Shonda Rhimes was born on January 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois. After earning her bachelor’s degree in English and film studies from Dartmouth College, she relocated to Los Angeles to obtain a Master of Fine Arts degree in screenwriting from USC in 1994. After graduating, she worked briefly on various projects like both The Princess Diaries films as well as Crossroads, the debut film for Britney Spears. In 2005, her now world-famous television series Grey’s Anatomy launched, where she continues to serve as executive producer and head writer. Rhimes is also the executive producer of the TV drama Scandal, which aired in 2012, and How to Get Away With Murder, which aired in 2014. Through her productions, Rhimes has left a huge impact on television as well as popular culture in general because her television shows are known for their character diversity based on gender, race and sexual orientation. Her shows exemplify how on-screen diversity strengthens the stories being told and creates successful business.