Last week saw a night of celebration in Manhattan as Dartmouth College recognized the outstanding accomplishments of two of their alumni, Keith Dunleavy ’91 and Shonda Rhimes ’91. The event took place at Peak Restaurant atop Hudson Yards, offering attendees breathtaking views from the 101st floor. The awards ceremony was coordinated by the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship and was sponsored by the same organization that honored James Coulter ’82 and Steven Hafner ’91 on September 7th in San Francisco.
The festivities in New York City commenced with Jamie Coughlin, the founding Executive Director of Magnuson, expressing gratitude to the guests for acknowledging the entrepreneurial achievements of the honorees and their significant contributions to society. The attendees also heard from Jeff Crowe ’78, a Dartmouth trustee and outgoing chair of the Magnuson Board of Advisors, who highlighted the Hall of Fame’s mission to inspire future entrepreneurs across diverse fields, recognizing the illustrious careers of the Hall’s first four inductees.
Martin Weinstein ’81, a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, took the stage to share the remarkable journey of Keith Dunleavy. Weinstein spoke of how Dunleavy, despite facing personal tragedies, overcame adversity and established a successful career as the founder of Inovalon, a leading healthcare tech company. Dunleavy shared his insights on entrepreneurship and the importance of a comprehensive approach in navigating industry challenges.
Following Dunleavy, Jake Tapper ’91, a Dartmouth trustee and prominent CNN anchor, introduced Shonda Rhimes, the co-honoree of the evening. Rhimes, a highly successful writer, producer, and CEO, attributed her success to the foundational values instilled in her at Dartmouth, as well as her unwavering determination and persistent pursuit of excellence. The evening concluded with Andrea Reisman Johnson ’91, Magnuson Board Vice Chair, offering a toast to Dunleavy and Rhimes, commending their accomplishments and the inspiration their stories provide for future generations of entrepreneurs.
The event also included participation from Cleo De Rocco ’24, a student leader at Magnuson, who emphasized the importance of clear communication in entrepreneurship and highlighted the impressive network of Dartmouth alumni and the support available to students within the program.
The successful conclusion of the induction event marked the transition of Magnuson’s Board of Advisors leadership to Andrea Reisman Johnson ’91. Additionally, the Hall of Fame celebrations extended with the Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum at the CUNY Graduate Center, witnessing robust engagement from Dartmouth alumni.
The two-day event series coincided with a Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum at the CUNY Graduate Center, providing a platform for nine climate entrepreneurs participating in Dartmouth’s Greenshot accelerator to present their projects and compete for a significant grant to further develop their enterprises.
Keith Dunleavy ’91 and Shonda Rhimes ’91 have undoubtedly established prominent legacies in the field of entrepreneurship. Dunleavy, the founder of Inovalon, has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Similarly, Rhimes, the award-winning television creator and producer, and CEO of Shondaland, has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. The impactful stories of these outstanding individuals will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs.