Inside an Innovator’s Playbook: Debate-Built Decisions for Clean-Energy Growth 

With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups, Daniel Taylor DBA’28 has built a career at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and sustainable growth. 

As the chief innovation officer at ForeFront Power, Taylor leads new venture creation, digital transformation, and information security, always with an eye toward the future of renewable energy and facilities management. A lifelong learner and former debate champion, Taylor brings a unique perspective to Babson’s inaugural Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) cohort, blending analytical rigor with a passion for teaching and mentorship. 

What drove you to want to pursue your DBA, and why did you choose Babson? 

“For over a decade, I’d dreamed of pursuing a doctoral degree. It started during my MBA studies, but I’ve always been intrigued by the potential impact of academia on businesses. I wanted what these professors had achieved—a level of recognized expertise, an ability to shape ongoing impactful research, and an opportunity to shape the lives of others in both the classroom and in practice.  

“In Babson’s DBA program, I’ve finally found a curriculum and program structure that aligns with my academic aspirations. The entrepreneurial focus of the Babson DBA aligns perfectly with my desire to explore the practical impact that new frameworks can have on improving investment results.” 

What is the big problem you hope to solve, and what research area are you exploring? 

“My brain thinks prima facie—a foundation of argumentation theory. Growing up, I was a two-time state high school debate champion, so argumentation structures are naturally how I frame issues and tackle problems.  

“Debate frameworks have the potential to enhance the decision-making process for businesses, and it is likely an area where study is needed. Exploring this intersection through the Babson DBA will fulfill my passion for rhetoric and argumentation theory and deliver an opportunity to discover new frameworks to enhance business decision-making.” 

“I’d also like to package this learning into new knowledge that can advocate for better decision-making and innovation in the workplace.”
Daniel Taylor DBA’28

What part of the program are you most looking forward to? 

“I am most looking forward to the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) in our Year 1 curriculum. This experience will expose me to Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A®) methodology, and I’ll learn how to apply it to teaching others, delivering better engagement and learning outcomes.” 

What are your hopes and aspirations professionally after the DBA program? 

“My current focus is on innovation and new venture creation, and the knowledge gained in this program should make me a more impactful facilitator and steward of these innovation processes. Additionally, I’ve always aspired to teach and inspire others in an academic setting. While I do not expect to switch careers, I would like to become a university lecturer to share this knowledge with students.  

“I’d also like to package this learning into new knowledge that can advocate for better decision-making and innovation in the workplace. My hope is to use this knowledge to inform businesses about the impact of these frameworks in practice. This DBA will allow me to eagerly explore new ways to enhance my impact, and I’m excited to be on this journey.” 

This is part of a series highlighting the entrepreneurial leaders in the inaugural cohort of Babson’s new Doctor of Business Administration program. Read more about Babson’s first DBA candidates.