Blank School: Dr. Shakenna K. Williams’94 Honored by WCOE, Cindy Klein Marmer MBA’02, P’29 Appointed to GCEC Board 

Two prominent executive directors at the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College recently received recognition marking their impact in their respective fields.

Frank & Eileen™ Institute for Women and Allies

Dr. Shakenna K. Williams ’94, executive director of the Frank & Eileen™ Institute for Women and Allies, was awarded the Entrepreneur Champion award by the Women of Color Entrepreneurs.

Williams received the award this month at the annual fundraiser for WOCE, the Startup Party with a Purpose, which is a celebration of women entrepreneurs and their champions who are shaping the future of Greater Boston and Massachusetts.

Williams, who has led the Frank & Eileen™ Institute since 2021, is one of the most influential women in American business. As executive director, she also leads the Diana International Research Institute and founded the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program at Babson

Williams was honored alongside six other impactful leaders, including Joanne Chang, pastry chef/co-owner, Flour Bakery+Cafe (Entrepreneur of the Year); Liz Powers, co-founder and CEO, ArtLifting (Entrepreneur of the Year); Yie-Hsin Hung, president and CEO, State Street Investment Management (Corporate Champion); Foley Hoag LLP, legal excellence rooted in community impact since 1943 (Community Challenge); and Alberto Vasallo III, president and CEO, El Mundo Boston (Media Champion).

Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship

Cindy Klein Marmer MBA’02, P’29, executive director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, was appointed to the board of advisors of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC).

She was one of seven new members appointed to the GCEC board of advisors in a highly selective process to engage more leaders interested in shaping the GCEC’s future. The board advises the GCEC’s executive director on strategic initiatives and growth opportunities while serving on working committees to drive the organization forward.

In 2024, Babson hosted the GCEC’s 28th annual conference, welcoming more than 700 entrepreneurship educators from around the country and 20 countries across the globe.

Klein Marmer was named executive director of the Blank Center in 2025 after serving as interim director since March 2024, guiding it through a pivotal transition and strengthening its role as the hub for entrepreneurship and new venture creation. During her 22 years at Babson, she has launched and led initiatives supporting student and alumni entrepreneurs, including the John E. and Alice L. Butler Launch Pad and the Fast Track Cohort. She also serves as the director of the Butler Launch Pad and Butler Institute for Free Enterprise Through Entrepreneurship, where she has led student engagement around entrepreneurship and policy, and cultivated a vibrant mentor network.