The W.L. Mellon Speaker Series is a forum that encourages insightful and lively dialogue between Tepper students and global leaders, CEOs, and management experts.

Christina Cassotis was born to be in aviation. The New Hampshire native recalls her Pan Am pilot father jetting everywhere from Dakar to Rio, thinking “he had the greatest job in the world.” Years later, as CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA), Cassotis has led the transformation of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) into a leading global facility, recruiting multiple new domestic and international carriers, adding numerous routes, and directing the creation of PIT’s microgrid, making it the first global airport entirely independent from the traditional power grid.

In this video, Cassotis explains her journey and how she is currently spearheading the billion-dollar construction of PIT’s new, smart terminal, scheduled to open in early 2025.