Coaching & Mentoring
Rod’s Coaching & Mentoring
Rodney Cotton excels at guiding executives, founders and emerging leaders to sharpen their leadership style, build confidence, enhance communication and navigate complex professional challenges. This service blends personalized coaching with strategic mentorship to support decision-making, growth and long-term career success.
Companies
The Termeer Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering a global community of life science innovators through values-driven leadership development, mentorship and network-building. Inspired by the legacy of Henri Termeer, former CEO of Genzyme, the Institute supports first-time biotech CEOs, academic leaders and STEM-focused students via its fellows, scholars and student grant programs. By fostering responsible, patient-centered leadership, the Termeer Institute aims to accelerate the development of life-changing treatments and ensure that scientific breakthroughs translate into real-world cures for patients worldwide.
The Termeer Institute
Black Corporate Board Readiness Program; Santa Clara University
The Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) program at Santa Clara University is a six-week, fully virtual executive education course designed to prepare Black leaders for corporate board roles. It offers over 40 hours of instruction plus personalized mentorship on governance, personal branding and boardroom dynamics. Open to senior executives and successful entrepreneurs, the program has educated over 300 leaders and helped place alumni in more than 150 board positions. BCBR focuses on enhancing diversity in corporate governance by providing practical skills, networking and mentorship from current board directors.
About Rod Cotton
Rod Cotton is an entrepreneurial board member, venture partner and advisor, contributing his commercial, industry, operations and laboratory expertise to public, private and startup biotech and tech-driven healthcare companies.
In his capstone executive role, Rod served as SVP and head of strategy and transformation for Roche Diagnostics, helping facilitate the $4B company’s global pandemic response and execute its most significant restructuring in two decades. He also held roles at Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline, among other companies.
Rod Cotton is a unique partner, offering 40+ years of executive experience from Fortune 100 companies to startups, blending strategy, substance and humanity in every role. He tailors his coaching, advising board service, and speaking engagements to unlock growth with purpose, leveraging real-world leadership to drive meaningful, values-anchored change.
Coaching Success
“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
Unforgettable Day with Termeer Foundation
Magenitc Potential: Paul Burton of 2Flo Ventures
“Great piece, Rod Cotton! The article truly captures Paul Burton, JD, MBA exceptional leadership and vision. He’s one of those rare individuals who inspires you to want to be part of something bigger. His dedication to advancing health equity by founding a venture capital firm focused on investments for healthcare solutions for underserved populations is truly inspiring. I am privileged to work alongside him as partner.”
— Charlotte Jones-Burton, MD. MS. General Partner, 2Flo Ventures
Moments of Revelation: Three Mentoring Tips
“Powerful and succinct advice, Rod. Thanks for sharing.”
— Peter van Overwalle, CEO, Managing Partner Omni Touchpoint
AJ Rosenthal Honored
Rod is a board advisor and executive coach to AJ Rosenthal
“Rod Cotton you are an amazing mentor, and you continually leave a profound impression on my life—thank you for your unwavering guidance and inspiration!”
— AJ Rosenthal
Founder & CEO, AI TechBio Innovator
IUPUI Biomedical Engineering Department’s BeingMe
“What a nice day!”
— Mohammed Al Juboori, IUPUI Biomedical Engineer/Researcher