Entrepreneurial Leadership

The world needs entrepreneurial leaders to solve complex challenges that have persisted for decades or longer, as well as future ones we can’t even envision yet. Entrepreneurial leadership is both a skill set and a mindset, and entrepreneurial leaders impact businesses, organizations, and society because they put people first and manage in a relational way. Here, we illustrate the impact of entrepreneurial leadership through inspiring and uplifting stories from the Babson community and beyond.

Students and friends celebrate and hug after winning the competition
‘Moos’ and Ahhs: Babson AI Showcase Draws Rave Reviews A high-tech solution from two MSEL students to improve monitoring herds of cows wins the top prize at the first Babson College AI Showcase, hosted by the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship.
By
Eric Beato
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.
May 9, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Brigitte Muehlmann gestures while speaking at Winn Auditorium
LISTEN: Do Well by Doing Good: The ‘Stuff’ in Sustainability In Episode 5 of “From Problems to Possibilities,” two Babson College alumni and an accounting professor discuss how entrepreneurial leaders are creating value by tackling sustainability in the consumer products space.
By
May 6, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

A long line of people pose for a photo with their giant checks
‘A Dream Come True’ for the B.E.T.A. Challenge Grand-Prize Winners  Anthony Gatti MBA’24 and Nathan Ruff-Williams MBA’23, Ily Kynion Coulibaly MSBA’25, and Daniel Berlin ’26 win the B.E.T.A. Challenge grand prizes for their ventures at Babson’s signature pitch competition.  
By
Eric Beato
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.
April 24, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

Nissha Chairman of the Board and Group CEO Junya Suzuki holding a pennant flag that says Nissha
How One Company Invested in Its Employees’ Professional Development Employee relationships are a big part of Nissha Medical Technologies’ story. The company, led by President and CEO Sam Heleba MBA’89, recently launched a leadership academy with the help of Babson Executive Education.
By
Melissa Savignano
Writer
Melissa Savignano
Melissa Savignano, a content marketing manager at Babson College, has worked in higher education for almost a decade, where she tells authentic, compelling campus and community stories. Before Babson, she managed communications for Boston University’s largest college, the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. She previously worked in client relations, helping brands of various sizes launch content marketing strategies and storytelling initiatives. When not at work, you will find her in the city of Boston, probably at the movie theater.
April 23, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

A group of students pose for a photo
Babson First-Year Students Learn to Navigate Family Legacies and Carve Their Own Path Babson’s First Year Family Entrepreneurship Mastermind program helps students strengthen family business relationships, develop leadership skills, and launch passion-driven ventures.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
April 22, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Aaron Walton speaks in a Babson classroom
LISTEN: Authenticity in Messaging and Representation in Media In Episode 4 of “From Problems to Possibilities,” a trailblazing advertising executive, a Babson marketing professor, and a modeling agency founder examine the business opportunities and impact of authentic messaging for companies.
By
April 22, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Insights

Mike Repole speaks at Winn Auditorium
Work Hard, Call Your Parents, and Other Advice from Entrepreneur Mike Repole The co-founder of two multibillion-dollar beverage companies and majority owner of Nobull, Mike Repole delivered a loose, honest, and funny talk at Babson, offering insights from an entrepreneurial career.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
April 16, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Insights

Trond Undheim, the inaugural executive director of the C, Dean Metropoulos Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship, is focused on infusing technology throughout Babson. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki)
Babson Levels Up: Trond Undheim Talks Tech and the Metropoulos Institute  Under the leadership of Executive Director Trond Undheim, Babson’s new institute arms students with the technological tools—and purpose—for high-impact innovation.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
April 14, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

Ramon Mendiola smiles during an award presentation
LISTEN: The Importance of Systems Thinking and Biomimicry In Episode 3 of “From Problems to Possibilities,” a blue economy specialist, an ecology professor, and a sustainable business leader explore how entrepreneurial leaders can use systems thinking and biomimicry to solve problems and maximize impact.
By
April 11, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Insights

Valentina Casteline, Carlos Emanuele MSEL'24, Mateo Acosta-Rubio '27, and Tadeo Acosta-Rubio MSEL'24 pose for a picture in an exhibition hall at the eMerge Americas Conference + Expo
An Acquisition, a Launch, and a Pitch: An Entrepreneurial Story from eMerge Eight Babson ventures competed in eMerge’s Global Startup Accelerator and Showcase, with one of them making a major pivot only weeks before the event.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
April 10, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership