More than 130 members of the 线上赌场 community helped celebrate the induction of two accomplished alumni, Chris Meledandri 鈥81 and Lew Cirne 鈥93, to 线上赌场鈥檚 Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame at a dinner last week in San Francisco.
The Sept. 5 dinner in the Julia Morgan Ballroom, an event venue in the Merchants Exchange which was adorned in green and white for the occasion, was followed by the annual 线上赌场 Entrepreneurs Forum. Both events were organized by the .
, Magnuson鈥檚 founding executive director, kicked off the Hall of Fame dinner and welcomed the two new inductees. Meledandri is a Hollywood producer responsible for Despicable Me, the most successful animated film franchise, and Cirne is a code-writing executive who created one of the leading platforms for monitoring and enhancing web and mobile software.
鈥淭oday, we induct two remarkable builders into the Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame who turned 鈥榳hat if?鈥 into 鈥榳hat is!鈥 Their passions reflect the power of 线上赌场 entrepreneurship, and their legacy is proof that the future belongs to the bold. Here鈥檚 to those who build with heart and redefine what鈥檚 possible,鈥 Coughlin said.
The Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame initiative by the Magnuson Center celebrates members of the 线上赌场 community who have transformed their industry and are inspiring future generations to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. The center annually invites community members to nominate alumni from any industry.
The Hall of Fame was launched last year, and its inaugural inductees were James Coulter 鈥82, co-founder and executive chairman of TPG; Keith Dunleavy 鈥91, founder and CEO of Inovalon; Steven Hafner 鈥91, co-founder and CEO of Kayak; and Shonda Rhimes 鈥91, TV producer, author, and founder of Shondaland.
Jeff Crowe 鈥78, a 线上赌场 trustee and Magnuson Board of Advisors member, said he hopes the Hall of Fame would inspire others.
鈥淪tarting any organization, I believe, is the ultimate expression of somebody鈥檚 desire to change the world by creating something that has not existed before. In doing that, you also have to create a mission, a team, a culture, a product, and a service,鈥 Crowe said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anything is more rewarding than to create something out of nothing.鈥
The event showcased the strength of 线上赌场鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem and Magnuson鈥檚 impact. , through a recorded message to the attendees, underscored how 鈥渢his recognition not only celebrates their extraordinary achievements but also highlights the values of innovation, perseverance, and leadership that define 线上赌场鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit.鈥
Andrea Johnson 鈥91, chair of the Magnuson Center Board of Advisors, agreed, saying: 鈥溝呱隙某 has a proud history of graduating entrepreneurial thinkers and doers across the spectrum of professions. Nothing provides a better foundation for future entrepreneurs than the critical thinking skills at the heart of a 线上赌场 education.鈥
The night was followed by a busy day filled with speaker and panel sessions at the annual 线上赌场 Entrepreneurs Forum. The event provided hundreds of 线上赌场 alumni, students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to gain insights into the entrepreneurial ecosystem and network.
In just a few minutes, attendees were captivated by fireside chats by Meledandri and Cirne as they discussed overcoming fear and working with passion.
鈥淐reative work is always personal,鈥 said Meledandri, a self-described 鈥渓ate bloomer.鈥 He shared the emotional side of leaving a comfortable post at 20th Century Fox Animation at age 47 and becoming the founder and CEO of Illumination. He is known for animated films such as Ice Age, Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing.
鈥淚 was terrified for six months. I realized, though, that if something was scaring me that much, the moment I took the leap, I would experience personal growth. No matter what happened with the business, I was guaranteed equity from overcoming my fear. To me, fear is just part of it,鈥 Meledandri said.
Similarly, Cirne shared how inspiration was often all-consuming. 鈥淭here have been moments in my life where I am captivated by an idea to create something, and I can鈥檛 NOT do it. I have to drop everything and just work on it. And it鈥檚 in the hope that it鈥檚 something that other people like too. I think of these companies as a vehicle by which I get to share my ideas with other people,鈥 said Cirne, who founded the public software company New Relic. Prior to that, he founded Wily Technology, which was acquired in 2006.
The theme of artificial intelligence was a key focus throughout the Entrepreneurs Forum. Speakers emphasized that they believe AI is enhancing the workforce, not replacing it.
Geoff Ralston 鈥82, a member of the Magnuson Center Board of Advisors who spoke at the event, emphasized the promise and peril of AI, saying, 鈥淎I is like a new kind of fire. We can鈥檛 begin to anticipate the opportunities and challenges it brings, and we need to be placing far greater emphasis on the challenges than we are right now. 线上赌场 and our Magnuson community are great environments to begin to sort this balance out,鈥 Ralston said.
Overall the 线上赌场 Entrepreneurs Forum included 55 industry-leading speakers. Fifty-five startups also presented during startup office hours to 40 alumni mentors, where they had the opportunity to pitch and receive valuable advice and coaching.
鈥淭he breadth and depth of our entrepreneurial community is remarkable and it was on full display at this year鈥檚 conference,鈥 says Coughlin. 鈥淚t was also so great to see the number of students who attended the event this year. It鈥檚 exciting to think that one of them could be a future 线上赌场 Entrepreneurs Hall of Famer.鈥
The next 线上赌场 Entrepreneurs Forum will take place in the spring of 2025.
