Kate Mikesell serves as vice president, corporate responsibility for Hilton and is president of the Hilton Effect Foundation, the company’s international philanthropic arm. In these roles, she leads Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy, designed to drive responsible travel and tourism globally. During her 10-plus years with Hilton, Mikesell has led external affairs initiatives, including its successful 2013 Initial Public Offering, nine new hotel brand launches, and its 100th anniversary celebration. Mikesell also played an integral role in the creation of the Hilton Effect, which quantitatively illustrated the positive impact Hilton has on billions of lives and thousands of communities around the globe. This piece of work ultimately inspired the creation of the Hilton Effect Foundation, which Hilton established in 2019. Prior to joining Hilton, Mikesell worked for Edelman Public Relations, directing public affairs efforts for health care related companies and initiatives.