STEVE HAFNER '91
Cofounder and CEO, Kayak
Major: Economics
Steve Hafner '91 developed a love of travel early: born in Lima, Peru, he'd lived in 10 countries by the time he was 12 years old. Following his graduation from Dartmouth with a degree in economics, he cofounded the online travel agency Orbitz, Inc. and served on its executive team until 2003. He later cofounded and became CEO of the travel search company Kayak, which was acquired by Booking Holdings in 2013 for $2.1 billion. He also oversees the leadership team of OpenTable, Inc., a restaurant reservation platform.
In 2023, Hafner was an inaugural inductee into the Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame, which honors alumni who have demonstrated unparalleled entrepreneurial achievement. Reflecting on his Dartmouth coursework, he says: "What really helped me was learning how to form an argument, to be articulate, and to identify smart people and communicate with them. All of that developed my ability to define a problem, determine a potential solution, and then execute it."
AUDREY DJIYA '17
Cofounder and CEO, Zimi
Majors: Government and International Studies
Audrey Djiya '17 is cofounder and CEO of Zimi, a cross-border commerce company working to revolutionize global trade. Recognizing that overseas businesses face challenges like high shipping costs and long delivery times, Djiya and her cofounder saw an opportunity. "By helping companies store inventory across the globe and fulfill orders directly, Zimi is enabling merchants to cut logistics costs by up to 80% and deliver goods to their buyers in record time," says Djiya, who is currently based in San Francisco, CA.
Djiya's work on Zimi earned her a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Retail and Ecommerce for 2025. Previously, she worked in financial tech, product management, consulting, and investment banking, including roles at Deloitte, Peloton, and Zola. At Dartmouth, Djiya studied government and international studies and was president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the a cappella group Dartmouth Decibelles.
JULIA HILL '24
Hometown: Denver, CO
Major: Psychology on the Pre-Health track
Julia Hill '24 is partnering with Karen Fortuna, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, to develop a smartphone app that can flag early symptoms of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The app, called RealVision, tracks how users interact with their phones, noting such changes as disoriented eye movement or difficulty with typing.
Julia, who is a first-generation college graduate, pitched RealVision at a 2023 competition sponsored by the Dartmouth Innovation Accelerator for Digital Health. She won first place and $30,000 in funding.
Julia is also lead author of an article published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science and has plans to apply to medical school. "I chose Dartmouth because students talked about it being a place where it's easy to collaborate, and that's what I found when I came here," she says. "I didn't think of myself as a businessperson, but it's not about being a businessperson. It's about working in a team."
CHRIS MELEDANDRI '81
Founder and CEO, Illumination
Majors: English and Film & Media Studies
Upon graduation from Dartmouth, Chris Meledandri '81 headed west to 20th Century Fox to work as an assistant to producer Daniel Melnick. Working first in live-action movies, he soon made his mark as president of 20th Century Fox Animation, where he oversaw the production of movies such as Anastasia and Ice Age.
Illumination, which Meledandri founded in 2007 in partnership with NBC Universal, produces the Despicable Me/Minions series— the most successful animated franchise of all time—as well as the movies Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and adaptations of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Lorax. Illumination's business also includes the creation of multiple attractions at Universal Studios global theme parks and mobile games such as Minion Rush, which has been downloaded more than one billion times.
"The sense of striking out and challenging oneself to build something new—there's a great deal of fulfillment in that," Meledandri says.
ALISON FRAGALE '97
Behavioral psychologist, business professor, and author
Majors: Economics and Mathematics
"I'm on a mission to help others—especially women—work and live better by understanding and applying the science of people," says Alison Fragale '97. The business professor translates her academic expertise in status, power, negotiation, and influence into actionable advice in her book Likeable Badass: How Women Get The Success They Deserve. She also teaches courses in leadership and negotiation and has published her research and commentary in news outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe.
"At Dartmouth, it was the psychological aspects of any course I took outside my majors of math and economics that appealed to me most," she says. "[Dartmouth economics professor] Andrew Samwick was a huge influence. Once I discovered something I wanted to be an expert in, I wanted to teach it and have the influence on students that he had on me."
Adapted from an article by Lisa Furlong that appeared in the September-October 2024 issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine.
JOSUE GODEME '26
Hometown: Cotonou, Benin
Majors: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
Josue Godeme '26 is making strides to preserve the endangered language of his home community in West Africa. Together with linguistics professor Rolando Coto Solano, Josue is developing a machine learning-based translation tool and creating a digital archive to safeguard and revitalize the Adja language; he also works with Geisel School of Medicine Professor Karen Fortuna on AI tools for peer mental health supporters.
In his first year, Josue participated in TuckLAB, a program at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business that empowers undergraduates with business skills via coursework in social entrepreneurship, analytics, financial modeling, product development, and more. "TuckLAB has not only equipped me with the tools necessary for success but has also inspired me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams with unwavering determination," Josue says.
Josue serves on the executive team of Dartmouth's chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He is also a member of the King Scholars program, which supports low-income students with full scholarships and leadership advising.
Illustrations by Agata Nowicka
