Making Art at a Business School

Amara Ogukwe '22
Listen

Amara Ogukwe ’22 keeps herself busy. She likes it that way. Besides her coursework, she worked last school year at a food bank and an after-school program.

As much as she likes the fast pace, though, Ogukwe sometimes needs to decelerate her life. She seeks stillness. That’s when she turns to her love of ceramics. Ogukwe will head over to Babson’s ceramics studio and work with clay for a few hours.

“I think everyone should slow down every now and again,” Ogukwe says. “Ceramics makes me take my time and be deliberate. It’s very careful and slow and methodical. There is something special about making something with your hands.”

Time for Reflection

 Ogukwe is one of the Sorenson Arts Scholars, a Babson scholarship program for student artists.

Being an artist can be challenging in college, given the often bustling, overflowing lives that students lead. But the six current Sorenson Arts Scholars meet regularly throughout the school year to give each other feedback and support as they work toward an annual spring showcase of their art projects.

“The program certainly encourages students who want to keep art in their lives,” says Leslie Chiu, general manager of the Sorenson Center for the Arts.

Through the years, scholars have included photographers and dancers, graphic designers and theater performers, musicians and poets. Practicing their art has benefited these students in many ways, says Chiu.

Student artists develop adaptability and learn how to powerfully express their passions and ideas. “In the arts, there is always storytelling,” Chiu says. For students who work as part of a team, say in theater or dance, they can grow comfortable collaborating and navigating the dynamics of a group.

Students also grow in self-confidence, as they work privately on a project that is very personal to them and then reveal it to others. “Art is about taking risks, making yourself vulnerable,” says Chiu. “That can be hard at first for young people.”

For Ogukwe, practicing her art allows for precious alone time with her thoughts. Sitting at the pottery wheel, she takes stock of her life. “I think about how I’m feeling,” she says. “It’s a time to reflect.”

Making Something Beautiful

The Sorenson Arts Scholarship program is made possible by the generosity of Richard Sorenson MBA’68, P’97 ’00, and Sandy Sorenson P’97 ’00, donors who have long supported the arts at Babson.

Babson may be a business school, but the worlds of art and business aren’t as far apart as they seem, says Chiu. Creative thinking and problem solving are essential skills not only for artists, but also for businesspeople and entrepreneurs as well.

Furthermore, entrepreneurs and artists have much in common. Both are driven individuals trying to expose their creation, whether it’s a work of art or a new business, to as many people as possible. “I think entrepreneurs and artists grapple with some of the same questions,” Chiu says.

Ogukwe agrees. “You can’t disconnect art from the business world,” she says. “You need to be creative in business. If you can do that, you have such an advantage. You have to be able to do more than just look at numbers. All the big name CEOs, they are all creative and that’s how they got there.”

For students who go through the scholars program, Chiu hopes they find a way to make art an important part of their lives long after they’ve left Babson. Perhaps they can work as a marketer or accountant for an arts organization, she says, or find comfort in creating art after a long day at the office.

Ogukwe, for one, plans to always have a place for art in her life. “I strongly believe everyone needs their own hobbies and activities where they can indulge themselves,” she says. In the near future, she is looking to experiment, taking a break from pottery and instead creating artwork with resin and geodes. “I think it’s so beautiful the way the colors blend together,” she says. “Art is about making something beautiful.”

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

Jason Ou ’27 talks on a microphone
After a 5-Year Entrepreneurial Odyssey, an Undergrad Returns to Babson’s Campus As a sophomore, Jason Ou ’27 left campus during the pandemic. His departure set him off on an entrepreneurial odyssey, as he moved from one opportunity to another. Now, five years later, he is back on campus.
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.
September 17, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Three entrepreneurs featured in BostInno 25 under 25 list.
Babson Entrepreneurs Lead the Way on BostInno’s 25 Under 25 List From fashion to tech, 12 Babson entrepreneurs made BostInno’s 25 Under 25, reflecting the College’s leadership in innovation.
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 16, 2025

Posted in Community

Three creative business people look at a window filled with post-it notes
What Is Creative Thinking in the Workplace? And How Does It Fuel Innovation and Problem Solving? Creative thinking is one of the most essential skills for the workforce. Here’s why those skills are so important, especially in this era of rapid change.
By
September 12, 2025

Posted in Insights