New Advisory Board Begins Work with Babson’s Institute for Family Entrepreneurship

A newly formed board of advisors, composed of global family entrepreneurship leaders, will guide Babson’s Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (IFE).

During its inaugural meeting, Stephen Martiros’83, MBA’85, chair of the board, welcomed the 12-member board and thanked them for supporting IFE’s vision to be the world leader in family entrepreneurship. The IFE, launched in April 2018, builds upon Babson’s nearly 100-year history of educating family entrepreneurs.

Martiros, who has been instrumental in the creation of IFE and its board of advisors, said that he believed IFE could benefit immensely from the strategic input from board members. “Our board members have a wealth of experience in business generally and family entrepreneurship specifically,” he said. “Our global board, with members from Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, reflects the broad scope of our program. I’m honored to be working with such an esteemed group of professionals.”

The family entrepreneurship leaders on the board include Martiros, board chair and founder and CEO of Financial Building Blocks^®; Luis Alberto Atala, the executive vice president of Ficohsa Financial Group; Linda Bourn MBA’11, executive managing director of Crystal & Company’s family enterprise risk practice; Cyril Camus’91, president, Camus Group; Thiraphong Chansiri, President and CEO, Thai Union Group; Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr.’70, chairman and chief executive officer, Gilbane, Inc. and chairman, Gilbane Building Company; Ingrid Prasatya, director and managing partner, Entebe Shipping and PT. Energy Samudra Logistics; Fazal Ahmed Sheikh, director, Fatima Group; and Sylvia Shepard, executive director, Jane and Tad Shepard Family Foundation.

In addition to business leaders, the board also include two Babson students: Korakot Asvalertson MBA’19 and Elizabeth Reed’19.

“One of IFE’s core focus areas is to prepare the next generation to create economic, social, and family value through their families’ entrepreneurial legacy. That’s why it is critical for us to include our students on the board,” explained Lauri Union, executive director of IFE.

William Gartner, Bertarelli Foundation Distinguished Professor of Family Entrepreneurship at Babson College, is the faculty representative of the Board.

“Family entrepreneurship is an area of emerging scholarship. I’m excited to see that Babson is taking significant strides on this front. With their direct experience and global perspective, the board of advisors will be fabulous partners for the IFE,” said Gartner.

The IFE board of advisors is scheduled to meet twice per academic year. The next meeting will be in the spring of 2019.

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Tagged Alumni, Family Entrepreneurship

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