This as-told-to essay draws upon an in-depth conversation with Stacey Kennedy, the United States Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris International, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. For purposes of concision and readability, the story has been edited to ensure coherence and precision. Kennedy began her professional journey with Philip Morris International—one of the world’s most recognized tobacco companies—in 1995, stepping into the organization as a territory sales manager. Over the years, she navigated through a series of increasingly senior roles, gaining broad managerial and strategic experience. By 2006, she had ascended to the position of Vice President of Sales for the Southeast region, based in Atlanta. Her career path then took her to Lausanne, Switzerland, where she operated at the vice-presidential level. Later, she assumed responsibility as managing director for several European markets before being promoted to the role of president overseeing South and Southeast Asia. In January 2023, she was appointed CEO of the company’s U.S. division—a culmination of nearly three decades of leadership and international experience.
The profile appears as part of Business Insider’s ‘Power Hours’ series, which offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the daily frameworks and habits of influential leaders across industries. Readers who wish to discover additional features in the series—or to share personal insights into their own routines—may contact editor Lauryn Haas.
Kennedy recently celebrated her thirtieth year with Philip Morris International. Her career has been an even split between domestic and international assignments, reflecting her global perspective and adaptability. As a former smoker who transitioned more than ten years ago to IQOS—a heated tobacco innovation designed for adult smokers seeking alternatives—she embodies the company’s transformation toward smoke-free products. What follows is a window into what her typical workday looks like in detail.
Kennedy usually wakes between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. She begins each morning by briefly glancing through her phone for any urgent matters that may have emerged overnight—a necessity in an organization that operates seamlessly across multiple time zones. Once she confirms that everything is stable, she devotes the opening moments of her day to a personal philosophy she calls “pay myself first.” The idea is borrowed from the metaphor of placing one’s own oxygen mask on before assisting others. She believes that nurturing one’s mental and physical energy at the start of the day directly enhances leadership performance and emotional presence throughout the hours that follow.
Her ideal morning involves stepping outside for a reflective walk through her neighborhood, allowing mindfulness and stillness to shape her mindset. She complements that with fifteen minutes of yoga to awaken her body and restore balance. On less perfect mornings—perhaps when the weather is uncooperative or when extra sleep feels essential—she might forgo the walk but maintains her commitment to that brief yoga or stretching routine, ensuring a consistent physical and mental anchor at the outset of the day.
Breakfast, for her, is a minimalist affair. She identifies as “not a big breakfast person,” often choosing something light such as a handful of fresh berries or several figs. What she never skips, however, is her morning coffee ritual: a powerful double espresso prepared with her Nespresso machine. Occasionally, she substitutes it with a matcha brewed from her Cuzen Matcha maker, a small luxury that adds variety to her morning routine.
Kennedy typically departs for her Stamford office at approximately 8:00 a.m. She works on-site about four days per week, and the drive—around twenty-five minutes—affords her a brief transition between her home life and the focused demands of corporate leadership. As she approaches the office, one recurring thought surfaces: concern over whether the organization is progressing with sufficient speed and innovation while maintaining discipline and ethical accountability. Maintaining this dual focus on agility and responsibility is central to her leadership philosophy.
Her mornings are dominated by meetings of varying scale. Kennedy has overseen the creation of an office environment that reflects openness and collaboration, featuring communal areas, a barista counter, and informal coffee corners intended to encourage spontaneous dialogue. Much of her early-day schedule involves strategic reviews with her direct reports. Business travel also occupies a significant portion of her calendar. She visits PMI’s flagship manufacturing site in Owensboro, Kentucky, and is actively engaged in the development of a new facility in Aurora, Colorado. Additionally, she dedicates regular time to the company’s Washington, D.C. office, where she works closely with policymakers and regulators, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Her goal in these engagements is to advocate that adult smokers have access to scientifically substantiated, less harmful alternatives.
Kennedy’s calendar is meticulously organized—often planned a full year in advance. Fixed events include global management meetings and board sessions that establish the rhythm of each quarter. For unscheduled or flexible matters, the planning horizon typically extends about six weeks out. To avoid a sense of rigidity, her executive team has introduced a distinctive model they refer to as P.O.D.D. meetings—standing for Problem, Opportunity, Discussion, and Decision. These sessions create space for responsive decision-making, ensuring that emerging challenges and ideas are addressed before they escalate or disappear.
Among Kennedy’s guiding leadership principles is the conviction that individuals should operate predominantly from their strengths while also recognizing their limitations. She candidly acknowledges one of her own ongoing challenges: punctuality. She views time less as a rigid measure and more as a flexible concept. Naturally curious and conversational, she tends to lose track of minutes and hours when deeply engaged in solving problems or exchanging ideas. This temporal fluidity can be disconcerting for her husband, who is notably punctual—a contrast she describes with amused self-awareness.
Her lunch hour acts as both a physical and intellectual pause in the day. Typically lasting an hour, this period often doubles as an opportunity for informal meetings. Seated with colleagues—frequently in a conference room or a casual open area—Kennedy values the diversity of perspectives that emerge from these interactions. On a typical day, she opts for a simple salad with grilled chicken drizzled with olive oil. However, when lunch is pre-ordered as part of a larger meeting, her assistant takes charge of the selection, sparing her one decision in an already decision-heavy day.
Afternoons continue in much the same cadence: a succession of meetings devoted to operational tracking, strategic evaluation, or cross-functional collaboration. Before departing, Kennedy convenes briefly with her chief of staff and executive assistant to review what the team has achieved and recalibrate the remainder of the week. The pace and complexity of her role can easily become overwhelming, so she relies on intentional grounding rituals. Her preferred indulgence—a strong espresso paired with an IQOS moment—serves as a brief retreat that helps her refocus energy and composure.
Whenever tension or frustration rises, Kennedy turns instinctively to gratitude. This deliberate shift in perspective reminds her to appreciate progress rather than dwell on minor irritations. She believes that acknowledging even small wins can substantially improve one’s emotional and cognitive clarity.
She generally leaves the office around 6:30 p.m., aiming to sit down for family dinner by 7:00 p.m. (Though, with teenage twins often in sports practice, mealtime can easily be delayed to 7:30.) At home, she usually takes on the role of household chef, favoring a Mediterranean-inspired diet full of fresh produce, olive oil, grilled fish, and occasionally rice. When travel prevents her from cooking, she ensures that her husband—less culinary by nature—has everything he needs, even joking about their “crockpot lessons.”
Family dinners are governed by a simple but transformative rule: all phones are left at the door. The practice has become a cornerstone of their household dynamics. Her husband frequently introduces thought-provoking subjects for discussion, which both children engage with critically, helping them develop independent opinions and curiosity about the world.
Although her husband attempts to interest her in various television series, Kennedy admits that scripted shows hold little appeal for her during the week. On weekends, however, she occasionally joins her children in watching lighthearted programs—one favorite being ‘Parks and Recreation,’ which aligns with her son’s sharp sense of humor. After dinner, she and her husband share a quiet ritual: a decaffeinated espresso and a relaxed conversation about their respective days.
Evenings are typically dedicated to reading. Kennedy spends anywhere from half an hour to an hour immersed in her books—usually maintaining a steady balance between two fiction titles and one nonfiction work. Fiction is reserved for weekends, as her tendency to become completely absorbed can make it difficult to stop once she starts.
Her bedtime routine begins around 10 p.m. with a quick digital check to ensure that nothing urgent requires attention. She limits her responses deliberately, sending only brief notes—often to her chief of staff—about priorities for the following morning. She restricts this late-night work burst to no more than ten minutes. Lights go out around 11 p.m., and by her own account, she falls asleep almost instantly.
Weekends, though ideally devoted to rest, frequently present their own demands. Kennedy avoids going into the office but inevitably finds tasks that must be attended to, carefully scheduling them around her family’s activities. She supports her son’s rowing pursuits by attending as many regattas as possible and participates in her daughter’s debate competitions, often serving as a volunteer judge.
Ultimately, she describes her guiding rhythm as a ‘non-routine routine’—a dynamic balance that allows structure without confinement. For Kennedy, excessive rigidity stifles curiosity and creativity. She performs at her best when given room to explore, reflect, and adapt—a philosophy that, in her view, sustains both her leadership and her personal fulfillment.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/stacey-kennedy-ceo-philip-morris-international-power-hours-2025-12
