Class of 2030 Blank Leadership Scholars Arrive with Big Ideas and Desire to Lead with Purpose 

Every year, the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership welcomes a new cohort of Arthur M. Blank Leadership Scholars to Babson College. Chosen for their leadership and initiative, these students arrive at Babson with diverse perspectives on creating change. What unites the Class of 2030 is a belief in entrepreneurship as a force for opportunity. Long before coming to campus, they were serving their communities, championing causes, and taking action to make a difference.

Meet the newest class of Blank Leadership Scholars:

Adnan Ahmad Javed ’30

Growing up in Pakistan, Adnan Ahmad Javed ’30 developed an interest in understanding complex social challenges and creating solutions that expand opportunity. His experiences in research, community service, journalism, and government have shaped a perspective rooted in impact, access, and long-term change.

How do you view challenges?

“I view challenges as problems that have not yet been understood well enough. My first instinct when I encounter an obstacle is to break it down: What is actually preventing progress? What resources do I have? Who can help? And what can I change? This mindset developed through experiences ranging from organizing community projects to working at the Senate of Pakistan. I learned that difficult problems rarely have one simple cause. They require patience, collaboration, and the willingness to keep looking for another approach when the first one fails. I don’t expect challenges to disappear. I see them as part of the process of turning an idea into something real.”

Deven Godha ’30

Whether through entrepreneurship, investing, or innovation, Deven Godha ’30 is motivated by the idea that business can be a force for positive change. He is particularly interested in developing solutions that expand access and improve lives while challenging conventional ways of thinking.

Of Arthur Blank’s six core values, which one do you most identify with and why?

“I identify most with Innovate Continuously. In a guest lecture I attended, entrepreneur Craig DeMarco shared that he spends a minute upside down every morning, as starting his day off looking at the world differently trained his brain against autopilot. Ever since then, I’ve applied this exact mindset to my own work by constantly questioning my assumptions and seeking out unconventional angles to solve problems. To me, continuous innovation is essential because real impact requires refusing to settle for how things have always been done.”

John Dollinger ’30

For John Dollinger ’30, entrepreneurship is about transforming ideas into something that creates real value. His experience helping build Locker Room Central, an AI-powered coaching platform for athletes and coaches, showed him the rewards and challenges of bringing a concept to life and reinforced his desire to continue building and learning.

What is the proudest moment of your life so far?

“One of the proudest moments of my life was building and seeing Locker Room Central, actually being used by athletes and coaches for the first time. It was exciting to realize that something we had spent so much time talking about, building, testing, and improving had become a real product that could help people. Being involved in the company at a young age taught me that good ideas only matter if you are willing to put in the work to make them happen. Seeing that work turn into something real gave me a sense of accomplishment that I will always remember.”

Lillie Kniskern ’30

After spending a decade helping shape her school community, including serving as class president, Lillie Kniskern ’30 arrives at Babson eager to get involved, challenge herself, and make a meaningful contribution on campus.

What are you hoping to accomplish at Babson?

“I hope to make the most of the opportunity to get involved and leave a positive mark on the community. I attended the same school for 10 years and served as class president, which gave me the opportunity to take initiative and really leave my footprint on a community that meant a lot to me. When I visited Babson, I felt that same sense of possibility. I want to challenge myself, get involved, and hopefully inspire the people around me to push themselves as well. I would love to start a successful business while I’m at Babson, but I also measure success by the relationships I build and the people I am able to learn from. More than anything, I hope to leave Babson having grown into a stronger leader, built lifelong connections, and made the community better because I was part of it.”

Mia Akhrass ’30

Driven by a passion for service and social impact, Mia Akhrass ’30 hopes to use entrepreneurship to address challenges facing underserved communities. Through volunteer work and leadership experiences, she has developed a strong interest in creating sustainable solutions that improve access to basic human needs.

If you could tackle one global problem, what would it be?

“If I could tackle one global problem, it would be access to healthy food. Hunger and lack of access to nutritious meals affect millions of people every day, impacting their physical and mental health, as well as their opportunities and overall quality of life. By coordinating my high school’s Bread of Life Food Drive during my junior year, I gained insight about the urgency of the problem and the need for more initiatives that create sustainable change. I would focus on reducing food waste, expanding access to healthy food, and promoting sustainable agriculture so that everybody has access to this basic human need.”

Noah Schenenga ’30

A lifelong learner with interests in business, finance, and community impact, Noah Schenenga ’30 is excited to immerse himself in the Babson experience. He hopes to build meaningful relationships while exploring how ethical business practices can positively influence the communities they serve.

What does being a Blank Scholar mean to you?

“Having been selected to be a Blank Scholar, it feels I have been entrusted with great resources, support, and faith from my community in my studies at Babson and the future that lies ahead of me. I am honored to have the opportunity to join such a community and am even more excited to contribute in every way I am able. For me, as much as becoming a Blank Scholar is an achievement, it is also a trusted assignment, with my peers and my community putting their faith in me to better the people and the world around us.”

Learn more about the Arthur M. Blank Leadership Scholars program here.