Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends gathered on campus for Back to Babson 2019, part of the Centennial Celebration in September. The record-breaking event, with more than 2,500 attendees, featured a Food & Wine Expo, a display of alumni-founded businesses, the Centennial Clambake at The Tent, and Reunion Class Parties.

Babson’s first women graduates celebrated their pioneering role in Babson’s history at a luncheon in September. The event, part of the weeklong Centennial Celebration, featured presentations from alumni, students, and the first female chair of the Board of Trustees, Marla Capozzi MBA’96.

See more stories and videos from Babson’s Centennial Celebration »

Rising Star

Matthew J. Kidd, Esq. ’89, whose Boston law firm handles personal injury, employment, and bankruptcy matters, has been recognized for his expertise by a number of publications, including the American Bar Association Journal and Fast Company magazine. In addition, Super Lawyers magazine nominated him as a Rising Star.

Baubles, Bangles, and Beads

Lucy Figueroa ’22 joined the Boston Women’s Market to grow her business, Beads by Lucy. BU News Service featured the first marketplace for her jewelry and bags in Jamaica Plain. “If Boston Women’s Market didn’t exist, I don’t know where I would be selling because I have no idea how to do any of this,” Figueroa said in the article.

Inspirational Style

Thrive Global spoke with Malvika Sheth ’19 about her career journey, including her fashion blog. “I hope to empower other driven women to embrace fashion as a creative outlet, so that they get up, dress up, and feel confident enough to achieve even their wildest dreams,” she told the lifestyle website.

Babson Recreation and Athletics Complex Now Open »

From its Olympic lifting platforms outfitted with the Babson athletics logo to its array of cardio equipment and multipurpose courts, the newly completed Babson Recreation and Athletics Complex (BRAC) will help prompt community building, serving as a destination for students to pursue health and wellness initiatives, and as a programming space for a myriad of events.

TORq Interface Wins Big »

After three impressive pitches at Babson’s biggest business competition yet, Joanna Geisinger MBA’17 and her team at TORq Interface went home with $100,000 and the winning title.

Babson Inducts Three New Members into Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs »

This month, three esteemed entrepreneurs joined the Academy: Eric G. Johnson ’72, P’08, Baldwin Richardson Foods president and CEO, and Steve Conine and Niraj Shah, co-founders of Wayfair.

Babson to Establish a New Center Focused on Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship »

Babson is establishing the new Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship, thanks to $10 million in lifetime giving from Babson Board of Trustees member Carmella Kletjian.

“The conversations with the students are insightful,” Renzi said. “(They) engage and have a lot of questions about my career, the work we do, and life outside of school.”

CLTP convenes local professionals, alumni, and other individuals looking to give back for several hours on multiple days during the spring and fall semesters. Coaches receive an overview of intended outcomes for students, and are instructed to observe and provide one-on-one feedback as students analyze case studies and work to solve a business ethics problem.

While coaching, Renzi accentuates self-reflection and self-awareness. In the past, she has helped students improve everything from body language to their problem-solving ability.

“Going through [coaching] as a student, I found the conversation with my coach incredibly beneficial,” Renzi said. “I wasn’t aware of what I was doing in some cases. Having objective feedback from someone who was interested in giving it, rather than waiting to get into a challenging situation, was really helpful.”

Renzi worked in financial consulting before joining New Balance in 2006. She has held a variety of roles at the company during the past 13 years and now serves as the head of strategy for the Direct to Consumer division. She started working with CLTP shortly after graduating and participates annually.

“To be successful, the program requires a lot of coaches,” she said. “I know my volunteerism, including the hours I’m putting in, has a large impact on the Babson community.” – Bryan Lipiner

Photo: Dan Vaillancourt

The Hintlian Family Golf Performance Center opened in September as part of the Babson Recreation and Athletics Complex facility enhancements project. The center features a Foresight golf simulator that tracks data while players are on a virtual course or on the range. A putting and chipping area allows golf team members to work on their short game year-round.

Photo: Justin Knight

Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA ’92, PhD honored Jon Anderson ’75, P’04 ’08 ’13 ’13 (right), head men’s soccer coach and senior associate athletics director, with the Joseph R. Weintraub Alumni Award for Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Service. “I am deeply humbled by this award and grateful for those involved in nominating me,” said Anderson, who received the honor during the leadership awards brunch at Back to Babson.

Photo: Jon Endow

The athletics department honored its five national championship squads as the first teams inducted into the Babson Athletics Hall of Fame. The historic celebration during Back to Babson brought together the 1975, 1979, and 1980 men’s soccer teams, the 1984 men’s ice hockey squad, and the 2017 men’s basketball team as part of the 17th induction class. The five squads joined 71 individuals who have been inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 1991. Pictured left to right, are Dan Roche P’20, and hockey alumni Ed Gavin ’84 and Paul Donato ’84.

As the world and workplace rapidly evolve, the need for education and ongoing learning will continue to increase in tandem. The essential and growing need for knowledge is a bright spot for colleges and universities during a period of disruption in higher education. It also presents a unique opportunity for Babson to capitalize on our strengths and extend our leadership in entrepreneurship education. The future of work requires that we dynamically solve problems and forge opportunities to create social and economic value.

Babson, across all phases of the learning continuum, educates entrepreneurial leaders who are nimble, opportunity-driven, innovative, and growth-oriented. They are collaborative problem-solvers who possess qualities and skills that make them particularly valuable in a fast-paced and constantly changing marketplace.

Babson recently announced a groundbreaking collaboration with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to advance and amplify values-driven entrepreneurial leadership on a global scale. Through a $50 million gift, the largest ever awarded by the Blank Family Foundation and the largest single gift in the College’s history, Babson will establish the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The development of this new school within the College requires all Babson disciplines to lead change, solve problems, and create sustainable value across business and society.

At the start of our second century, this is a major investment in the role of entrepreneurial leadership to improve the human condition. Babson has long been ranked No. 1 in entrepreneurship education, and this gift generates unparalleled energy and momentum for our continued leadership and innovation. Our strategic plan and the vision of Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98—both of which we will explore in detail in our next issue—solidify Babson’s position at the forefront of the field.

The world is changing. Entrepreneurial leaders are more important than ever. Babson College has an important role to play, and we are envisioning and investing in concrete ways to create ongoing value for our community.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD

Pam Buckley graduated from Babson in 1989, following in the footsteps of her father, Raymond J. Acciardo Sr. MBA’69. She has enjoyed a successful career in banking and compliance, and currently lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with her husband, Tim, and their college-bound twins. Buckley has been donating to Babson since 1996, and for the past two years has been volunteering as a class agent for the Class of 1989. Buckley also is a member of the Reunion Committee, having just enjoyed a very successful 30th reunion!

Pam Buckley ’89 and her father, Raymond J. Acciardo Sr. MBA’69, who also celebrated a milestone—his 50th reunion, joining the ranks of the Half-Century Club.
Photo: Paige Brown

What’s your favorite way to start the day?
Generally, with a cup of coffee and often a spin or TRAIN class at B/Spoke, when not immediately jumping on the laptop and getting right into my work day. I wake up, greet my family, read the Daily Skimm, and then hit the ground running. I’m a morning person, so I like to get right into the day!

Your twins are in the middle of the college search right now. Has that process given you a new perspective on Babson?
Absolutely! It’s been so fun touring colleges and universities around the country, realizing how fortunate I am to have attended Babson. The College always provides great opportunities to network, learn from others, engage with alumni, and connect with current students. The Babson community is unique in that it attracts so many interesting, intelligent, and ambitious people from around the globe.

What motivated you to become a class agent?
As a cancer survivor, I’ve always believed in giving back and the importance of volunteerism. It’s core to who I am. Before my husband and I had children, I dedicated 10 years to the Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston, serving as treasurer and secretary. Tim and I also rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge eight times, raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where I was treated for Hodgkin’s disease in 1990 (shortly after graduating from Babson). This was an exciting time to re-engage with Babson’s Centennial with my 30th Reunion in sight.

You’ve been donating consistently to Babson for nearly 20 years. Why?
Babson is near and dear to my heart. I look back and am so appreciative of all the opportunities I had on campus. I received a phenomenal education here, which positioned me well for a successful career and a happy, comfortable life. I’m just delighted to give back, and hopefully incent others to do the same. – Jason Lynch

Eric Dosal is a Class of 2000 alumnus who currently lives in Miami with his wife, Lorena, and their two daughters. A former baseball player at Babson, he recently made two generous gifts in support of Babson Athletics, funding construction of The Dosal, a 5,000-square-foot indoor hitting and baseball performance center, and endowing a Man of the Year Award, which recognizes Babson’s most well-rounded male student-athlete each year.

Eric Dosal ’00 (right) with Mike Lynch, the Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Athletics Director and senior director of athletic advancement.
Photo: Temitope Bajulaiye

What were you most likely to be doing when you were a student on campus?
Probably playing baseball. In peak season, games, practice, and gym time occupied a solid 25–30 hours per week. It was a pretty intense workload. If I wasn’t in the gym or in class, you’d probably find me hanging out with friends. Our favorite spot was B5 McCullough!

Did your time as a student-athlete prepare you for a career in business?
Yes, 100 percent. Being a student-athlete is tough. You learn to work as a team, prioritize, count on others, manage your time, deal with adversity, commit to goals. Everything you need to know for the real world you can learn through team sports.

Why do you give back to Babson?
I think it’s important to give back to the institutions that helped shape you as an individual. Babson shaped my future and who I am today. I recognize that and appreciate it, so I want to make sure I’m having an impact on the College. With our gift to the baseball team, I viewed it as a way to give back and pay it forward to future generations of Babson players. When I got to campus, we had a beautiful field and a great facility and that’s because of the players that came before me. I had so many memories on the field. So much of my college experience took place there—so many friends and teammates, we worked together on that field. To be able to help and give these guys another edge means a lot.

How do you spend most of your time these days?
I work, I work out, and I spend time with my family. That’s about it. These days, I’m spending a lot of time on health and wellness. I spent too much time destroying my health to build wealth, and now I’m spending my wealth to get my health back. Funny how that works.

Do you have any habits or daily routines that are key to your success?
Daily meditation. It’s so important to take time from the day, whatever your priorities are, to just reset the brain and take a break. It only takes 15 minutes a day. For me, it’s the most important thing that allows me to do what I do every day.

Any specific advice you have for students or young alums?
Life is a marathon. Lots of people want to sprint out of the gate and become billionaires right away. But, it’s really a marathon and you need to pace yourself. I also like to say: when you graduate from Babson, it’s like starting a marathon on mile one or two. You’re further ahead of everyone else because of everything you learned there. That’s a great advantage, but then it’s up to you to continue that drive and stay ahead. – Jillian Erdos and Jason Lynch