Martine Rothblatt, who launched Sirius satellite radio and now is chair as well as CEO of United Therapeutics which has a major facility in RTP, is one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds, according to Forbes.

“I’m very honored to help recognize Forbes magazine’s centennial,” said Rothblatt, who created the company to develop a drug that might save her daughter.

“From my creation of satellite radio to improve life for millions, to my making a medicine to save my daughter that has produced a company worth billions, I’m in love with the transcendent touch of technology.”

Rothblatt, who considers herself a transhumanist and is one of the world’s best-known transgender corporate executives, joins a lengthy list of tech heavyweights on the list, such as:

  • Jeff Bezos
  • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Meg Whitman
  • Bill Gates
  • Steve Case
  • Elon Musk

Others on the list include Warren Buffett, H. Ross Perot, President Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey.


What Rothblatt told Forbes about leadership:

“Anything worthwhile in life requires teamwork, and you cannot manage what you don’t understand. My favorite thing to do at work is to walk around and talk to people. Each person is like a library of information. The more I know about a person, the better able I am to connect them to other people with synergistic interests — a leader works for those they lead. Lawrence Bell, the founder of Bell Aircraft, said that anyone unwilling to do small things should not be trusted to do big things. Running a business is a very big thing, because you are having an outsize effect on countless people’s lives. Hence, when I started creating organ-manufacturing technology, I practiced suturing arteries.

“I find it awe-inspiring that there are an infinite number of ways to improve the world through business. Providing better products and services, or less expensive ones, or more accessible ones, all makes people happier. That’s what it’s all about.”

Source: Forbes


United Therapeutics, which has been rumored to be a possible acquisition target, continues to push medical research and development with Rothblatt setting the pace. One goal: Producing transplantable orangs.

“As United Therapeutics moves forward with manufacturing an unlimited supply of transplantable organs, we feel the makings of a new paradigm of abundance from that magical trifecta of engineering, entrepreneurialism and enthusiasm for creating a better life for all,” Rothblatt said.

“Our organ manufacturing activities will lead United Therapeutics into the trillion dollar industry that regenerative medicine will become.”

Forbes compiled the list to help celebrate the magazine’s 100th anniversary.

Read more at:

https://www.forbes.com/100-greatest-business-minds/