Richard Cox

Bio

Rich Cox challenges leaders, groups and companies to stretch farther and achieve more. He helps world leaders and change-makers inspire others to action. He unlocks the creative genius in entrepreneurs and teams so they can go out and dent the universe. He enables leaders to find their authentic voice and stand up as their most powerful selves. He transforms organizations into resilient cultures that thrive and adapt. He is a master coach and facilitator that empowers you to discover and develop your best self.

Rich is a Lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and teaches at the Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), London Business School.

Rich’s Management Design Firm, People Rocket, combines Art+Science+Design to bring disruptive elegance to Business, Organizations and Ventures and create better people, teams, and cultures. Rich coaches executives, leaders and teams at organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative, Istanbul 2020 Olympic Bid Committee, TEDx, Mozilla, Google, Cisco, and JP Morgan Chase.

He has an extensive background in business, finance and technology, working as Founder and CEO of Entango Corporation, a venture-backed e-commerce solution; VP of marketing for Ninaza, handling data capture for Phase IV clinical trials ; Lead Engineer for Infinity a SunGard company a derivative trading and risk-management platform and Engineer at Intel Corporation, where he helped create the first generation of Pentium processors.

In addition, Rich is an improv performer and coach. His improv troupe Fully Improvised performed full length plays in the style of David Mamet, and musicals in the style of Stephen Sondheim. He integrates improv tools and mindsets into his work on creativity, innovation and leadership on organizational stages around the world as a speaker and consultant.

He has walked from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and now lives in San Francisco with his two dogs Ali and Shug.

Academic Degrees

• BSCE, Purdue University, 1992
• BSEE, Purdue University, 1992

Academic Appointments

• Lecturer, Stanford GSB, 2014-present
• Instructor, Hasso Plattner Institute of Design(d.school), Stanford University, 2012-present
• Visiting Instructor, London Business School, 2011-present

Professional Experience

• Founder & CEO, People Rocket, 2008-present

Teaching

Degree Courses

2017-18

OB 333: Acting with Power

The ability to function effectively within a hierarchy is a crucial determinant of managerial success, yet many people struggle with "authority issues" that make certain hierarchical roles and positions difficult for them. This course draws on...

2016-17

OB 333: Acting with Power

The ability to function effectively within a hierarchy is a crucial determinant of managerial success, yet many people struggle with "authority issues" that make certain hierarchical roles and positions difficult for them. This course draws on...

Insights by Stanford Business

writtenSeven Most-Watched Videos of 2017

December 4, 2017

From AI to leadership lessons to the secret lives of MBA students, here are the videos that grabbed your attention this year.

videoAct Like the Leader You Want to Be

June 29, 2017

Great leaders are great communicators. Stanford Graduate School of Business Lecturer in Management Richard Cox says using some tricks of the acting trade can make you great, too.

writtenA Look Back at 2016

December 19, 2016

Read 10 Stanford Business stories from the past year, including pieces on work-life balance, power, and management.

writtenSeven Popular Business Videos of 2016

December 15, 2016

Faculty and guest speakers on topics ranging from storytelling to simplicity.

writtenRiding the Feedback Loop to Authentic Self-Expression

September 9, 2016

How the lessons of improv theater help business leaders become their true, powerful selves.

videoCreating Authentic Power

July 5, 2016

How we convey confidence without words.