Leaving His Mark

Writer

Kait Smith Lanthier

Kait Smith Lanthier is the Director, Content Strategy at Babson College and the Managing Editor of Babson Thought & Action. Her writing has appeared in print and online in a variety of outlets including USA Today, Yahoo Shine, YourTango, CosmoGirl, and First for Women magazine. Smith earned her undergraduate degree in journalism and graduate degree in integrated marketing, both from Marist College.

| March 6, 2020

Listen

One of the great things about Babson is its tight-knit community.

For the graduating class, Sienzhi Kouemo ’20 has been a pillar of that community.

Ask around, and his peers will tell you: “Everyone loves Sienzhi.”

Why? He’s kind. He’s collaborative. And his positivity is contagious.

Kouemo has spent his time at Babson maximizing opportunities to learn, connect, and add value. He did that by taking advantage of Babson’s resources, and becoming a leader on campus.

With graduation on the horizon, Kouemo shares how he has made his mark on Babson—and how Babson has left a mark on him, too.

What inspires you to get involved?

I would love for my college experience to have an impact on someone else’s. I feel a strong connection to my involvement as a CAA (Campus Advancement Ambassador). I was a part of the inaugural CAA class. It’s special—I get to serve as a bridge between students, alumni, and the board of trustees.

My goal is to leave a legacy behind. I joined the Student Government Association to help create that legacy. In SGA, I get to hear different student voices and perspectives, understand their needs, and determine what we can do to make their Babson experience better.

What do you most value about your Babson experience?

The mentors I have here, like my professors who have helped me grow. Faculty at Babson want to get to know you outside the classroom. I want to go to graduate school and maybe even get a PhD in marketing. (Associate) Professors Anjali Bal and Lauren Beitelspacher have been instrumental in this process.

How did you know marketing was the best career path for you?

I studied abroad with the BRIC program last fall. I got to explore India, China, and Russia. That experience opened my eyes to brand positioning; how brands have to tailor their image to different parts of the world. For example, how fast food chains are branded here versus overseas. That stuck with me.

Favorite hangout spot?

I love talking to people! Trim and Reynolds are the places to bump into the entire student body and talk with peers from all over the world. These conversations help shape my view on the world.

Most memorable Babson lesson?

It is OK to not do everything. I was involved in everything freshmen year—so many clubs, and attending too many events. I wanted to experience everything, but was overwhelmed. Babson has so much to offer, but my advice is to focus on what you really care about.

What advice do you have for new students?

Utilize Babson’s resources. Lean on counselors and advisors. Connect with the Center for Career Development. Don’t wait for things to happen to you. Go seek them out. When people see potential, they want to help you.

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Tagged Undergraduate, Student Life, Class of 2020

Latest Stories

Babson Study Reveals the Power of Customer Kindness New Babson-funded research shows that customer kindness can boost employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and spark a cycle of positivity in service industries.

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.

September 3, 2025

Tagged Entrepreneurship Education, Faculty, Research

Posted in Community, Insights

Three photos in a side-by-side collage depict Michael Kopelman coaching, Brady Anderson in action, and the doubles team celebrating

Courting Success: How Babson Tennis Teams Transformed into National Powerhouses With championships and top-tier recruiting classes, Babson Director of Tennis Michael Kopelman has overseen the transformation of the men’s and women’s programs into national powerhouses.

By Scott Dietz

Writer

Scott Dietz

Scott Dietz is Babson College's Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Dietz is responsible for the department's internal and external communications, including branding, campus engagement, marketing, social media, sponsorships and website management. Additional duties consist of event coverage, facilitation of interview requests, media pitching, video content, writing and editing. Before Babson, Dietz spent 13-plus years at fellow NEWMAC institution Wheaton College, worked for the NFL, New England Patriots, and in the media relations department with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. A native of South Park, PA, Dietz began his sports information career at Westminster College.

September 2, 2025

Tagged Athletics, Class of 2025, Class of 2026, Undergraduate, Babson Magazine

Posted in Community

Babson Build students from HBCUs participate in an exercise in the Weissman Foundry

An Entrepreneurial Summer: How Babson Impacts Communities Year-Round The school year may be over, but Babson’s work of educating entrepreneurial leaders doesn’t stop. In the summer, many entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders descend on campus. They come from around the globe to connect and to learn. What they take away from the College can impact their companies, their classrooms, and their communities.

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.

August 29, 2025

Tagged Babson Magazine, Campus, Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship Education, Professional and Executive Education, Undergraduate, Graduate

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership