The Babson Effect: Alumni Bonds That Launch Careers—and Bring Them Full Circle
The two met more than a decade ago, but Aaron Walton ’83, co-founder of the Los Angeles-based, award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson, still remembers what impressed him about Alex Smith ’08, MSA’08.
“He had an unwritten understanding of the power that Babson has, and the responsibility we have to help one another,” Walton recalled.
Smith remained top of mind when Walton needed a new business manager, and he hired Smith—now co-managing partner of a Los Angeles firm advising A-list entertainers, athletes, and influencers—for the role in 2024.
“It just shows the power of Babson connections,” Smith said. “Aaron takes a lot of pride in supporting Babson people, especially those who land in his backyard here in L.A. That initial connection turned into a real professional relationship—and a friendship.”
Their partnership is a classic example of Babson’s alumni network in action. In its inaugural college rankings, LinkedIn named Babson the No. 1 alumni network in the nation, noting that its graduates are more connected to one another and to current students than those from any other U.S. college, making a Babson degree far more valuable.
“It’s a perfect example of the Babson network in action,” Smith said. “We met through an alumni event, stayed in touch, and a decade later, it came full circle.”
Opening Doors
Long before he met Smith, Walton was a Babson undergraduate discovering the power of the alumni network himself. His first brush with the power of Babson connections came after he served as the student host for media titan Gustavo Cisneros ’68, H’19, who surprised Walton during an event by announcing publicly that the young student would be interning for him in Venezuela that summer. It was Walton’s first flight, first trip abroad, and first major career leap—all thanks to a Babson alumnus who saw potential and acted on it.
“That experience transformed my life,” Walton said. “So much of what I learned about being brave, taking risks, and leveraging relationships came directly from Babson.”
Later, when Walton set his sights on a position at PepsiCo, another Babson connection helped him cut through the competition. Despite not making the official on-campus interview list, Walton waited outside the career office until the interviewer had seen every candidate—and persuaded him to stay late and hear his pitch. He then called Babson’s vice president of development, who connected him to Roger Enrico ’65, H’86, then CEO of PepsiCo. Walton soon landed the job that launched his career.
“That is how the alumni network works,” Walton said. “Babson people help each other. And we understand the responsibility we have to pay that forward.”
Paying It Forward
Smith had just upended a more traditional career path when he met Walton, leaving a job at Deloitte in search of something that would use both his technical accounting training and Babson-honed entrepreneurial instincts.
Los Angeles, with its fast-moving entertainment and social media industries, offered that path. Smith moved west and built a practice serving creators, entertainers, family offices, and athletes—clients who needed someone who could oversee everything from cash flow and tax planning to negotiating deals, structuring investments, and guiding major life decisions such as home purchases.
“Entertainment clients are entrepreneurs,” Smith said. “They take their own risks, earn their own rewards, and build businesses around themselves. That’s what made the work feel so deeply aligned with my Babson background.”
Soon after arriving in L.A., Smith attended a local Babson alumni event hosted at Walton Isaacson. Smith introduced himself to Walton, and the pair stayed connected—as Babson alumni tend to do—meeting occasionally for coffee.
“I was blown away by how smart he was,” Walton said. “His understanding of entertainment, his entrepreneurial thinking, the way he approached relationships—it all stood out. There was a trust factor immediately.”
A Shared Ethos
Both Smith and Walton describe Babson’s alumni network not just as strong but also as unusually active, responsive, and committed to helping one another succeed.
Walton, now an Advertising Hall of Fame inductee, regularly hires Babson interns and full-time employees across departments at Walton Isaacson, from accounting to project management to client services.
“If there’s a way for me to help someone from Babson, I’m going to make myself available,” Walton said.
“That is how the alumni network works. Babson people help each other. And we understand the responsibility we have to pay that forward.”
Aaron Walton ’83, co-founder of Walton Isaacson
Smith feels equally driven to reconnect and give back. He encouraged Babson students to reach out to him and learn about the business management field—particularly those interested in blending accounting with entrepreneurship.
“This niche isn’t widely known outside L.A.,” Smith said. “But it’s perfect for Babson students. You can apply everything you learned about entrepreneurship, strategy, and finance—and do it in an industry full of creativity and innovation. I’d love to hire Babson graduates.”
For Walton and Smith, Babson’s top ranking from LinkedIn reflects something deeper than a dataset: a culture of genuine connection, generosity, and shared ambition.
“The fact that a Babson connection helped me build my career, and now I hope to help future alumni—that’s the circle,” Smith said. “That’s the magic of this network.”
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