Regional Alumni Clubs Unite Babson’s Global Community

Editor / Writer

Eric Beato

Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.

April 7, 2026

Aerial view of Christ the Redeemer and Botafogo Bay in Rio de Janeiro from high angle.

BABSON CONNECT WORLDWIDE: Nearly 200 members of the College community convened this spring in Rio de Janeiro for the ninth Babson Connect Worldwide, the premier global entrepreneurship summit. It marked a return to Latin America for the first time since the inaugural conference in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2015, continuing a tradition that helps keep Babson’s global community, and its regional alumni clubs, connected as the No. 1-ranked strongest alumni network.

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It’s a LinkedIn message. It’s an email from a mutual connection. It’s a picture of your friend on social media.

It’s also a networking event with students, a panel discussion with business leaders, and a shared cultural experience.

“Community is not a tangible thing. You can’t put it in your pocket. It’s not like you can say, Here is my community,” says Anjali Wali ’09, senior director, alumni engagement at Babson. “Community is a feeling, and it’s built across long-term touch points that make you feel like you’re a part of something, and that’s what the alumni clubs are for.”

BABSON MAGAZINE: Read the complete Spring 2026 issue.

Babson’s alumni engagement team oversees more than 70 regional alumni clubs around the world, about half of which are in countries beyond the United States and Canada, including Madrid, New Delhi, São Paulo, and Tokyo.

The history of Babson’s alumni clubs traces back to legendary volunteer and former Trustee William H. Cruickshank Jr. ’49, H’99, whose Babson experience was so formative and compelling that he helped spearhead building the alumni community at Babson. It’s a thriving connection that last year was ranked the No. 1 strongest alumni network in the country by LinkedIn.

Just a decade ago, Babson’s alumni clubs thrived primarily only where there was a critical mass of alumni, in cities such as Boston or Miami. “They were typically places where we were also recruiting a lot of students from,” Wali says, “because that cycle of new students and alumni is very important to building an alumni community.”

The growth of the clubs continues to be spurred by the expansive use of modern communication methods, such as email, mobile phones, and LinkedIn, making it easier and more effective for alumni to connect and stay in touch. “That’s what really helped us to exponentially increase what our engagement looks like,” she says.

International alumni clubs often host two or three events a year, bringing alumni together for fellowship or networking. Regional clubs also vary widely in terms of what they do and how they do it, but Wali says there are three main commonalities:

1. Connection to students, especially the recruitment and enrollment processes. “They’re always meeting talented young people that they think would be a good fit for Babson,” she says. “They’re interested in understanding what the current experience is like.”

2. Understanding what business means around the world. Clubs often host professional programming featuring a local alumni or other business leaders. “They are incredibly interested in having that conversation within their region, and then across their regions,” Wali says. “They want to talk to people who are doing their work in a different part of the world.”

3. Cultural representation, and what it means to be from where they are. “When we showcase that to the broader Babson community through social channels, through the magazine, through the newsletters,” she says, “it gives Babson this understanding of what these other places look and feel like socially.”

The regional clubs are the manifestation of the alumni community—unique in their practice, united in their Babson pride and entrepreneurial mindset.

“Babson is a business school, and businesspeople naturally are networkers,” Wali says. “They understand the power of engagement. You never know who your best friend is going to be, where your next job will come from, or which introduction is going to change the course of your life. Our community really understands that.

“Alumni Engagement is the epicenter of that, and all the other parts of the College contribute to it,” she says. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done here. I think we really have made a difference.”

An illustration that includes a map of Europe, a list of countries in which Babson has an alumni club, and a photo of the Spain club

Alumni Community: 146 (98 undergraduate, 46 graduate, 2 Double Beavers)
Signature Event: Babson Connection Madrid is a program hosted each March by Francisco Diego ’84, P’24—who also serves on the Global Advisory Board—in conjunction with a traveling Elective Abroad Program. The evening brings together alumni, students, a visiting Babson professor, and friends of the College for learning, conversation, and the most incredible 360-degree views from the center of the city at the Club Financiero Génova. The event was first hosted four years ago and has grown in both size and anticipation. Through this annual tradition, the Alumni Club of Spain has been re-established and new events have grown in both Barcelona and Valencia.
The Club Says: “The Babson alumni network is one of the most valuable assets we carry throughout our professional and personal lives,” Diego says. “Here in Spain, our community of alumni is a reflection of that spirit. While we may be spread across different cities and industries, the Babson mindset continues to bring us together. Our club organizes at least five gatherings each year across Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona. At these gatherings, we reinforce what makes Babson special: a network that is active, generous, and deeply engaged. Being part of the Babson Alumni Club of Spain reminds us that no matter where we are in the world, we share a common language, the Babson entrepreneurial mindset, and a commitment to supporting one another’s journeys. That is what makes the Babson network not only strong also but truly extraordinary.”

An illustration that includes a map of Central and South America, a list of countries in which Babson has an alumni club, and a photo of the Brazil club

Alumni Community: 340 (160 undergraduate, 177 graduate, 3 Double Beavers)
Signature Event: Each November, in partnership with the graduate admissions team, the Alumni Club of Brazil gathers to host the Fall Alumni Reception, an evening conversation with a visiting professor. In addition to local alumni, prospective students are also invited to get a taste of what a Babson education looks like.
The Club Says: “Connecting with Babson alumni is always a genuinely positive experience,” Debora Queiroz Sena ’19 says. “There’s a strong sense of generosity in every interaction—whether it’s sharing practical ideas for collaboration, offering encouragement and advice, or simply building meaningful social connections. Having recently moved to Madrid, I experienced this firsthand. The transition from the Brazilian community to the Spanish one felt incredibly smooth, which really speaks to the consistency of the Babson spirit across the globe. There’s a shared mindset and openness that makes it easy to feel at home, no matter where you are. Our Brazilian club plays an important role in reinforcing that sense of connection. By creating opportunities for alumni to meet, exchange ideas, and support one another, we help maintain the strength and continuity of Babson’s global network.”

An illustration that includes a map of Asia, a list of countries in which Babson has an alumni club, and a photo of the India club

Alumni Community: 1,638 (573 undergraduate, 1,060 graduate, 5 Double Beavers)
Signature Event:Each year, alumni communities across India gather for Summer Receptions to welcome incoming undergraduate and graduate students who will be beginning their Babson journeys. The evenings are always hosted in Babson family homes in each city, reinforcing the family ties that run throughout the community in India. Although India is a big place, the Babson community is incredibly connected and supportive of one another.
The Club Says: “My journey at Babson started in the mid-1980s when I was the only student from India,” Vivek Jain MBA’83, P’07 says, “but a strong word-of-mouth sharing of positive experiences has helped grow India to be the largest represented country on campus, and my personal involvement has been unwavering over 40 years. The Indian alumni network is very strong, often meeting together for send-offs or when there is a visiting faculty member. In December 2024, we hosted President Stephen Spinelli MBA’92, PhD and his team with a talk and lunch at the rooftop of a city five-star restaurant and attended by nearly 200 alumni. The Babson brand is very strong in India, and we are doing our best to build on it, year over year.”

An illustration that includes a map of Asia, a list of countries in which Babson has an alumni club, and a photo of the Japan club

Alumni Community: 253 (69 undergraduate, 184 graduate)
Signature Event: Every fall, the Alumni Club of Japan holds its Annual Meeting. The evening brings together senior leaders of the alumni club as well as nearly 100 members of the local Babson community. In addition to enjoying a formal business meeting and featured speaker, alumni are given the opportunity to share their latest accomplishments and Babson stories with the room. In 2023, President Spinelli attended as the featured speaker.
The Club Says: “The Babson alumni network is one of the College’s greatest assets, and here in Japan we see and honor its value annually,” Seiichi Sato MBA’85 says. “Our club brings together graduates across generations and industries, creating a community where entrepreneurial thinking and mutual support thrive long after Commencement. Each fall, our Alumni Club of Japan Annual Meeting serves as a cornerstone of this tradition, drawing a strong turnout and reaffirming the deep bonds Babson alumni share. Through mentorship connections, and collaboration with Babson’s global network, we help ensure that alumni in Japan remain engaged, visible, and influential. This collective energy strengthens not only our local community but also Babson’s worldwide presence.”