Inside the Blank School’s Seven Centers and Institutes

The Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership launched in 2019 as a groundbreaking expansion of Babson College’s authority in entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial leadership. 

Now, five years later, the Blank School’s impact and influence continues to grow. 

Established with a generous gift from Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98, the Blank School, under the leadership of CEO Donna Levin, is a first-of-its-kind hub that connects and extends the Babson community to learners across the lifespan through real-life experience and practice. 

With the launch of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Blank School now is home to seven centers and institutes, supporting and advancing entrepreneurship, women’s entrepreneurial leadership, social innovation, family entrepreneurship, franchising, health innovation and entrepreneurship, and now technology entrepreneurship. 

Here’s a look at the Blank School’s seven centers and institutes: 

Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship 

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship is the nerve center for entrepreneurial activity at Babson. Named for Blank in 1998, it is the home of signature programs Rocket Pitch, B.E.T.A. Challenge, and Summer Venture Program (SVP), as well as the Butler Launch Pad, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference, and Butler Institute for Free Enterprise Through Entrepreneurship. 

• Established: 1978, as the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies 
• Interim Executive Director: Cindy Klein Marmer MBA’02 
• On Campus: 1 Lunder Way 
• Did You Know? Each year, hundreds of students leverage the Blank Center’s Entrepreneurs in Residence, advisors, and experts for coaching and feedback to advance and accelerate their ventures. 
• Circle Your Calendar: Oct. 24, Rocket Pitch 
• Students Say: “The Blank Center is the most valuable resource on campus for any current or aspiring entrepreneur. Not only does the Blank Center provide you with knowledge to help launch your business, but it also provides you with seed funding, mentoring, among other things. I have been lucky to participate in seed funding, SVP, B.E.T.A Challenge, and many other events that have all helped me launch my company and get it to where it is today. From getting funding through seed fund, to kickstarting my confidence to pitch by participating in B.E.T.A, to giving me the space and time to work on my business full time for a whole summer through SVP, the Blank Center is a huge reason for me being an entrepreneur today!” — Anastacia Yefimenko ‘25, founder of Elcove 
• Dig Deeper: Celebrating 25 Years at the Forefront of Entrepreneurship 

Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership 

The first center focused on women entrepreneurial leaders at a business school, the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL) provides mentorship and resources to bridge the gender gap in business and leadership. Supported by Frank & Eileen founder Audrey McLoghlin since 2023, F&E CWEL is the home of signature programs such as Student Mentoring, Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab®, the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program, and the Diana International Research Institute. 

• Established: 2000 
• Executive Director: Dr. Shakenna K. Williams ’94 
• On Campus: Blank Center, 2nd Floor, Suite 106 
• Did You Know? F&E CWEL will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025 
• Circle Your Calendar: Oct. 8, Spotlight event: Sponsorship versus Mentorship: Tools to Propel Your Career, HELV Global Outreach Studio, 5 p.m.; and Oct. 30, Disruption Dinner: Trailblazers in Finance: Innovators Driving Change, Marla Capozzi Room, Olin Hall, 6 p.m. 
• Students Say: “I love being a (F&E CWEL) Scholar as I have access to a network of hardworking women who are passionate to make a social impact through entrepreneurship. Through F&E CWEL, I have attended numerous events where I have gained insights on how to advance my career and conquer challenges I will encounter in the workplace. In addition, I was given an F&E CWEL mentor who provided both professional and personal advice. It is truly rewarding to be part of a community that consistently pushes me to become a better version of myself as I progress within my entrepreneurial journey.” — Anika Balaraju ’26 
• Dig Deeper: From L.A. to Babson: Audrey McLoghlin Ignites Entrepreneurial Sparks 

Institute for Social Innovation 

The Institute for Social Innovation is the compass that inspires action around the biggest challenges of our time—the U.N. Global Goals—by hyper-focusing on generative relationships and offering experiential learning, from Inventureships and service immersion for students to executive certificates for nonprofit leaders. Signature programs include The Uncommon Table and experiential learning opportunities such as Natalie Taylor Scholars, Babson Board Fellows. Social Innovation Inventureships, and the Community Action Program. 

• Established: 2009 
• Executive Director: Cheryl Kiser 
• On Campus: Olin Hall, Suite 245 
• Did You Know? Each week, Babson undergraduates contribute more than 350 hours of service to local and global communities through the Community Action Program. 
• Circle Your Calendar: Nov. 2-9 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 
• Students Say: “Being a Taylor Scholar taught me that the world may be broken, but it is an opportunity to think creatively, inspire others, and build a brighter future. Taylor Scholars are inherently irrational as it means that we don’t optimize for ourselves, we optimize for what is best for our community.” — Shadman Sakib ’24 
• Dig Deeper: The Gift of Ideas and Next Steps 

Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship 

Named for Ernesto Bertarelli ’89, the Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (BIFE) is a hub for research, resources, and innovative programming dedicated to amplifying the capacity of entrepreneurial families to create value together. BIFE is home to the Babson Global Family Entrepreneurship Network, NextGen Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and Family Entrepreneurship Amplifier Program. 

• Established: 2018 
• Nulsen Family Executive Director: Lauri Union 
• On Campus: Olin Hall, Suite 245  
• Did You Know? 75% of all startups are family businesses, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 
• Circle Your Calendar: Nov. 15, Live Case Study with Michael Hale, Mechanix Wear vice chairman and former CEO  
• Students Say: “BIFE programs are an inspiring environment that has gifted me with the tools to transform my family business.”
• Dig Deeper: A New Global Network Focuses on Family Entrepreneurship 

Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship 

The Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship (KMH Center) is where innovation meets entrepreneurship to create health, economic, and social value for all, with a focus on health equity and justice. Named for Kerry Murphy Healey H’24, Babson’s 13th president, the KMH Center initiatives include the UGHE/Babson Global Health Innovation Lab in Rwanda and Brazil, as well as robust research. The KMH Center also received Babson’s first grant from the National Institutes of Health. 

• Established: 2019 
• Associate Director, Programs: Michele Bernier 
• On Campus: Olin Hall, Suite 113 
• Did You Know? At least half of the world’s population does not have access to essential health services. The number of opportunities to make a real impact in the health sector is immense. 
• Circle Your Calendar: Nov. 13, final presentations of the first Ugrad Student Pitch Competition for Health Innovation, 4–6:30 p.m. 
• Students Say: “This (Global Health Innovation Lab) class was the most pivotal, impactful, and hands-on course I have taken at Babson. This course helped me expand my worldview perspective.” — Aliya Bloom ’22 
• Dig Deeper: First Health Hackathon in Rwanda Highlights Babson-UGHE Collaboration 

Tariq Farid Franchise Institute 

The Tariq Farid Franchise Institute, named for Tariq Farid P’15, founder and CEO of Edible Brands, creates cross-disciplinary programming that draws on Babson’s business and entrepreneurial expertise, combined with the experience and knowledge of franchising experts, to develop tomorrow’s franchise leaders and expand global opportunities for rising entrepreneurs. 

C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship 

The C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship represents Babson’s bold commitment to shaping the future of business by integrating the latest technological advancements with entrepreneurial education. Through AI, data-driven decision making, and cutting-edge innovation, the new institute, named for C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68, will be at the forefront of helping Babson prepare students to lead and transform industries across the business spectrum. 

• Established: 2024 
• On Campus: Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village 
• Did You Know? The Generator, an interdisciplinary AI lab under the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, empowers innovators from all fields to bring visionary ideas to life by harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Launched in fall 2023, the Generator houses eight research groups and aims to build community across Babson and prepare graduates for success in an AI-driven world.  
• Circle Your Calendar: Nov. 16, Entrepreneurship & AI Hackathon at Weissman Foundry, co-hosted by the Generator with the Cambridge, Massachusetts, arm of Microsoft. More than 200 Babson and Olin College students and faculty, as well as Microsoft representatives, are expected to attend this all-day hackathon with different AI-challenges. Sign-up here to reserve your spot. 
• Dig Deeper: Empowering the Future at the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Tagged Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Education, Family Entrepreneurship, Franchising, Health Innovation, Social Innovation, Student Life, Technology, Women's Leadership, Tech Entrepreneurship

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