Inside the Blank School’s Eight 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, six 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. 

TAKE THE QUIZ: Discover how your interests, strengths, and goals align with the Blank School by taking this quiz to find your personalized pathway. 

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

Here’s a look at the Blank School’s eight 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 
• 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. 
• 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 provides mentorship and resources to bridge the gender gap in business and leadership. Supported by Frank & Eileen founder Audrey McLoghlin since 2023, the center 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? The Frank & Eileen™ Center celebrated its 25th anniversary in October 2025.
• Students Say: “I love being a (Frank & Eileen™ Center) Scholar as I have access to a network of hardworking women who are passionate to make a social impact through entrepreneurship. Through the (Frank & Eileen™ Center), 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 a 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 
• 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. 
• 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 is a hub for research, resources, and innovative programming dedicated to amplifying the capacity of entrepreneurial families to create value together. The Bertarelli Institute is home to the Babson Global Family Entrepreneurship Network, Family Entrepreneurship Mastermind, Freshmen Family Entrepreneurship Living Community, and Family Entrepreneurship Student Network.

• Established: 2018 
• On Campus: Olin Hall, Suite 245  
• Did You Know? 75% of all startups are family businesses, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 
• Students Say: “The Bertarelli Institute helped me build a deeper connection with family and learn how to leverage my family’s entrepreneurial legacy for my startup.” — Family Entrepreneurship Mastermind student
• Dig Deeper: Babson First-Year Students Learn to Navigate Family Legacies and Carve Their Own Path

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 
• Executive Director: Dr. Errol Norwitz
• 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. 
• 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 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? Collaborating with the Metropoulos Institute is The Generator, an interdisciplinary AI lab. The Generator 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.  
• Dig Deeper: Empowering the Future at the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship

TARCO Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship 

The TARCO Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship is a bold new initiative dedicated to advancing the future of real estate through entrepreneurial leadership. Through targeted programming designed to cultivate real estate entrepreneurs, dedicated accelerator and incubator opportunities, sector-specific negotiation training and academic research collaboration and curriculum support, the institute—named for TARCO Properties, which was started by founding donor Todd Ruderman MBA’99—will prepare the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders to explore real estate as a powerful vehicle for innovation, wealth creation, and community impact. 

• Established: 2025 
• Dig Deeper: Babson Launches New Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship 

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