Introducing Babson College’s 2026 Commencement Speakers

Two accomplished and inspiring entrepreneurial leaders and CEOs with deep ties to the Babson community will share their words of wisdom as speakers at the College’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16.  

C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68, executive chairman and CEO of the family-owned investment firm Metropoulos & Co. and minority owner of the New England Patriots, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, and Adriana Cisneros, CEO of global enterprise Cisneros, will speak at the graduate ceremony. 

Metropoulos and Cisneros will each be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership. Babson also will confer an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership upon Cyril Camus ’92, P’26, president of the Camus Group and a fifth-generation leader of one of the world’s most respected family-owned spirits companies. Camus has long been a supporter of the Babson community and currently serves as a trustee and is chair of the College’s Global Advisory Board.    

Babson’s Commencement ceremonies will be held May 16 on the Wellesley campus and will honor the achievements of more than 740 undergraduate and 540 graduate members of the Class of 2026.  

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LEARN MORE about Babson’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies on May 16.  

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“Commencement is one of the most meaningful moments in our lives at Babson,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “Each year, we are proud to welcome accomplished leaders whose stories and values reflect the best of Babson. 

“I am confident that the wisdom, perspective, and entrepreneurial spirit of this remarkable group will inspire our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives,” he continued. “I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 together this Commencement season.” 

Undergraduate Commencement Speaker 

C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68, a distinguished entrepreneur and Babson alumnus, founded Metropoulos & Co. after an early career with GTE International, where he served as the youngest senior vice president and CFO in the company’s history. 

At the helm of Metropoulos and Co., he and his sons, Evan and Daren, have specialized in the revival and reimagination of numerous historic, global brands and businesses in the food and beverage and consumer products sectors, including Hostess Brands, Pabst Brewing Company, Utz, Pinnacle Foods, The Morningstar Group, Ghirardelli Chocolates, and Mumm and Perrier Jouët Champagnes, among others. In total, Metropoulos & Co. has invested in and transformed more than 80 businesses around the world.   

A longtime supporter of Babson and committed philanthropist, Metropoulos and his wife in 2024 established the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, which supports Babson’s bold commitment to integrating technological advancements with entrepreneurial education. Metropoulos previously served as a trustee of the College and in 2017 was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs®.   

“His lifelong commitment to entrepreneurial growth, value creation, and to Babson itself embodies the impact of entrepreneurial leadership at scale,” Spinelli said. “Dean, his wife, Marianne, and their sons, Evan and Daren, are also committed to many philanthropic causes.” 

Graduate Commencement Speaker 

As CEO of Cisneros, Adriana Cisneros leads a multigenerational, global enterprise spanning media and entertainment, consumer goods, digital innovation, global connectivity, and real estate. Under her leadership, Cisneros has stewarded her family’s company into a new era by expanding and modernizing its operations and reinforcing its position as a diversified, innovative global organization. 

Cisnerous has a proven track record of building and scaling digital ventures. She founded and grew Cisneros Interactive into one of Latin America’s leading digital advertising networks, representing global platforms including Meta, Spotify, and LinkedIn, before its strategic sale to Entravision. She is currently a partner in Bunker and The Electric Factory, companies at the forefront of data analytics and advertising innovation.  

Cisneros represents the third generation of leadership for her family’s organization. The company was founded by her grandfather Diego Cisneros in 1929 in Venezuela, and her father, Babson alumnus Gustavo Cisneros ’68, H’19, held the role of chairman and CEO beginning in 1970 until Adriana Cisneros assumed leadership of the global enterprise in 2013. 

Outside of her corporate responsibilities, Cisneros serves as the president of Fundación Cisneros, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing educational access and cultural initiatives across Latin America. She serves on the boards of directors of Ford Motor Company, Mattel, and AST SpaceMobile.   

“She is a champion of education and social impact through Fundación Cisneros and a respected voice in business, philanthropy, and global leadership,” Spinelli said. “Her deep family ties to Babson make her presence especially meaningful to our community.”