About Rod
Rodney Cotton, the CEO of Cotton Ventures and head consultative coach to executives and global organizations in life sciences including pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical devices, has been leading healthcare organization strategy and growth for 40+ years. With a history of global executive status as chief of staff and head of transformation and growth at Fortune 50 industry giants including Roche Diagnostics, GlaxoSmithKline, and Baxter, Rod has deep experience across all critical facets of any complex healthcare organization. He supports innovation, inclusion, and growth at companies across healthcare, health tech, biotech, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and health equity.
Rod has taken the lead on product innovation, revenue optimization, team-building, executive leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and strategic planning on multiple successful projects in his tenure. After a long history as an executive and related success in global awards and recognition in the life sciences industry, he launched Cotton Ventures to assist new CEOs and executive teams of VC-backed startup biotech, health tech, and pharma companies to ensure proper scalability.
He is frequently brought in as a board advisor for new executives or executives who are in need of chief of staff support to help guide them through challenges of culture and company change to meet demanding needs of investors.
Testimonials
Financial Times Outstanding Directors Exchange Conference
“Rod Cotton, you make every room better when you’re in it and this was no exception. So grateful to be on this leadership and governance journey with you. The way you show up with insight, integrity, and intention continues to inspire. I’m even more grateful to count you on my personal board of advisors. Here’s to the continued climb.”
— Shannon Nash, Esq. CPA Board Member, NETSCOUT, SoFi Bank
“Rod Cotton: I sincerely appreciate your profoundly inspiring words at the MEPI celebration. Your keynote address was deeply rooted in faith, self-discipline, determination, self-efficacy, and God. My son just completed his second year, and he, along with his closest friend, will forever treasure the invaluable contributions made on behalf of everyone mentioned in your post! Your heartfelt sentiments will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact for generations to come. Cheers to you, my friend.”
— Jewel Mosley, Lecturer/Faculty Indiana University School of Social Work
Minority Engineering Program of Indianapolis (MEPI) Year-End Banquet
“Rod Cotton, you are an inspiration to me and to those who know you. I’m grateful for your support and encouragement in helping us to fulfill our mission and vision at Moleculera Biosciences!
— Craig Shimaski, PhD, CEO of Moleculera Biosciences
Thankful for Divine Connections in Life
Unforgettable Day at the Termeer Foundation
“Thank you, Rod Cotton, for your invaluable perspective. I gained very much from the session. I look forward to bringing the insights to current and future challenges!”
— Fernando Vieira, CEO and CSO ALS TDI
Rare Air: Ampifying Biotech Superpowers at the Termeer Foundation
“Thank you, Rod Cotton, for your inspiration and insights. Your message about vision-driven leadership resonates deeply. Just today, in our last 2024 Fellows session, we focused heavily on leaning on our core values as a source of resilience in our companies.”
— Richard Novak, Co-Founder and CEO Unravel Biosciences
Rod has an ongoing commitment to learning and development.
Degrees and Certifications:
M&A Executive Program, Harvard Business School
Director’s Consortium Executive, Program, Stanford GSB
M.S. in Strategic Management, USC Marshall School of Business
M.B.A., CSU Dominguez Hills
B.A. in Biological Sciences & Technology, UC Santa Barbara
Rod Cotton is a Keynote Speaker on change and innovation in healthcare, particularly in patient advocacy, as well as in embracing and utilizing proper diversity, equity, and inclusion practices for company growth and market share. Rod has a personal mission to see diversity occur in the industry and offer career opportunities for those who traditionally were unable to reach executive-role levels.
Rod has been awarded for his efforts in speaking, community development, company growth, and board support. He was named one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine and one of the Top Blacks in Healthcare by BlackDoctor.org.
Rod also received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, one of the highest honors of the State of Indiana, bestowed by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb.
For more information about Rod, visit his LinkedIn profile
Interested board executives, please request a copy of Rod’s full board bio
Request a copy of Rod’s full keynote speaker bio
Rod Cotton, with 40+ years of executive-level Fortune 50 biotech and healthcare experience, is a go-to board director for some of the world’s most discerning and forward-thinking organizations in the sector. In critical board roles, whether private, public or VC-related, Rod stays on top of rapid technology advancements and other large-scale global changes so he can continually gauge where to go next and how to drive the best results.
