Artificial intelligence is transforming not only the products companies develop, but also the way organizations manage people, operations, and long-term strategy.

As that transformation accelerates, companies are increasingly looking for leaders who understand both technology and the business decisions required to implement it.

On October 28, 2026, global workforce solutions company ManpowerGroup announced the election of Lidia Fonseca to its Board of Directors, effective November 1, 2026.

Fonseca previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Pfizer, where she helped lead the pharmaceutical company’s digital and artificial intelligence strategy.

From enterprise technology to board leadership

Fonseca served in her senior technology leadership role at Pfizer from January 2019 through April 2026.

During that period, her responsibilities included enterprise AI, digital technology, data strategy, learning and development, and business process improvement.

According to ManpowerGroup, Fonseca helped establish and scale Pfizer’s enterprise AI program.

She currently serves as a senior adviser to Pfizer’s CEO and is also a member of Medtronic’s Board of Directors.

Earlier in her career, Fonseca held senior information technology leadership positions at Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, following experience at Philips Healthcare.

Her professional background spans healthcare, technology, operations, and organizational transformation.

Why the appointment matters

ManpowerGroup operates in an industry directly affected by changing workforce requirements.

As businesses adopt AI-powered tools, they must make decisions about employee skills, recruitment, productivity, training, and organizational design.

These challenges involve more than choosing software.

They require executives to consider how technology changes workflows, what skills employees need, and how organizations can implement new systems responsibly.

Fonseca’s experience leading technology transformation at a major pharmaceutical company gives her a perspective relevant to these decisions.

Her appointment also illustrates the growing connection between AI strategy and corporate governance.

A leadership path for women in STEM

Women pursuing careers in technology often focus on technical expertise, management positions, or entrepreneurship.

But corporate board service represents another important leadership pathway.

Board directors help oversee organizational strategy, risk, executive performance, and long-term business priorities.

Fonseca’s career demonstrates how experience in enterprise technology and digital transformation can support leadership opportunities beyond a traditional technology department.

For women in STEM, it offers an example of the potential progression from operational and technical leadership into broader corporate decision-making.

The future of technology leadership

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, companies will need leaders capable of evaluating both its opportunities and its limitations.

That includes understanding cybersecurity, data governance, workforce implications, business value, and organizational readiness.

Fonseca’s election to ManpowerGroup’s board reflects the relevance of that expertise across industries.

Her new position begins November 1, 2026, according to the company’s announcement.

The broader lesson is that technology leadership increasingly extends beyond building and managing systems. It also involves helping organizations decide how those systems should shape their future.

Sources & Further Reading

ManpowerGroup — Lidia Fonseca board election, October 28, 2026

ManpowerGroup — Corporate website


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