Google Workplace has been my go-to the last few years. From Google Sheets to the calendar tool, it helps manage multiple projects at once with practical functions.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Cona O’Brien Needs a Friend has been a favorite go-to podcast recently. I enjoy the combination of witty banter and storytelling.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
St. Denis Medical is a new series I’ve been enjoying. I love stories about people at work, the humor in the day-to-day situations they find themselves in, and the relationship they have with their coworkers (the good and the bad).
Key learnings
- Start everyday with tasks and priorities set based on weekly and monthly goals.
- Time management is key.
- Prioritize getting a good rest.
- Seek people out who are interested in working together and ready to put in the effort.
- Always prioritize investing in creating the best team to work with and make sure everyone has clear and fair employment agreements.