Five Regions, Five Days: Entrepreneurial Leadership Everywhere

In five previous editions, Babson Connect: Worldwide has brought the Babson College community together in destinations around the world—from Cartagena to Dubai to Bangkok to Madrid and back home to Boston and Wellesley, Massachusetts, for the Centennial celebration.

This year, the premier entrepreneurial summit is bringing the world together for the College community, via a compelling virtual program visiting five regions in five days.

REGISTER now for Babson Connect: Worldwide

“Babson Connect: Worldwide is a signature event uniting and inspiring the College community around the people and ideas that motivate entrepreneurial leaders,” President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD said. “Connecting the community as One Babson is critical to our mission to empower learners anywhere to create lasting economic and social value everywhere.”

The largest virtual gathering of entrepreneurial leaders, Babson Connect: Worldwide features an impressive lineup of esteemed speakers and panelists. The five-day agenda spotlights a different region each day—North America; Latin America; Europe; the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia; and Asia—all presented in local time.

Alumni Take Center Stage

With a theme of “Entrepreneurial Leadership Impacting Ecosystems Everywhere,” the program spans a wealth of industries and topics, including finance and philanthropy, family entrepreneurship, health care, media, and sports.

Panelists include the world’s most successful and influential business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, including a host of Babson alumni:

• • • • Gustavo Cisneros ’68, H’19 (ADE 1981), Chairman, Cisneros
      • Fred Kiang ’70, MBA’75, H’19, Trustee, GAB, Chairman, Sunrise Duty-Free (China) Co., Ltd.
      • Ramón Mendiola ’86, P’20 ’23, Trustee, CEO, Florida Ice & Farm Company S.A.
      • Jeffery Perry ’87, P’23, Trustee, Founder & CEO, Lead Mandates LLC
      • Cyril Camus ’91, Trustee, GAB Chair, President, Groupe CAMUS
      • Dino Lalvani ’95, GAB, Chairman, Binatone Electronics International Limited
      • Khalid Al Tayer ’99, Managing Director, Al Tayer Insignia and CEO, Ounass, Al Tayer Group
      • Carla Curiel ’05, Co-founder and CEO, Lanugo Media
      • Patricia Riberas ’13, Transformation & Organization Director, Gestamp
      • Balaji Viswanathan, MBA’14, CEO, Invento Robotics

SPEAKERS: See all Babson Connect: Worldwide speakers

The summit also will include the presentation of the inaugural Babson-Camus Global Family Entrepreneurship Award to Ernesto Bertarelli ’89 (ADE 2008), chairman of Waypoint Capital, a successful business executive, yachtsman, and philanthropist. On the final day of the event, the winners of the 2021 B.E.T.A. Challenge will be announced.

Around the World in Five Days

Sports broadcaster and analyst Brady Quinn, a former NFL quarterback who is pursuing his MBA at Babson, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Quinn also is the co-chair of the 3rd & Goal Foundation. Quinn will help navigate the whirlwind event, as it virtually circles the globe. Here’s a highlight from each day and each region to circle on your calendar.

North America

Monday, April 19
3–6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)

In “The American Dream: An Entrepreneur’s Journey,” Steve Pagliuca, the co-chairman of Bain Capital and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, reflects on his rise to professional success. Scott Voss MBA’99, GAB, partner at HarbourVest Partners, will host the conversation and explore the importance of giving back and investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Latin America

Tuesday, April 20
3–6 p.m. Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)

In “Investing for Impact,” Marcelo Claure, COO of SoftBank Group Corp., discusses his company’s headline-making investment strategy that has had a transformative impact on the investment and venture capital worlds. Bruce Herring ’87, P’19, Babson Trustee, and retired president of Strategic Advisers Inc., a Fidelity Investments Company, will lead a spirited conversation on investment, finance, and the next frontier of funding big ideas.

Also, Gustavo Cisneros ’68, H’19 (ADE 1981) and his daughter Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros, will return to the Babson Connect: Worldwide stage for a rapid-fire Q&A and behind-the-scenes look at the Cisneros family and its transformative businesses. They first appeared together at the Centennial celebration to discuss family business.

AGENDA: Complete agenda for Babson Connect: Worldwide

Europe

Wednesday, April 21
3–6 p.m. Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

In “Self-reflection: The Core of Family Entrepreneurship,” Ernesto Bertarelli ’89 (ADE 2008) joins Lauri Union, the Nulsen Family Executive Director of Babson’s Institute for Family Entrepreneurship, for a poignant conversation on the business executive and philanthropist’s rise and journey. Bertarelli will discuss his upbringing and how he has learned to ensure a passion-filled life for his family, while creating economic and social value around the world.

Middle East, Africa, and South Asia

Thursday, April 22
3–6 p.m. Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4)

In “Family Entrepreneurship: Taking The Road Less Traveled,” Khalid Al Tayer ’99, managing director of Al Tayer Insignia and CEO of Ounass, Al Tayer Group, will discuss his entrepreneurial journey and how he successfully reinvented his family’s retail empire through e-commerce.

Asia

Friday, April 23
3–6 p.m. China Standard Time (UTC+8)

In “Quarantine Innovation: Finding Opportunity in Isolation,” Dino Lalvani ’95, GAB, chairman of Binatone Electronics International Limited, will share how focused time off the road during the pandemic spurred innovation for his business. With Vanessa Arelle ’97, chief strategy officer and head of partnerships of BuffaloGrid, Lalvani will discuss key business decisions, new product lines, and the pivots necessary to thrive amid uncertainty.

Posted in Community

Tagged Alumni, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurship of All Kinds, Family Entrepreneurship, Household Names, Social Innovation, VC & Investing

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