Head of Global HR Strategy, Talent, and Communications, GE

Laura Cococcia is the Head of Global HR Strategy, Talent, and Communications at GE. During her career, in addition to GE, she has worked at several industry-leading brands, including Google, American Express, and Yahoo in a variety of global leadership roles. With a unique combination of people strategy and communications experience, she is a trusted partner to C-level executives, bringing a unique blend of communications, HR strategy, and consulting experience to help organizations achieve business goals, drive engagement, build capabilities, and strengthen culture. In addition, she is a recognized thought leader on the evolution and future of work, shaping and sharing perspectives on AI, sustainability, and employee engagement. 

Experienced in change leadership and crisis management, she led GE’s global COVID-19 task force, designing the company’s pandemic response, sustainable work strategies, and wellbeing initiatives. She serves as the senior HR lead on GE’s Sustainability Council and represented the company in the 2023 World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Leadership Program, led by Yale University and the Institute for Management Development. Most recently, she was accepted as a Fulbright Specialist, which pairs highly qualified US academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise through short-term consulting assignments.

She is a contributing writer for Thrive Global and actively participates in forward-thinking communities, including TED, PeopleTech Partners, Gartner’s CHRO Leadership Board, and the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program. Her current writing focuses on the technological, generational, and social shifts that impact how we work and live. 

Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in English from College of the Holy Cross, holds a master’s degree in human resources from Cornell University, and is pursuing a second master’s degree in leadership and ethics at the University of Chicago.  Based in NYC, she has traveled to more than 50 countries, enjoys learning new languages, and is an avid tennis and live music fan.