No Boxes: Just Verses

How do you transition from a South Central bus program to the C-suite of a global healthcare giant, then survive a major health battle to find a new purpose? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with my dear friend Rod Cotton. Rod shares his path of grit and strategy as he moves from the back alley to the boardroom. We discuss the reality of career setbacks, the power of a clear identity, and how he now builds a legacy of impact in Indiana and across the healthcare industry.

Rod Cotton is a dynamic leader, board member, and venture partner, serving as the CEO of Cotton Ventures, LLC. With over four decades of executive experience, Rod has empowered startups and established organizations to scale, transform culture, and meet investor expectations. His expertise spans healthcare delivery, innovation, equity, and leadership, and he is a frequent keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and universities. Rod’s board and advisory roles include Castle Biosciences (Nasdaq: CSTL), Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Moleculera Biosciences, General Genomics, and Community Health Network, where he champions strategic growth and governance in biotech and health tech sectors.

Rod’s career is distinguished by leadership roles at Roche Diagnostics, GlaxoSmithKline, and Baxter International, and he continues to advise CEOs and executive teams in VC-backed healthcare startups. Recognized with honors such as The Sagamore of the Wabash and named among the Most Influential Corporate Directors and Black Executives by Savoy Magazine, Rod is committed to advancing innovation, diversity, and excellence in healthcare. He holds an M.B.A. from California State University, Dominguez Hills, an M.S. in Strategic Management from USC, dual B.A. degrees from UC Santa Barbara, with additional executive training from Harvard and Stanford.

Key Takeaways: 

• The Chameleon Effect: Rod reflects on his youth and how a busing program taught him to move between different social environments with confidence. 
• The Power of No: He explains why he rejected a family legacy in medicine to find the golden time of his own career in business. 
• The Respect Standard: Rod shares his experience as a young VP and his method to command respect when skeptical colleagues challenge his presence. 
• The Strategic Rebuild: He details his two-year layoff during the dot-com burst and the grit he used to transform from a sales leader into a world-class strategist. 
• The Choice for Impact: We discuss his cancer survival and his commitment to philanthropy, board service, and the mentorship of the next generation.

Rod’s story provides a vivid example that your start does not dictate your finish. If you face a mountain in your career or health, this episode offers a blueprint to look up and get up. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How does a receptionist in a talent agency become the first Black female manager in film and television? In the conclusion of our talk with Dolores Robinson, we explore the rise of a powerhouse who refuses to accept the boxes of the entertainment industry. She packs her children into a station wagon, drives toward the Pacific Ocean, and builds an iconic legacy on her own terms.

About Our Guest: Dolores Robinson

Dolores Robinson is a legendary talent manager and producer. She founds her own firm in 1976 and guides the careers of icons such as Martin Sheen, Wesley Snipes, and Mark Wahlberg. Today, she resides in California, where she remains a producer and a Hall of Famer. Her life serves as a masterclass in the no boxes mindset. She continues to build her legacy through community work and health advocacy.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• Define Your Path: Dolores argues with her agency over the career path of LaVar Burton. She quits her job to found her own firm and secures him as her first client.
• Reject Narrow Limits: Industry leaders expect her to manage only Black talent. She rejects this limit and manages white stars to gain the leverage required to succeed in the industry.
• Utilize Proximity: She meets icons like Martin Sheen while she shops for food on the California coast. She uses these organic encounters to build a massive network of Hollywood legends.
• Accept Industry Cycles: Managers often face rejection when stars reach the top of their careers. She accepts that clients eventually part ways and refuses to let it disturb her peace.
• Prioritize Radical Health: At nearly 90 years old, she takes no medications and walks 5,000 steps a day. She treats her body with respect to ensure she lives a long, vibrant life.
• Celebrate Love: In her current chapter, she acts as an officiant for weddings. She uses her platform to lift others and celebrate the strength of community.

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

I sat down with Dolores Robinson for an encounter that unfolded into much more than a conversation. This session captures history, wisdom, and lived experience in real time. Quite honestly, her impact remains way too powerful to fit into just one episode. For this reason, I present this discussion in two parts, and this is part one.

How does a woman from a tiny town in Pennsylvania build her own ladder to the top of the Hollywood elite? In the first half of this special two-part episode, I sit down with a true legend who shatters every glass ceiling in her path.

Dolores Robinson holds the title of the first Black female manager in film and television history. She built her own ladder and founded her own entertainment firm in 1976. She guides the careers of icons such as Martin Sheen, Wesley Snipes, and Mark Wahlberg. Today, she resides in California, where she remains a producer and a Hall of Famer. Her life serves as a masterclass in the no boxes mindset.

Key Takeaways:

• The Daughter of Battle: Her mother, nicknamed Battle, models radical resilience. This foundation proves that if her mom can battle, she can battle.
• The Bold Choice: In college in Pennsylvania, she refuses to sit at the segregated table. She occupies space with confidence and forms her own core group.
• Radical Independence: After her marriage ends, she vows to never depend on another person for her security. She rejects pity in all forms and chooses immediate action.
• The Cross-Country Leap: With two children in a 1968 Volvo, she drives across the country. She trades her life in the East for the potential of the California coast.
• The Impact of Support: A teacher sees her talent before she does. This belief alters her entire career path and helps her realize her true worth.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How do you transition from a childhood in Jakarta to a seat on the boards of top public tech companies in the United States?

In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with Sonita Lontoh. We discuss her early culture shock at UC Berkeley, her courage to defy expectations in business school, and her proven strategy to secure public board seats.

ABOUT SONITA:

Sonita Lontoh is an accomplished public company board director with expertise in AI, technology innovation, and customer trust. She currently serves on the boards of Sunrun (Nasdaq: RUN), the largest consumer energy company in the US, TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), a global workforce solutions company, partner at Alpha, an AI governance company, and an advisor to Sway Ventures, a Silicon Valley VC firm. Prior, over her 25-year diverse global career as a senior executive at both new innovative businesses within large global Fortune 100 companies such as HP, Siemens, PG&E and at entrepreneurial, VC-backed Silicon Valley technology companies, she had led programs that have delivered positive impact to businesses, consumers, and society. She is a purpose-driven leader passionate in advancing technology for humanity. She has been recognized by the White House, the US State Department, the Financial Times, the San Francisco Business Times, and inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame and the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Sonita earned her master’s in engineering from MIT, her MBA from Northwestern Kellogg, and her B.S. in engineering from UC Berkeley.

Key Takeaways:

• The Global Perspective: Sonita grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, as a triple minority. This early reality forced her to interact with diverse groups and helped her develop a robust global perspective.
• The Courage to Defy the Herd: At Northwestern Kellogg, she noticed most students blindly pursued careers in finance or corporate strategy. She chose to enter the energy sector at PG&E because she wanted to work at the intersection of technology and societal impact.
• The Power of Mentors: Throughout her corporate ascent, Sonita consistently found leaders who believed in her potential and offered her massive opportunities. Today, she dedicates her time to elevate the next generation of leaders.
• The Out-of-the-Box Brand: Sonita built a distinct reputation because she consistently accepted assignments that others viewed as undesirable or risky. This unique brand caused top executives to recruit her when they needed to build new business models.
• The Portfolio Life: In her current career phase as a public company board director, she advises professionals to focus on organic connections rather than transactional requests. She also emphasizes the absolute necessity to select boards with healthy cultures and aligned values.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How do you go from assisting your parents with residential construction in rural Wisconsin to the top executive role at the largest state CPA society in the country?

In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with Denise Froemming. We discuss her pivot from healthcare aspirations to accounting, the realities of family obligations early in a career, and the reasons she views the CPA credential as the ultimate career accelerator.

About Our Guest: Denise Froemming

Denise is a CPA and the CEO and President of CalCPA. She built her career around organizational expansion, community outreach, and leadership development. She currently focuses on the future of accounting: talent, innovation, advocacy, and the strategies required so the profession stays essential and relevant in a dynamic world.

Denise has a strong passion for the mentorship of the next generation of accounting and finance leaders. She believes that lasting impact comes not just from our achievements, but from how we uplift and inspire others. This belief reflects a famous sentiment from Maya Angelou, which states that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Key Takeaways:

• The Wisconsin Work Ethic: In her youth, Denise assisted her parents with the construction and finishing work of rough houses on the weekends. This instilled a foundational belief that you simply work through any emotion or circumstance.
• The Accidental CPA: As a first-generation college student, she initially wanted to study healthcare. When the program was full, her mother suggested accounting because of her strong math skills.
• Family Support Pivots: Early in her career, she stepped away from a traditional firm to run her mother's business after her father was diagnosed with cancer.
• The Executive Hustle: Despite a finance degree and an MBA, she pursued her CPA credential while on the job for 70 to 80 hours a week and while she raised a newborn. This dedication secured her path to the C-Suite.
• Support Through Loss: During the simultaneous grief of her father's passing and a divorce, she learned the critical importance of support and acceptance from unexpected places within her community.
• The Future of CalCPA: As CEO, she advocates for the evolving role of CPAs in the digital age, and emphasizes their necessity for the verification of AI outputs and the guidance of businesses through complex market noise.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How do you pivot from a demanding medical career to founding a healthcare marketing agency, and then discover your true physical power in your fifties?

In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with my friend Dr. Lena Cheng. Lena shares her incredible journey of honoring her internal compass, leaving clinical practice behind, and building a highly successful second career in digital health.

We discuss the importance of utilizing executive coaches, the reality of taking steps backward to leap forward, and how she is currently redefining midlife strength through barbell training and epic dance projects.

Lena Cheng, a physician turned healthcare marketer, has spent two decades leading brand strategy for healthcare companies. After medical training, she successfully pivoted, co-founding Best Friend Jack, a boutique marketing agency for health-tech companies, focusing on clarity and credibility. In her 50s, she embraced physical transformation through strength training, powerlifting, and dance, finding that movement taught her about presence, resilience, and courage. Her framework—Presence over Performance, Power through Resistance, Courage in Motion—reflects her belief that midlife reinvention is physical and a time of ignition, not decline.

Key Takeaways:

• The Immigrant Work Ethic: Lena opens up about growing up in the Bay Area, learning the value of hard work from her nurse-midwife mother, and realizing later that her early creative hobbies were actually clues to her true identity.
• The Paris Epiphany: She explains how taking a year to study art and architecture in Paris during her undergrad showed her the expansiveness of the world and proved that other versions of a meaningful life were possible outside the rigid medical track.
• The Painful Pivot: Lena gets incredibly vulnerable about the physical and mental toll of medical school, the difficult decision to leave clinical practice, and how she used executive coaches to rebuild her identity from scratch.
• Building the Complete Marketer: She shares the humbling experience of starting over as a beginner in biotech, taking massive pay cuts, and eventually working her way up to head of marketing roles before co-founding her own agency, Best Friend Jack.
• Courage Through Motion: We discuss her midlife physical transformation, how she fell in love with powerlifting, and why she believes you build courage by simply showing up and putting in the reps.

Lena’s story is a beautiful reminder that it is never too late to change your mind, change your career, or change your relationship with your own body. If you are feeling stuck in a box you outgrew years ago, this episode will give you the permission you need to step into your power.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How do you go from taking an unpaid internship and sleeping on a couch to leading the most powerful business association in Silicon Valley? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I am thrilled to sit down with my good friend Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Ahmad shares his incredible journey—from growing up on a military base on California’s Central Coast to navigating the high-pressure corridors of Capitol Hill and Wall Street. We discuss the power of taking calculated risks, why every career move is about collecting "passport stamps," and how he is currently helping shape the global future of Artificial Intelligence right here in the Bay Area.

Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), leads one of the nation's most dynamic business associations, representing global technology companies. He has spearheaded industry initiatives, including founding the Institute for California AI Policy (I-CAP) to shape AI regulation, and focusing efforts on STEM talent and operationalizing change with global tech brands. 

With over 20 years as a former investment banker and senior Congressional aide, Thomas has a deep understanding of public-private partnerships, commerce, public policy, and technology, all essential to Silicon Valley’s innovation. Thomas serves on multiple boards related to technology, sports, and opportunity. He is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, and included in the Silicon Valley Business Journal "Power 100." He holds a B.S. from Cornell University, a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.

Key Takeaways:

• The Foundation of Service: Growing up in a military family near an Air Force Base instilled a deep sense of discipline and a lifelong commitment to improving the human condition.
• The Best Business Decision: Ahmad realized that the most important decision you will ever make is the person you marry. He shares how meeting his wife at Cornell laid the foundation for his success.
• The Capitol Hill Hustle: Ahmad explains why he turned down lucrative consulting jobs to take an unpaid internship out of grad school to work for his political idol, Senator Dianne Feinstein. It was a risk that led to him becoming her lead economic policy staffer during the financial crisis.
• Collecting "Passport Stamps": Why Ahmad transitioned from policy to investment banking at Barclays to hone his quantitative skills and understand the value proposition, building himself into a complete executive athlete.
• Leading the AI Revolution: As CEO of SVLG, Ahmad breaks down how the organization is driving public-private partnerships and why shaping AI policy today will determine global innovation leadership for the next generation.

Ahmad’s story is a powerful reminder that authentic belief, hard work, and a commitment to service can take you into any room in the world. Whether you are navigating a career pivot or looking to make a bigger impact in your community, this episode is packed with executive wisdom.

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How do you go from being weeded out of pre-med to leading global talent strategies for the world's biggest tech giants? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, I sit down with my dear friend Suezette Yasmin Robotham, a best-selling author and global talent executive. Suezette takes us on her incredible circuitous journey—from a first-generation immigrant kid in Florida to the C-Suites of Google, Meta, and Salesforce.

We discuss how she successfully pivoted from education reform into big tech by focusing on skills over titles, and she drops a major gem on how to use AI to make your LinkedIn profile undeniable. Plus, we talk about her new book, Beyond the Titles, and why finding your identity outside of your career is the ultimate leadership hack.

Suezette Yasmin Robotham is a best-selling author, global talent and culture executive, and keynote speaker with two decades of experience shaping how organizations design leadership, talent, and culture in an AI-accelerated world. She has led enterprise talent and leadership strategy at Google, Meta, Gartner, and Salesforce across the United States and EMEA, designing systems that support clarity, judgment, and performance at scale. A TEDx speaker and featured voice in the award-winning SeeHer Multiplicity docuseries, Suezette helps organizations build environments where leaders and teams can thrive without relying on individual heroics. Her best-selling debut book, Beyond Titles: Fearlessly Leading as Your Authentic Self, offers a practical roadmap for integrated leadership in modern organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Florida Girl" Roots: Suezette opens up about her upbringing as a first-generation Jamaican-American in Tampa, growing up with a DJ father who revered Bob Marley, and why she is unapologetically a "Florida Girl" at heart.
• The Power of the Pivot: After realizing pre-med wasn't for her, Suezette built a career in education reform with Teach For America and The New Teacher Project before making the leap to tech.
• Translating Skills to Tech: How she landed her first role at Google by being "skills forward" on LinkedIn—and why she believes using AI to optimize your profile is essential for job seekers today.
• Leading Globally: Suezette shares her experience as an expat in London, navigating policy and governance for 19 countries, and the unique challenges of leading global DEI strategies.
• Beyond the Titles: We dive into her book and the "I Do, You Do, We Do" framework she uses to help leaders detach their worth from their work and find satisfaction in their souls.

Suezette’s story is a masterclass in reinvention. Whether you are looking to pivot industries, move abroad, or just find more joy in your current role, this episode will inspire you to lead authentically.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How does a 12-year-old boy reading the comics end up interrupting a Prime Minister, partnering with Oprah, and leading a global movement for child rights?

In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, we sit down with Craig Kielburger, co-founder of the WE organization and Legacy Plus. Craig shares his extraordinary journey from a suburban kid in Canada to a world-renowned social entrepreneur who has worked with everyone from Mother Teresa to the Dalai Lama.

Craig opens up about the surreal moments of his youth—like jamming with John Denver and getting grilled by Oprah’s team on fiduciary oversight at age 15. We also dive deep into the challenges of 2020, where he faced a political firestorm that brought his charity to its knees, and the conscious choice he made to rise up and keep believing in humanity.

Plus, we talk about his latest venture, Legacy Plus, where he helps other leaders and icons—including the King family—build their own movements to create a world fueled by love and connection.

Craig has spent more than three decades in the non-profit sector empowering people and organizations to create meaningful impact. He co-leads Legacy+, a collective of strategists, creators, and innovators who build authentic movements and legacy projects with measurable results for companies, foundations, and public figures. A New York Times bestselling author of 10 books, Craig holds a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, an MBA, and a Master's in Human Development. His work in education and human rights has been recognized with 15 honorary doctorates and degrees.

Key Takeaways:

• How a 12-year-old Craig saw a headline about child slavery and decided to act, leading to a journey through Asia and a confrontation with the Prime Minister of Canada.
• The hilarious and humbling story of how Oprah Winfrey agreed to fund his charity—but only if he got adult supervision (enter his "ancient" 19-year-old brother, Marc)
• The critical lesson Craig learned from eBay’s Jeff Skoll about why nonprofits need business plans and revenue streams to be sustainable.
• Craig gets vulnerable about the devastation of 2020, when political controversy and the pandemic threatened everything he built.
• Why his work today with Legacy Plus is focused on first principles—compassion, connection, and building a beloved community.

Craig’s story is a testament to the fact that you are never too young to start, and never too successful to face a challenge that tests your core values. If this episode inspired you to find your own cause, please rate, review, and share it with a friend!

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Versel by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How does a shy kid from the DMV who hid behind his parents’ legs grow up to lead one of the most influential accounting organizations in the country? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, we sit down with Calvin Harris Jr., CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA).

Calvin shares his incredible journey of resilience, starting with a challenging college experience where he lost his scholarship and faced homelessness, forcing him to work at a moving company while his friends were in class. He opens up about how he fought his way back to Morehouse College, his rise through the ranks at Arthur Andersen, and the "acting" roles that taught him to lead before he had the title.

We also discuss his pivotal time as CFO of the National Urban League, his passion for running marathons, and how he is redefining what a CPA looks like—tattoos, band t-shirts, and all—on social media.

Calvin Harris Jr., CPA is Chief Executive Officer of NY CPA (the New York State Society of CPAs). He is a results-driven C-Suite professional with over three decades of successful management and leadership experience. Recognized, in multiple years, as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential in Accounting”, Calvin has worked with organizations as diverse as the National Urban League, United Nations Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Legal Services Corporation, NeighborWorks America, the State of Maryland, and numerous start-up organizations. An expert in accounting, business, and leadership, Calvin has been quoted and/or interviewed by media such as: The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, CFO Magazine, Black Enterprise, Accounting Today, Ebony, Reader's Digest, US News & World Report, Baltimore Business Journal, and AMEX Open Forum.Calvin is a CPA, licensed in New York and Maryland. 

Key Takeaways:

• From Shy Kid to Go-Go Band: Calvin discusses his introverted childhood in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and how joining a high school Go-Go band helped him find his confidence (and cover pizza money!).
• Resilience in the Face of Homelessness: A powerful story about losing his college scholarship and facing housing insecurity, which led to a humbling year working at a moving company before fighting his way back to Morehouse.
• Perform for the Job You Want: Calvin shares the best career advice he ever received: Don't just do the job you have; start doing the work of the role you want before you get the promotion.
• The "Acting" Executive: How stepping into interim leadership roles at Morgan State and NeighborhoodWorks taught him to stop treating colleagues like peers and start leading like a boss.
• Redefining the CPA: Why Calvin uses social media to show his full self—marathons, tattoos, and Basquiat shirts included—to inspire the next generation of accountants.

Calvin’s story is a reminder that your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and that sometimes you have to lose your footing to find your stride.

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)