By Keerthi Ramesh
The William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership is going global, and it has tapped a seasoned media executive to lead the charge.
Megha Tolia, the former president and chief operating officer of the media company Shondaland, has been appointed to the newly created role of Global Ambassador for the Spears Institute, Dallas, Texas-based SMU Cox School of Business announced.
The appointment marks a strategic move to elevate the Southern Methodist University’s entrepreneurial footprint far beyond its North Texas roots.
Tolia is no stranger to the institute. As a co-founding director alongside her husband, Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia, she has already been instrumental in shaping the vision of the program. Now, her mission shifts toward building international bridges, forging new partnerships, and scaling the institute’s influence in the worldwide business ecosystem.
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Todd Milbourn, Dean of the SMU Cox School of Business, praised the move as a natural evolution for the school. “Megha exemplifies the global leadership and entrepreneurial mindset that define the Spears Institute,” Milbourn said. He noted that Tolia’s unique background—navigating the intersection of high-stakes business and creative culture—makes her an ideal representative for a program dedicated to transforming student ideas into real-world impact.
The Spears Institute was born in 2022 from a landmark gift by Dr. William S. Spears. Since its inception, it has quickly become a hub for experiential learning, launching initiatives like the Hilltop Founders Pitch Competition and the Spears Innovation Awards. By placing Tolia in a global role, the institute signals its intent to compete with the world’s premier business incubators.
For Tolia, the role is about more than just titles; it is about paying forward the mentorship that defined her own career path. Her time at Shondaland involved managing complex brand strategies and scaling creative ventures, skills she now intends to pass on to the next generation of “changemakers.”
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“The Spears Institute is not just an academic initiative—it’s a community built on possibility,” Tolia said. She highlighted the current momentum of innovation in Dallas, expressing her eagerness to share that energy with a global audience.
As Global Ambassador, Tolia will focus on connecting students and alumni with international networks of resources. The appointment comes on the heels of a successful year for the institute, which saw the debut of the LAUNCH Accelerator, further cementing SMU’s reputation as a destination for budding founders.
The move also strengthens the bond between the university and the broader North Texas business community. By leveraging Tolia’s professional network and the institute’s growing resources, SMU Cox aims to ensure that its graduates are not just ready for the workforce, but ready to lead it on a global scale.