Babson to Welcome Northern Ireland’s Ulster University 25@25 for Entrepreneurial Program 

Babson College will welcome 25 aspiring leaders from Northern Ireland’s Ulster University’s prestigious 25@25 Future Leaders Programme for an immersive, weeklong residential program March 23–30.  

The 25@25 Leadership Programme is a learning and leadership development program for graduates of Ulster University who live and work across a range of professions and sectors in Northern Ireland and who are committed to driving innovation and promoting entrepreneurship. The weeklong residential is a cornerstone of a yearlong program to mark 25 years since the signing of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and is the only portion of the program that takes place in the United States.  

Babson College and Ulster University have a longstanding relationship to support entrepreneurship education in Northern Ireland through teaching and research collaboration and faculty and student exchange programs. Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD was a visiting professor at Ulster University at the time and was instrumental in forging the relationship with Babson.

“Ulster University is committed to being the leading institution for entrepreneurship education in Northern Ireland and the U.K., and Babson has long been a supporter of and advocate for their embrace and approach to entrepreneurship,” Spinelli said. “I am glad that our two communities have a shared history of advancing entrepreneurship education, and I look forward to many continued years of collaboration.” 

“I am glad that our two communities have a shared history of advancing entrepreneurship education.”
Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD

The 25@25 Leadership Programme is designed to expand experiences, grow leadership capacity, and build a long-lasting network of changemakers, with a focus on enhancing and defining the next 25 years ahead for Northern Ireland. The program is rooted in Babson’s pioneering Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) methodology, which sets leaders up to drive economic growth and social change. Students will participate in a series of dynamic workshops and sessions led by Babson professors and entrepreneurial experts. They will explore concepts such as creating economic, social, and environmental value, developing a growth-oriented leadership style, and fostering collaborative work environments where innovation thrives.  

The group will attend an exclusive event at PwC Boston on March 27, featuring addresses from Spinelli, Ulster University Provost Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, and Joe Kennedy III, U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. The participants also will have the opportunity to network and connect with Ulster University alumni based in the Boston area. The program will be capped off with a Rocket Pitch event, during which students will pitch a panel of judges on the impact projects they have worked on throughout the 25@25 program. These projects are focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation, and touch on important themes such as suicide prevention, substance abuse, digital awareness initiatives, community development projects, and programs for female entrepreneurs and leaders.   

Posted in Babson Briefs, Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Tagged Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship Education, Global, Entrepreneurship

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