A Dallas power couple with ties to Hollywood and Silicon Valley has a new challenge ahead of them. Business pioneers Megha and Nirav Tolia have been named co-founder directors of the new William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at SMU Cox School of Business.
The Institute was established in April 2022 by Cenergistic Founder and CEO William S. Spears, sponsored by the largest ever gift by a non-alumni in SMU's history.
The Tori family, who moved to the Dallas area from the West Coast in 2021 and resides in Park City, brings real-world experience to top companies to the entrepreneurial epicenter.
Mega Tria is a television production company founded by famed Hollywood showrunner Shonda Rhimes, the creative force behind hit shows such as 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Scandal,' 'Bridgerton,' and 'The Invention of Anna.' He leads Shondaland.
Nirav Tolia is the founder and former CEO of Nextdoor, the world's largest local social networking service. Mr. Tolia, who started his career as employee number 84 at Yahoo!, is currently the executive chairman of Hedosophia, a leading technology investment company.
Enhance “entrepreneurial spirit”
The Tori family's new role was announced last week by Chancellor R. Gerald Turner during a moderated conversation with Dallas Fed President and CEO Laurie K. Logan at an event hosted by the Spears Institute. Announced.
Drawing on their experience leading high-profile initiatives in entertainment and technology, the Trias family aims to use their “entrepreneurial spirit” to inspire SMU students.
Mega Tria says it's a mindset that goes “beyond the 'what' you build.” It's the 'how' and 'who' that are critical and will drive future innovation. ”
The Trias believe the Spears Institute is “absolutely essential because entrepreneurship is essential to our country.”
“It's the lifeblood of free enterprise, it's the beating heart, it's the foundation of America,” Nirav Tolia said.
Spears, Cenergistic CEO and founder, says the opportunity to learn from innovative entrepreneurs is a key attraction of SMU Institute's programs. “I can't imagine two better people than Megha and Nirav Tolia to create excitement on and off SMU's campus, focus the talents of our students, and demonstrate what it takes to succeed.” said.
According to Spears, “Entrepreneurship often begins with inspiration, but the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others is key to getting to the finish line.”
William Spears, founder and CEO of Dallas-based sustainability solutions company Cenergistic, pledged to SMU in 2022 that it would become the largest non-alumni student in its more than a century history. I made a monetary donation. This gift helped establish the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at Cox University. Business, Spears Accelerator and other entrepreneurial support initiatives.[Photo: SMU]
Building a global business
Shondaland President and COO Megha Tolia has spent the past 20 years building and operating innovative, mission-driven, consumer-centric brands.
She began her career as a brand manager for Neutrogena and spent eight years managing multiple businesses at SC Johnson, including Method, Ecover, Mrs. Myers and Baby Ganics, according to SMU.
Nirav Tolia has spent the past 24 years founding and leading early-stage, pioneering consumer internet companies. After starting his career at Yahoo!, he founded and served as CEO of his three companies in succession: Epinions, Fanbase, and Nextdoor.
Under his leadership, Nextdoor has grown to become the world's largest local social network, with over 220,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries around the world, including 90% of America's neighborhoods.
“Pay in advance”
The power couple moved from Silicon Valley to North Texas after a stint in Italy and selling their $25 million mansion in the Bay Area. SMU said the Trias first met Spears as a neighbor when they moved here two years ago.
The couple said Mr. Spears is a “quintessential entrepreneur” who is “paying it forward” to developing future leaders through the Spears Institute.
“Here in the metropolitan area, we are experiencing a moment of great creativity, innovation, excitement, and optimism all coming together. Therefore, a central location where students can learn how to become great entrepreneurs. There has never been a better time than now to create one,” Nirav Tolia said in a statement.
“We know that the Spears Institute will leapfrog future generations. I am excited about my role as co-founder director of this institute as we bring a very different experience to the table. ” added Megha Toria.
Nirav Tolia will be the keynote speaker Tuesday at the 2023 Dallas Startup Week on the UNT Frisco campus in Hall Park.
SMU Spears Institute is scheduled to be completed in summer 2024
SMU said the institute aims to foster business creation, leadership development and economic growth, strengthening areas critical to the future of Dallas' business economy.
“Dr. announced the donation. “We are excited that the expansion project is on track for completion next summer and that the Spears Institute is already gearing up.” Trias’ announcement as co-founding director It epitomizes the high-profile leadership qualities that the Spears Institute brings to our campus and the Dallas community.”
The university believes that the Spears Institute strengthens business ventures for SMU students and faculty and the broader region, supports the academic and professional pursuits of students and faculty, and leverages the culture to bring interesting expertise to the campus and business community. He said it will bring speakers to share their knowledge. of North Texas Free Enterprise.
Under Trias' leadership, the institute will create a program comprised of Spears' undergraduate and graduate students, distinguished visiting entrepreneurs, and distinguished visiting faculty.
According to SMU, the program includes:
Spears Distinguished Speaker Series – Global entrepreneurial leaders are invited to campus to give presentations on a regular basis.
Spears Mentor – An individual entrepreneur who agrees to mentor one or more undergraduate or graduate students per semester.
Academic Content – A credit-bearing course on entrepreneurial leadership taught each semester by a distinguished visiting entrepreneur or an Entrepreneurial Leadership Endowed Chair professor.
Spears Internship Program – An opportunity for Spears scholars and fellows to intern with Dallas entrepreneurs. Washington DC; California and international settings.
Spears Entrepreneurial Certification — Development of short courses in entrepreneurial leadership leading to the brand's Spears Certificate.
SMU said the gift that established the Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership was a symbolic moment for the university's $1.5 billion impact campaign, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow.
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