Bessie Kokalis Pescio
Bessie Kokalis Pescio leads global internal communications at Philip Morris International (PMI), a pioneering company that is replacing cigarettes with smoke-free products. She is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. In this role, Bessie sits at the nexus of corporate culture, business strategy, and change management, and is responsible for informing, engaging, and inspiring 70,000-plus employees worldwide. Her prior roles included research & development, sales, commercial planning, management consulting, and linguistics.
Bessie studied French literature and political science, holds an MBA, and speaks four languages. A lifelong learner, Bessie enjoys mentoring, sharing her experience and advice to professionals in various stages of their personal life and career. Bessie is an avid reader and practices meditation and yoga, which she credits for helping her gain better balance and perspective. Bessie also is drawn to art history, archaeology, and timeless old-world cities.