Group President of Utility Operations, Entergy
Search every verified Roderick West interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. At the 2023 EEI conference in Austin, Texas, Rod West interviewed Deion Sanders, whom he described as "the man who defined the idea of the 'shutdown corner.'" West noted that he and Sanders were born 11 months apart, calling Sanders his "elder." He asked Sanders about the origins of his "Prime" persona and how the advent of NIL and the transfer portal has changed his approach to recruiting and roster building. West remarked that the business of sports has shifted, with college athletics "trying to figure out, among the haves and have‑nots, how future revenues of collegiate athletics get divided." In a 2015 TEDx talk, West recounted his experience leading Entergy's response to Hurricane Katrina, which he described as "our own version of Lord Voldemort." He recalled hearing that water was "gushing down Canal Street" and the decision to evacuate employees. West stated that Entergy's decision to return to New Orleans "sent a signal to the investment community" and that the company's leadership asked employees what they wanted to do, receiving a "resounding yes" to rebuild. He concluded that the company is "not simply in the business of powering an electric grid or a gas system" but is "together powering life."
“I'll give you a little bit of context as to how I consumed and got to know the man, the myth of Deion Sanders — we were actually born 11 months apart; he is my elder.”
“This is the man who defined the idea of the 'shutdown corner.'”
“It's an honor for me to be here with you and to tell him in front of all of you just how insanely proud I am — not just of what you've done athletically, but who you've become.”
“My question is: what was the inspiration and how did 'Prime' come about? Tell the audience a little bit about who the guy was before Prime and then what led to Prime.”
On June 12, 2023, Entergy Group President of Utility Operations Rod West spoke with two-time Super Bowl champion and University of Colorado Head Football Coach Deion Sanders. The authentic and inspirational conversation with "Coach Prime" took place during EEI 2023 in Austin, Texas.
What it takes to power-up a city that is ripped apart by water destruction and left with an unknown future. Rod West was named Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Entergy Corporation in 2010. West was uniquely involved in the rebuilding of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck and flooded 80% of the city, West was serving as Director of the metro region with responsibility of the city’s electric infrastructure. After ensuring the safety of his workforce, many of whom lost homes to the storm, West and his team went to work overseeing a $6…
Sign in to search the full transcript archive, filter by topic, and access every quote from Roderick West.