Jorge Rodriguez brings a rare blend of scientific depth and strategic vision to his role as Head of Marketing at Alcami Corporation. His career began in biomedical engineering, where he gained a strong appreciation for the science behind therapeutic innovation.
Early on, he saw the importance of translating complex scientific work into clear strategies that move breakthrough medicines toward the patients who need them. That insight led him to pursue an MBA, expanding his commercial perspective and strengthening his understanding of the global pharma and biotech landscape. Today, he draws on both disciplines to guide Alcami’s marketing efforts, shaping narratives that connect scientific rigor with real-world impact.
Through this article, Rodriguez shares his professional evolution through the CDMO industry and the passion for data-driven storytelling in pharma marketing and his excitement about the future of predictive, personalized engagement.
How I Found My Path in the CDMO World
My transition into contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) space was a natural evolution.
I was drawn to its complexity and its pivotal role in enabling innovation, from early-stage development to commercial-scale manufacturing.
Lead with empathy and agility. Whether guiding a team or shaping strategy, understanding people and adapting to change will define your impact as CDMO.
Through leadership roles at Catalent, WuXi Advanced Therapies and now Alcami, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the growth of advanced therapies, sterile fill/finish and oral solid dose platforms. The CDMO model uniquely blends technical depth, strategic agility and client partnership—an environment that aligns perfectly with my strengths and aspirations.
A defining moment, for me, was spearheading digital commerce and business intelligence at WuXi’s Advanced Therapies Unit. Reporting directly to the Commercial Head, I was tasked with aligning cross-functional teams—marketing, sales, operations and R&D—around a unified growth strategy. This experience reinforced the importance of intellectual flexibility, empathetic leadership and datadriven decision-making.
At Catalent, I progressed through roles in marketing automation, CRM systems and sales enablement, gaining a holistic view of commercial operations. Reporting to both the chief marketing officer and the VP of sales force effectiveness gave me a dual lens into strategic marketing and sales support.
I was entrusted with managing co-op rotational talent, a systems analyst and a team of 10–15 inside sales representatives—an opportunity that allowed me to master lead nurturing, qualification processes and team leadership.
My current task is to report to the Chief Strategy Officer at Alcami, which gives me broad ownership across all facets of marketing: business intelligence, public relations, events and tradeshows, digital marketing, customer experience, site and HR support, sales enablement, product marketing and internal/external communications.
This role not only empowers execution but provides strategic headroom to think holistically, craft growth strategies and develop the mindset of a future C-suite leader.
The Experience That Changed How I Approach Problems
One of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences was leading digital transformation initiatives across multiple CDMO platforms. Integrating systems like Salesforce, Eloqua and HubSpot across global teams required not only technical fluency but also deep stakeholder alignment and change management.
In a past role, scaling digital sales operations while maintaining regulatory compliance and scientific integrity presented a unique challenge.
These experiences taught me that resilience is rooted in clarity of purpose and that effective problem-solving is both collaborative and iterative. I’ve learned to approach challenges with a systems mindset— balancing short-term execution with long-term strategic impact.
Where My Love for Storytelling Meets the Power of Analytics
In pharma manufacturing, storytelling must be anchored in data.
I leverage tools like marketing automation, lead scoring and personabased segmentation to uncover client needs and behavioral patterns. These insights inform narratives that connect technical capabilities—such as sterile fill/finish or analytical testing—to real-world outcomes for patients and partners.
What excites me most is the shift toward personalized engagement and predictive analytics. Marketing is evolving from a promotional function to a strategic growth engine—one that orchestrates meaningful conversations across the buyer’s journey. The integration of AI, automation and omnichannel strategies is redefining how we build trust, deliver value and scale impact in the CDMO space.
Three Lessons I Pass On
First, embrace complexity. The CDMO ecosystem is multifaceted and success requires comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate scientific, regulatory and commercial domains simultaneously.
Second, stay curious and collaborative. Innovation thrives at the intersections—between disciplines, departments and organizations. Building strong networks and fostering open dialogue is essential.
Finally, lead with empathy and agility. Whether guiding a team or shaping strategy, understanding people and adapting to change will define your impact. The future of CDMO leadership lies in integrating science with strategy and doing so with a human-centered, forward-looking approach.
