Babson Earns LGBT Corporate Ally Award at Business of Pride Celebration

Editor / Writer

Eric Beato

Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.

June 24, 2026

Three people pose for a photo with the award

Babson College President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD (left) joins Jerry Epps (center), director of supplier and community engagement, and Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer Sadie Burton-Goss (right) in accepting the LGBT Corporate Ally Award at the Boston Business Journal’s 10th annual Business of Pride Celebration.

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Babson College was recognized again for its leadership among Boston’s LGBTQ community, receiving the LGBT Corporate Ally Award at the Boston Business Journal’s 10th annual Business of Pride Celebration.

“It’s important for our community to understand that we fit in a larger environment and that education isn’t this small island … but has to be integrated into what the community needs and wants,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD in accepting the award Tuesday night at the Bubble Bath Rooftop at the Citizen M Hotel.

“I’m really appreciative of these kinds of awards to highlight the efforts that we’re doing,” Spinelli added. “We don’t want to be just a part of the community; we want to lead the community.”

Babson was one of three organizations to earn the Corporate Ally Award, along with CrossCountry Consulting and Brown Brothers Harriman. The award recognizes Massachusetts companies and organizations that have demonstrated commitment and innovation to promote greater awareness of and solidarity with the LGBT community.

“At the heart of Babson’s mission is an inclusive community that champions innovation, collaboration, and belonging,” said Carolyn Jones, market president and publisher of the Boston Business Journal, in introducing the Babson award. “The College’s Pride Alliance and broader LGBTQ+ initiatives foster a supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff, while campus-wide programming and partnerships promote visibility, advocacy, and education through its ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion. Babson continues to cultivate a campus culture for all members of the community.”

The Importance of Inclusive Excellence

In accepting the award, Spinelli publicly thanked three colleagues whose leadership helps shape the College’s work: Sadie Burton-Goss, chief inclusive excellence officer; Jerry Epps, director of supplier and community engagement; and Nana Kwame Opoku MSBA’25, inclusive excellence specialist.

In his remarks, Spinelli spoke about Babson’s journey from a general embrace of inclusion to proactive inclusive excellence, and how it is imperative for businesses to create value.

“It is clear in our assessment of business performance that inclusive excellence gives you a return on investment for your shareholders and your society,” he said. “What you’re doing is incredibly important to society.”

Earlier this year, Babson hosted the inaugural Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Business Awards, bringing together top business leaders and allies from across the state of Massachusetts. At that event, the College was honored as Burton-Goss and Epps received the Inclusion Innovator of the Year Award.

At the Business of Pride event, Michael Lara, who served as the inaugural assistant director of LGBTQ+ and Identity Programs at Babson for two years, received one of two LGBT Trailblazer Awards in his current role as director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging with the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group.

The other LGBT Trailblazer Award recipient was Victoria Brenneman, vice president of product management at SimpliSafe