Award-Winning Writer & CEO of Shondaland
Shonda Rhimes: Biography at a Glance
- Shonda Rhimes is an award-winning television creator, producer, and New York Times best-selling author.
- She is the CEO of Shondaland, the global media company that encompasses storytelling through brand partnerships, merchandise, and content for film, streaming, audio, digital and editorial.
- She is known for creating hit shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, and Bridgerton and she is the first woman to create three television dramas that have achieved the 100-episode milestone.
- Rhimes’ work has been celebrated with numerous awards, shifted the entertainment industry’s business model, and changed the face of television.
Videos
Biography
Shonda Rhimes is an award-winning television creator, producer, and author. She is also the CEO of Shondaland, the global media company that encompasses brand partnerships, merchandise, theatrical and streaming content, and a digital division. Rhimes shifted the entertainment industry’s business model when she left network television and brokered an unprecedented agreement for Shondaland to produce streaming content exclusively in partnership with Netflix. Bridgerton, Shondaland’s first scripted series with the streamer, is the most-watched series in Netflix history. Rhimes is the executive producer of Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a documentary highlighting the dance school created by legendary choreographer Debbie Allen, as well as the anthology series Notes on Love. Shondaland also produced Rhimes’ first scripted streaming creation, Inventing Anna.
Rhimes is the first woman to create three television dramas that have achieved the 100-episode milestone. Those shows, Grey's Anatomy, the longest-running medical drama in history, its spinoff Private Practice, and the groundbreaking series Scandal for ABC, changed the face of television by proving that series that feature characters of color are more financially powerful in terms of advertising dollars and audiences than all-white series. This business model is now the norm for all network TV. Shondaland continued to make history with How to Get Away with Murder for which star Viola Davis became the first black woman to receive the Best Actress in a Drama Emmy. For five TV seasons, Shondaland shows occupied ABC’s entire Thursday night schedule, creating a powerful brand well-known to fans and advertisers as TGIT.
Rhimes is the recipient of numerous awards including the Peabody Award, career achievement awards from the Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, and Director’s Guild of America, several AFI Awards for Television Program of the Year, and NAACP Image Awards as well as, champion awards from Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and The Feminist Majority as well as the Harvard Medal. She has twice been included on the TIME 100 list of most influential people as well as Fortune Magazines' “50 Most Powerful Women in Business.” Rhimes was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Rhimes broadened her company’s content landscape when she launched the culture website Shondaland.com in partnership with Hearst Digital Media. More recently, she launched Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeart Radio. Shondaland Audio features scripted and unscripted podcast content, many of which are top-ranked on iTunes. Additionally, Shonda has built multi-platform partnerships with such leading brands as Dove, Masterclass, The Skimm, and Microsoft. Her latest partnership merged her New York Times best-seller Year of Yes with the popular Peloton fitness brand. Rhimes is a sought-after speaker by Fortune 500 companies.
Rhimes formed The Rhimes Family Foundation whose mission is to support arts, education, and activism. Ms. Rhimes serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations – including Humanitas, the American Film Institute, Beyond 12, Time’s Up, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In addition, Rhimes is on the USC Film Council, the Obama Foundation Storytelling Committee, and co-chair of the Writers Guild Inclusion Committee. Rhimes was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Kennedy Center trustee.
Rhimes holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MFA from the USC School of Cinema-Television. She has also received honorary PhDs from both institutions.
Topics
Normalizing Diversity in Media
People also viewed these speakers.
FAQs
How do I book Shonda Rhimes for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Shonda Rhimes to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Shonda Rhimes's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Shonda Rhimes’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Shonda Rhimes in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Shonda Rhimes's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Shonda Rhimes's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Shonda Rhimes, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Shonda Rhimes's speaking fee?
Shonda Rhimes's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Shonda Rhimes's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Shonda Rhimes's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Shonda Rhimes as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Shonda Rhimes as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Shonda Rhimes's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Shonda Rhimes's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Shonda Rhimes for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Shonda Rhimes speaking engagements.
Official contact for Shonda Rhimes bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/shonda-rhimes
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Shonda Rhimes.
Is Shonda Rhimes available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Shonda Rhimes speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Shonda Rhimes's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Shonda Rhimes's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Shonda Rhimes's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Shonda Rhimes for?
Book Shonda Rhimes for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Shonda Rhimes customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Shonda Rhimes engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Shonda Rhimes can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Shonda Rhimes booking information and availability
Check Shonda Rhimes's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Shonda Rhimes for your preferred event date.
Book Shonda Rhimes keynote speaker through CAA
Book Shonda Rhimes through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Shonda Rhimes, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Shonda Rhimes's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Shonda Rhimes for your next event.
Will Shonda Rhimes speak at private events?
Yes, Shonda Rhimes speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Shonda Rhimes's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Shonda Rhimes?
CAA Speakers responds to Shonda Rhimes booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Shonda Rhimes?
Book Shonda Rhimes 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Shonda Rhimes pricing information?
Get Shonda Rhimes pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.