Determining the Value of the Next IPO and Preparing for the Academic Year

Sinan Erzurumlu, a Babson professor of innovation and operations management
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Is The We Company worth investing in? And, what should we make of the recent Business Roundtable–CEO pact?Find out what Babson thought leaders had to say.

Is The We Company IPO Worth Investing in?

Lecturer Peter Cohan listed six reasons why investors should avoid The We Company’s IPO in a column on Forbes. Formerly known as WeWork, the shared workspace company leases real estate to remote workers and plans to go public in September. Cohan expressed concerns about the company’s ability to make money, stated it is over-valued, and believes it has limited growth potential.

Weighing in on the Business Roundtable-CEO Pact

Professor of Global Business Raj Sisodia was quoted in a Washington Post story on the release of the August 19 Business Roundtable statement where almost 200 CEOs expressed their commitment to leading their companies to benefit all stakeholders. The statement outlined how companies will deliver value to customers, invest in employees, and support their local communities. “I’m pleased, but I’m also like, okay, this was a long time coming,” Sisodia told the Washington Post. He added that statements of the like must go “beyond nice words.” “How do we implement this in practice?” Sisodia asked.

Goldstein Appointed Associate Editor of Science Journal

Professor Michael Goldstein, faculty director of Babson’s Master of Science in Finance program, has been named an associate editor of American Meteorological Society science journal Weather, Climate, and Society. The role is Goldstein’s first in the science field, and fourth currently. He also is an associate editor of Financial Review, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Finance Research Letter. Goldstein was previously an associate editor of Financial Management.

Erzurumlu’s Paper Recognized by Financial Times

Associate Professor of Innovation and Operations Management Sinan Erzurumlu’s research paper appeared in the Financial Times 50 Most Effective Journals list. Written for Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice, “How angel know-how shapes ownership sharing in stage-based contracts” explores characterizing ownership sharing when investors offer financing, and guidance for increasing a firm’s valuation.

Brush Explains Preparation, Approach to New Academic Year

Professor of Entrepreneurship Candida Brush will appear on an episode of the United States Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Teaching Tuesdays podcast next month. Brush will share her knowledge on how to prepare for and approach the first day of classes. The 15-minute podcasts cover new classroom resources, exercises, and pedagogical approaches.

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