Two full-time, two-year students have been named to Poets & Quants annual list of the Best and Brightest MBAs from the Class of 2019. As they near graduation, Babson’s honorees Asini Wijewardane and David Lefkowitz shared highlights from their MBA experience with Poets & Quants. Each came to Babson with different passions and carved their own path, yet share a signature Babson make-it-happen mindset and commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
Asini Wijewardane
Asini Wijewardane MBA’19 came to Babson from Sri Lanka with two undergraduate degrees she earned by age 20. While in business school, she was a dean’s scholarship recipient, member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Society, and an ambassador for Babson’s Association of Women MBAs.
She said she chose Babson for its Entrepreneurial Thought and Action®approach, which she said has made her become more strategic, innovative, and brave. She also decided to earn her MBA at Babson because of its diverse culture.
“Babson attracts students from so many different sectors and countries, which really adds value to class discussions,” Wijewardane said. “Everyone I have interacted with—be it a peer, student, or teacher—has always been so supportive, always had time for others, and always built others up, which has definitely helped my confidence and inspired me every single day.”
Wijewardane said she was proud of a consulting project she worked on as part of Babson’s Management Consulting Field Experience, where she helped a social apparel company create a marketing and retention plan for millennials.
“Although this was an industry and area that neither my team nor I had any experience in, my incredible teammates and I worked tirelessly to carry out extensive primary and secondary research to help us formulate a strategy and actionable roadmap for the company,” Wijewardane said.
Wijewardane has been recruiting for business and social impact roles and organizations and will continue to do so after graduation.
David Lefkowitz
David Lefkowitz MBA’19 is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma during his time at Babson. He also co-founded the Graduate Finance Club and served as vice president for business development of the Graduate Manufacturing Club.
“From his personal and professional experience and his interaction with various alumni, he recognized that his educational experience extended well beyond the classroom,” Managing Director of the Alumni and Friends Network Gerri Randlett said. “David is future-focused, cares deeply about the entire community, and is someone who we are so grateful to as he will leave Babson better than he found it.”
Lefkowitz cited the school’s strong alumni network and experienced faculty as his deciding factors to attend Babson.
He added business school transformed him by pushing him out of his comfort zone.
“I’ve learned that there are few challenges or blind spots that one can’t overcome with the application of grit, diligence, and an excellent support system,” Lefkowitz said. “It has also been inspiring to watch my classmates develop a vision and take bold action to see it achieved.”
Though his post-graduation plans have yet to be determined, Lefkowitz said he’ll be leaving Babson with a newly discovered love of finance and the confidence to “take on the most daunting of challenges, even when the notion of success seems so out of reach.”
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