Chairman and CEO
ManpowerGroup | Milwaukee
Jonas Prising was named chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based ManpowerGroup in 2014 and chairman the following year. The $20 billion global staffing firm is among Milwaukee’s largest employers. Prising has been with the company for more than 20 years, previously serving as ManpowerGroup North America president and president of the Americas. A sought-out expert on the labor market and future of work, Prising regularly speaks at events and in the media on employment trends, jobs and skills. He is a board member and former chairman of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and also serves on the board of directors of Kohl’s Corp.
Education: MBA, Stockholm School of Economics
The future of your industry: “We cannot underestimate the impact on work or workers of the transformative changes taking place in generative AI and the global green energy transition. We believe now is the time to take a human-centered approach to these – one that puts people first and shapes the future of work.”
Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Door County is the go-to destination for our family. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful fresh coast just a short drive from our city.”
Playlist for commute/run: “I am a big fan of BBC World Podcasts, including The World Tonight.”
Advice for first-time leaders: “Your success is your team’s success. Leadership is a team sport. To be a good leader, you must be capable, have a bias for action, put others before self and have a strong moral compass.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Services | Staffing
Chairman and CEO
ManpowerGroup | Milwaukee
Jonas Prising has led ManpowerGroup, one of Milwaukee’s largest employers and one of just a handful of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city, since 2014. He leads all aspects of the staffing company’s $21 billion business, which spans 75 countries and territories worldwide. Prising is an expert in labor markets and the future of work and frequently speaks on both subjects. He currently serves as global board chairman for JA Worldwide and is actively engaged with the World Economic Forum. He is also a former chair of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and serves on the board of directors of Kohl’s Corp.
Education: MBA, Stockholm School of Economics
What has you most excited for the future: “As a global community we face some big issues – addressing climate change, bridging the skills gap and unleashing dormant potential. I am an optimist and I believe that the combination of human skills, innovation and technology will help us solve these challenges. This is how we will reduce inequality driven by lack of access to opportunity and create a future that is better for the many, not the few.”
Book recommendation: “‘True North’ by Bill George.”
Career advice: “To be a good leader you must be capable, have a bias for action, put others before self and have a strong moral compass.”
What would you change about Wisconsin to make it better: “Wisconsin and Milwaukee, in particular, has a skilled and diverse talent pool that we need to do more to utilize.”