Cynthia Cardona is the head of social impact for Eli Lilly and Company, a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. She also serves as the president of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Inc. (Lilly Foundation), a separate, tax-exempt, private foundation supported by donations from Eli Lilly and Company.

In her capacity with the Lilly Foundation, Cynthia spearheads strategic initiatives and support in critical areas such as global health, STEM education, and economic mobility. Additionally, she leads Lilly’s social impact team, which envisions a world where everyone has an opportunity to live their healthiest life possible. The team works towards this vision by championing innovative solutions to enhance healthcare access so individuals and communities can thrive.

Cynthia holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Structural Engineering from Stanford University. She began her career in the non-profit sector, working with communities around the world to improve their disaster risk management capabilities. After completing her MBA at Stanford, she joined Lilly where she has held various marketing and corporate affairs leadership roles, including chief marketing officer of Lilly Japan.