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.

Akhil Nair MBA'18, a former Global Entrepreneur in Residence at Babson College, with the program's director Cindy Klein Marmer and another volunteer.
Babson’s Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program Returns Akhil Nair MBA’18 grew his venture and mentored Babson students in the Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, which restarted this year after a four-year hiatus.
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.
July 18, 2023

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Tony Harris stands in the middle of a group of students posing for a picture
In Ukraine, He Teaches a Critical Skill: Entrepreneurship Tony Harris MBA’91 has taught and developed entrepreneurship programs around the world. His latest position? Teaching social entrepreneurship in Ukraine.
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.
July 11, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

A wooden walkway leads to a dock on the water
One Woman’s Mission to Help Save a Neglected Resort In a labor of love, Laura Scheeler Smith ’90 scrambles to find the right people to repair and restore a closed resort on beloved Daufuskie Island in South Carolina.
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.
July 7, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

Babson student pitches her venture while standing in front of a presentation screen during a competition
Competitions Help Babson Grad Perfect Her Pitch Swarna Shiv ’23 competed in five national entrepreneurial contests that provided hands-on experience on pitching startups, enhancing business strategy, and learning what it takes to launch a successful company.
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.
June 23, 2023

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Ed O’Malley races on a bicycle through a Western landscape
The Quest to Create a Very Fast Shoe For his third startup, Ed O’Malley MBA’03 set about creating a more aerodynamic cycling shoe for triathletes. It wasn’t easy.
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.
June 21, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

Haiti was hit by deadly flooding and a 4.9 earthquake in June.
A Helping Hand for Haitian Relatives Joseph Noel ’24 is working to bring his Haitian relatives to the States as Haiti is rocked by yet another earthquake.
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.
June 15, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

Ela Gokcigdem poses for a portrait
A Homeland in Peril Inspires Action Her lifelong passion for ocean conservancy and commitment to her roots propel Presidential Scholar Ela Gokcigdem ’24 to the global stage
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.
June 6, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

Collage of photos of students and faculty in a classroom
What the Future Demands of Today’s Classroom With a holistic, interdisciplinary approach—a hallmark of the College—Babson’s faculty are preparing students to take on challenges in their jobs and in society.
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.
June 1, 2023

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Professionals from Bulgaria at Babson College
Bulgarians Learn Leadership Through Collaboration at Babson A 15-member group of Bulgarian professionals spent a whirlwind two weeks learning leadership skills as part of Babson’s B-AGILE program.
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.
May 23, 2023

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes

Kris Schumacher stands with Havell Rodrigues
Expanding Who Has the Opportunity to Be an Entrepreneur Co-founded by two Babson alumni, New Majority Capital addresses disparities in wealth and opportunity by helping underrepresented entrepreneurs buy existing businesses.
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.
May 16, 2023

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Outcomes