Babson Takes Over Boston’s Copley Square

Writer

Bryan Lipiner

Bryan Lipiner is the Senior Manager for Social Media and Content Marketing at Babson College. Since arriving at Babson in 2019, he has dramatically scaled engagement and followings on Babson’s social media channels, led award-winning social media campaigns, written for Babson Thought & Action, and more. Prior to Babson, he worked as a reporter and editor at the Record-Journal newspaper in central Connecticut. Bryan received his undergraduate degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in 2015.

September 20, 2019

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It was hard to glance around Boston’s Back Bay last week without seeing a nod to Babson.

The top of the Prudential Tower was illuminated in green. Ambassadors were dressed in Babson sweatshirts and caps on Boylston Street. And, Babson flags flew high above the College’s tent in Copley Square.

These activities were just the start of five days of programming for Babson Connect: Worldwide, the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^®Global Summit Gala, and Back to Babson, all part of commemorating the College’s first century and toasting to the next 100 years at Centennial Celebration.

On Wednesday afternoon, dozens of entrepreneurial thinkers walking the streets of Boston were asked to share what inspires them, and what national and global issues they dream to solve, as part of a Conversation on Copley Square with Babson College.

That night, hundreds gathered under the tent for the Babson Connect: Worldwide Welcome Reception and Cultural Dinner.

“Babson’s centennial is not only a milestone for the college, but it’s an incredible opportunity to shine a global spotlight on the power of entrepreneurship,” said Lacy Garcia, managing director of the Centennial Office. “We could not think of a better place to do that than in Copley Square, one of the most iconic destinations in the heart of Boston.”

“We wanted to take this opportunity to engage with the city,” she added.

Having been in four locations over the past five years, Babson Chief Marketing Officer Kerry Salerno said the College has long had the intention of hosting the 2019 event in Boston, which has been in the works for about a year and a half.

“Copley became a natural place to celebrate Babson’s Centennial, and to celebrate the power of entrepreneurship within the city we are part of,” she said.

Centennial Celebration kicked off in January and was highlighted by the opening of multiple new campus facilities and landmarks, at an historic fireside chat with presidents past and present, as well as Centennial Commencement, and Founder’s Day and Make Your Mark.

In such a prominent location with a high amount of car and foot traffic, Salerno said Wednesday’s events would “spark the conversation of the power of entrepreneurship.”

“We all have an inner entrepreneur,” Salerno said. “Whether you’re looking to pursue a big idea, advance in an established organization, or starting a family and looking to manage a household, we all have entrepreneurial skills within us, and we’re here to ignite those.”