Cindy Klein Marmer on Building Connections and Helping Entrepreneurs
For 20 years, Cindy Klein Marmer MBA’02 has built relationships among students and entrepreneurs in an ever-expanding portfolio of roles and responsibilities.
An alumni of Babson’s two-year MBA program, Klein Marmer returned to Babson in 2004, joining the Graduate Center for Career Development (CCD), where she connected students and companies for six years. In 2010, she moved to the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship to begin a startup accelerator that she built into The John E. and Alice L. Butler Launch Pad, which she has led as director for the past 14 years.
Over that time, Klein Marmer’s responsibilities have shifted and expanded significantly, including running the Global Entrepreneur in Residence program, directing the Butler Institute for Free Enterprise Through Entrepreneurship, and serving as co-director of the Summer Venture Program. This spring, she took on even more, acting as the interim executive director of the Blank Center within The Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
The Q&A
What brought you to Babson after earning your MBA here?
“I love being able to say that my first role at Babson was ‘student.’ I graduated from the two-year MBA program in 2002 after spending the earlier part of my career as a CPA. I never saw myself working in academia and was focused on running my own business when I was recruited to interview for a role in the alumni office, by a contact of said business, funnily enough. While I ultimately wasn’t offered the role, I really connected with my interviewers, and they ended up asking if I would be interested in filling in during a colleague’s maternity leave. Saying yes to that opportunity turned into a six-year stay in the Graduate CCD office, where my boss and I worked to implement and execute the industry-focused, relationship management model that the office still uses today.”
You’ve been involved in so many impactful programs during your 20 years at Babson. Which opportunities and highlights stand out?
“The opportunities I’ve been given over that time have been truly amazing. Within the Butler Launch Pad, in 2011, I worked briefly with Daymond John of ‘Shark Tank’ when he was an Entrepreneur in Residence. I’ve had the opportunity to teach new courses, like the undergraduate New Tech Ventures and the graduate Tech Venture Intensity Track, which I co-created and co-taught with John Landry. I’ve also co-directed the Summer Venture Program for the past three years.
“This past March, I was given the opportunity to expand my role to include acting as the interim executive director of the Blank Center, which has been both challenging and exciting. I’m fortunate to have worked for and learned from so many amazing leaders and colleagues at Babson that I feel prepared for this interim role.”
What do you enjoy most about the work you’ve done at Babson?
“For me, it’s all about impact and relationships. In every role I’ve held, I’ve had the opportunity to have a direct impact on students. From helping them prep for interviews and teaching them how to network and build relationships, to working with entrepreneurs to craft the perfect pitch, to shaping and refining student scholar programs, I’ve built real connections with students and entrepreneurs that have resulted in many meaningful long-term relationships. I work hard to communicate the importance of building connections to our entrepreneurs. It’s been a key theme of my own career; the support and opportunities I’ve received from my colleagues and Babson faculty has led me to where I am today.
“I feel so fortunate for all the opportunities that Babson has given me. It feels like every time there’s been a moment where I’ve started to think about what my next career move will be, Babson has come to me with a new and interesting opportunity.”
“I love learning about how students are thinking about problems in the world and helping them peel back the layers to get a better picture of their goals, and then giving them the tools to achieve those goals and communicate their story.”
Cindy Klein Marmer MBA’02, interim executive director of the Blank Center
What do you think is the most impactful part of the work you do today?
“I love learning about how students are thinking about problems in the world and helping them peel back the layers to get a better picture of their goals, and then giving them the tools to achieve those goals and communicate their story.
“I think I bring a unique perspective to our students, having been a Babson student myself. I still think back to when I was memorizing for a final presentation I was preparing to give to an external client, and my professor, P.J. Guinan (P’17 ’22), in the practice session, took my notecards from me and reminded me of how well I knew the content. From that day on, the way I thought about pitching and presenting was different, and two decades later, pitching is second nature to me, and I’m the one in a position to have that kind of impact on students.”
Two More with Cindy
What does Babson mean to you?
“Babson is a very special place that has become like family to me thanks to all the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to work with, especially the Blank Center and Blank School teams. I regularly joke with my family—many of whom are Babson alums—that I bleed green!”
Right now, what are you …
- Reading? “I always have more than one book started at a time. Right now, it’s Arthur C. Brooks’ From Strength to Strength and Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me.”
- Watching? “If I’m cooking, ‘NCIS.’ I also love shows like ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ and ‘The Bear.’ ”
- Listening to? Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, AJR
- Doing in your free time? “I spend a lot of time volunteering with my daughters at Village Table Wellesley and TBE Table, both of which work to combat food insecurity.”
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