Recent President of Biotech Giant Genentech:

Speaking and Advising on Healthcare and Biotech Corporate Strategy, Commercial Practices, Investment and Product Development as well as Workplace Diversity.

   Myrtle Potter's professional experience includes close to 25 years of successful operating and general management experience in large, global biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses. She has been repeatedly recognized by publications like Modern Healthcare, Fortune, Black Enterprise, Time and The Wall Street Journal as well as TV programs like The Today Show as one of the most influential women executives in America. In 2000, Potter was named the Healthcare Business Women’s Association “Woman of the Year.

   This April, Myrtle is being honored by the American Diabetes Association as one of four "Women of the Year" for her contributions to the community and for serving as a role model.

   As a speaker, Potter has been described as warm, energetic, accessible, charismatic and quick thinking.  She excels at making complex healthcare topics clear and well-rounded enough to integrate the economic, scientific, strategic, policy and management perspective of many issues. Her rise to the top of one of America’s most dynamic companies from humble beginnings is an especially inspiring story for college students and young professionals.

   Most recently, Potter was a President of Commercial Operations at Genentech, Inc. where she helped steer the Company through one of the most successful periods in its history. Their revenue stream grew more than three-fold under her leadership, resulting in record sales and earnings growth. Potter led Genentech’s Commercial Operations, which included Sales, Marketing, Managed Care, Business Development, Product Distribution, Customer Service and Commercial Operations functions. While at Genentech, she oversaw the successful launch of six new products. 

   Prior to joining Genentech, Potter was President of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s multi-billion dollar U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics business.  During her tenure, this business was the company’s largest source of sales growth and profits.  Potter joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1996 as Vice President, Strategy and Economics. She was soon promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales, U.S. Cardiovascular/ Metabolics, before becoming President of that business.

   Before Bristol-Myers Squibb, Potter was a Vice President at Merck, where she established the new pharmaceutical company, Astra/Merck, Inc. (now Astra Zeneca, a multibillion dollar firm).  She also managed the marketing of the prescription drug Prilosec and set it on course to become the largest pharmaceutical product in the world.