Empowering the Future at the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship
Babson College is setting its sights on the future with the launch of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, an initiative designed to integrate cutting-edge technology with the College’s renowned entrepreneurial and business education.
The institute, made possible by a generous gift from C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68, aims to equip students with an essential blend of technical skills and entrepreneurial mindset required to lead in an increasingly AI-driven world.
“It is clear that AI is critical to the future of business and society,” Metropoulos said in an interview following the institute’s sun-splashed dedication ceremony last week in the Babson Commons. “A lot of bright young entrepreneurs are tech savvy, but many of them lack business acumen and a financial understanding. I think the combination would make these young people so much more successful.”
The Metropoulos Institute represents Babson’s continued leadership in technology-driven entrepreneurship, which empowers students to harness technology’s potential to transform ideas into reality, pairing it with an entrepreneurial mindset to drive meaningful change.
“The C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship definitively elevates the groundwork that our talented faculty and staff have developed in the realm of technological innovation and AI,” Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD said. “The Metropoulos Institute will open new doors for so many at Babson and will become a global resource for the fusing of technology and entrepreneurship.”
Developing a Passion
For Metropoulos, the institute is the culmination of a lifelong connection to Babson and a passion for nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. He said the College’s hands-on approach and deeply engaging professors helped lay the foundation for his long and successful career.
“Babson engaged me from the start, and in that engagement, it got me very interested in business and finance,” Metropoulos said, noting that Babson’s entrepreneurial focus gave him the confidence to dive into the world of global business, where he quickly made a name for himself as the youngest CFO of GTE – Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and subsequently, as International VP.
“When you’re engaged and enjoying an endeavor, you develop confidence and a passion for it,” he added.
That confidence continued to propel Metropoulos into a remarkable international career that took him from a young CFO and VP at GTE International to a pioneer in private equity, earning him a reputation in the financial community for integrity, earning some of the top returns on Wall Street, and uniquely transforming many companies and historic brands, some out of bankruptcy, and revitalizing and redefining them.
His vision for the new institute reflects that journey—equipping students not only with entrepreneurial drive but also with a firm grasp of business acumen, a combination Metropoulos believes is essential for tech-savvy innovators.
“We want to provide programs for brilliant young tech people, giving them the business skills they need to turn successful innovations into successful businesses,” Metropoulos said. “It’s that critical balance that will define the future.”
Inspire and Equip
Part of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the Metropoulos Institute was created over the course of several discussions with Spinelli and Edward Chiu, Babson’s Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Senior Vice President for Advancement, Metropoulos said.
Metropoulos’ passion for innovation and responsible leadership will guide the institute’s mission to explore the role of technology in shaping industries, improving lives, and solving critical issues facing society today.
Metropoulos, who previously served as a trustee of the College and in 2017 was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs®, wants to help Babson students lead the way in technology. He envisions the institute as a resource for young entrepreneurs and established professionals alike to balance their technical skills with business fundamentals.
He also sees this unique educational platform providing potential partnerships with well-known tech companies that can train their young executives with financial and business programs that refine their executive career skills.
“If we can inspire young entrepreneurs and equip them with both technological education and business insights, they will not only start successful companies but will know how to grow them and also how to broaden their careers within established tech companies as they pursue their careers to senior executive positions,” Metropoulos said.
“We want to provide programs for brilliant young tech people, giving them the business skills they need to turn successful innovations into successful businesses. It’s that critical balance that will define the future.”
C. Dean Metropoulos '67, MBA'68
Muya Guoji ’25, president of the Babson Artificial Intelligence Club, also spoke at the dedication ceremony. She described her journey from creating the club with less than 20 members two years ago to the present day with more than 400 members.
“The Metropoulos Institute will serve as a great platform for us to connect with more industry leaders and offer more opportunities for students. I genuinely believe that with Babson’s focus on both tech and entrepreneurship, we can empower our tech enthusiasts to scale up their initiatives and be the leader to attract nearby talents,” Guoji said.
“As the number two college in the U.S. and the number one college in entrepreneurship, we have the opportunity to lead in AI innovation, influencing both startups and industries through our business acumen and technical expertise.”
Imagining Tomorrow
The dedication and ribbon cutting marked just one of the inspiring events celebrating the new institute.
Earlier that morning, Metropoulos joined students, faculty, Spinelli, and Board Chair Jeffery Perry ’87, P’23, and other College leadership at the institute’s first Tech Talk: “Imagining Tomorrow: The Role of AI in Shaping Babson’s Future.”
Moderated by Blank School CEO Donna Levin, the hourlong talk featured three of Babson’s leading faculty members on AI—Thomas Davenport, the President’s Distinguished Professor of Information Technology and Management; Kristi Girdharry, director of the Writing Center and an associate teaching professor, and Erik Noyes, the Michael London ’92 and Stephen H. Kramer ’92 Term Chair in Entrepreneurship, and the director of Babson’s AI lab, The Generator. They were joined on the panel by three student members of the Babson Artificial Intelligence Club—Guoji, Joshua Bell ’26, and Spencer Karns ’26. The panel discussed the role of artificial intelligence in shaping both Babson’s academic future and global entrepreneurship.
Metropoulos plans to remain connected to the new institute, with initiatives to attract tech professionals with summer programs, part-time, or full-time courses.
“I see it in all our businesses,” Metropoulos said. “We’re constantly discussing AI and its many applications to impact and improve our businesses, distribution systems, and every other aspect of our operational excellence.”
Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership
