THOUGHT:Leaders on stage
- Susanne Aigner-Drews
- Tim Alexander
- Ladina von Allmen
- Anna Attila
- Charles Bahr
- Björn Bak
- Carolin Bink
- Benedikt Böckenförde
- Luca Boller
- Lilian Bours
- Marcus John Henry Brown
- Anja Bundschuh
- Johannes Ceh
- Cindy Chin
- Sebastian Dicke
- Max Elster
- Sylvia Epaillard
- Dr. Jürgen Galler
- Deepa Gautam-Nigge
- Norbert Gierlich
- Martin Graf
- Gil Grobe
- Lisa Hamberg
- Sven Hannawald
- Johannes Hapig
- Curt Simon Harlinghausen
- Tim Hughes
- Sophie Hundertmark
- Ben Jeffries
- Johan Jervoe
- Norm Johnston
- Emma Ager Jonbech
- Kristian Kabashi
- Matilda Kong
- Alexander Koppel
- Michael Kunst
- Christian Kunz
- Caspar Lee
- Steffen Lentz
- Daniel Luther
- Sebastian Matthes
- Marion Marxer
- Christian Meisser
- Maja Michalewska
- Mikkel Beyer Mogensen
- Christian Muche
- Patrick Petzold
- Ethan Pierse
- Ivan Pols
- Frederike Probert
- Joachim Reuter
- Jan Rode
- Ivo Sauter
- Maria Gräfin von Scheel-Plessen
- Alexander Schlaubitz
- Vera Schneevoigt
- Frank Schneider
- Christop Schuh
- Dr. Markus Schweizer
- Monika Smith
- Sir Martin Sorrell
- Leila Summa
- Marisa Tschopp
- Simon Tuck
- Andy Waar
- Anita Weckherlin
- Melissa Whiting

Melissa Whiting
VICE PRESIDENT INCLUSION & DIVERSITY AT PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL (PMI)
Describe your position and task in one sentence
I lead the changes required to make PMI a truly inclusive workplace in which talented women and men who reflect the diversity of the world feel welcome, valued and are enabled to fully participate, both individually and collectively to unlock the creativity and innovation needed to accomplish PMI’s vision of a smoke-free future.
What inspires you about your job?
I’m inspired and motivated by the contributions that multi-national businesses, like PMI, can make towards a better, more equitable, more sustainable world – like walking the talk on equal pay and improving the gender balance of their organizations, among others.
On a day-to-day basis, I’m inspired by the conversations and interactions I have with so many men and women from different backgrounds and life experiences to me, who share their stories and often challenge my own perception of the world, helping me grow.
What is your big challenge in digital transformation?
We need to foster a truly inclusive, diverse workplace to generate the creativity and innovation needed if we are to meet the ever-changing needs of the consumer – through our products, applications and consumer touchpoints— in today’s digital era. Reflecting the world’s diversity in the design of your product or service today has become mission-critical if want to appeal to the widest customer base and stay ahead of the competition.
What makes you special - is there a personal commitment or leitmotif to which you feel committed?
As an avid high altitude hiker - I’ve hiked the Himalaya, up Kilimanjaro, around Mt Blanc and across the Pyrenees - I’ve learnt that early on in a difficult climb, it takes tremendous effort to keep going but as you grow accustomed to the exposure and altitude, you learn to trust yourself - and your team – to push through the discomfort and take in the view. Building off this experience, I’m committed to connecting people, understanding their different stories, hope and fears and helping them overcome barriers to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.