Babson President Leonard A. Schlesinger
When I became Babson’s 12th president on July 1, 2008, I knew I was taking the helm of an extraordinary school. I consistently referred to it as a gem among institutions of higher education, and was enormously excited to lead a college that had so much going for it.
Whether presiding over a large institution or launching a new business, entrepreneurial leaders start with the means, or assets, at hand. When I arrived on campus, it was clear that Babson had incredible assets that we would be able to build on and realign during the coming years to differentiate ourselves meaningfully in the marketplace. Working together we developed an intentional strategic agenda with a clear mission and goals—and then we delivered on it. We now can take great pride in our uniqueness and celebrate our status as the only school of its kind.
• No other school has made the world understand that the mindset and tools of entrepreneurial leadership, embodied in Entrepreneurial Thought and Action, are core to creating economic and social value in organizations of all kinds.
• No other school has such extraordinary talent and dedicated faculty, staff, students, governance, and alumni—all committed to Babson’s unique living/learning environment, which empowers our students to take action in and out of the classroom.
• No other school has the potential to continue to transform higher education and make an impact on the world in new and pioneering ways that we cannot even imagine today.
While strengthening our unique experiential model, we have extended our reach to campuses in Boston and San Francisco. At the same time, we have implanted our DNA in educational institutions around the world, and they draw on the intellectual and practical capital generated by their partnership with Babson.
I appreciate the many ways the Babson community has worked closely with me to develop and carry out a strategy that has moved the College forward on all fronts. Leading you on this journey has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Of course, great schools never stand still. This spring we named a new president, Kerry Healey, to lead Babson into its centennial in 2019. Under her leadership, the College will advance and build upon our Centennial Commitments, which provide a blueprint for Babson and future graduates to accomplish more than anyone ever dreamed possible at a small college in Wellesley.
Leonard A. Schlesinger