The William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the SMU Cox School of Business has appointed former Shondaland President and COO Megha Tolia to the newly created role of global ambassador for the Spears Institute.
Tolia will continue in her role as a co-founding director of the Spears Institute alongside her husband, Nirav Tolia, founder and former CEO of Nextdoor. Dallas Innovates wrote about the couple joining the institute in 2023.
Tolia’s new global ambassador role, effective immediately, is designed to expand the Institute’s international reach and amplify its mission to empower the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders, the institute said.
Tolia brings a distinguished career spanning brand leadership, creative strategy and business innovation. In her new role, she’ll help the Spears Institute forge global partnerships, strengthen mentorship opportunities for students, and elevate SMU’s presence in the worldwide entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Megha exemplifies the global leadership and entrepreneurial mindset that define the Spears Institute,” Todd Milbourn, Dean and Tolleson Chair in Business Leadership at the SMU Cox School of Business, said in a statement. “Her experience scaling creative ventures and leading at the intersection of business and culture makes her an extraordinary ambassador for our mission.”
Tolias have played ‘an integral role’
Megha and Nirav Tolia have played an integral role in shaping the vision of renowned civic and financial leader Dr. William S. Spears. In 2022, a generous gift from Dr. Spears to the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU Cox) made possible the Institute that bears Dr. Spears’ name and connects SMU students, alumni and the North Texas business community with the tools, mentorship and networks needed to transform ideas into impact.
“The Spears Institute is not just an academic initiative—it’s a community built on possibility,” said Megha Tolia. “In Dallas and across SMU, we’re seeing remarkable momentum in innovation and entrepreneurship. I’m honored to help extend that spirit globally and support the next generation of changemakers.”
Tolia’s appointment underscores the Spears Institute’s continued growth following a milestone year that included the inaugural LAUNCH Accelerator, Hilltop Founders Pitch Competition and the Spears Innovation Awards. Each initiative reflects the Institute’s commitment to experiential learning, mentorship and ecosystem-building at the heart of SMU’s entrepreneurial mission.
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