Summer 2020

Virtual Seminars Keep the Babson Community Connected

Listen

As the pandemic shifted student learning to an online environment, it was just as critical to keep the entire Babson community connected and learning from one another.

“The pandemic has impacted our students in so many ways, and our alumni really stepped up to help them. But we knew our alumni and larger Babson community also would be impacted by the economic repercussions,” said Gerri Randlett, assistant vice president of alumni engagement and annual giving. “It was important that we develop innovative ways for alumni to gain insight from experts about how to respond during this crisis, and to learn from and help each other.”

Through BabsonDiscover, Babson Connect: Online, and other virtual learning symposiums, the College has covered topics ranging from crisis management and food sustainability to investing for retirement and how the pandemic has impacted professional sports.

More than 4,000 alumni, parents, students, and friends of Babson have taken part in more than 70 online seminars and roundtables that tackle today’s unique challenges, such as “How 2 Be a Resilient Entrepreneur” and “The Ripple Effect of COVID-19 on Women.”

Many are moderated by experts from Babson centers and institutes, while others have included special alumni guests and other professionals. Most seminars include a nominal fee of $5 or $10, which helps students most impacted by the pandemic, through the Emergency Fund. All are free for Babson students, faculty, and staff.

Visit babson.edu/alumni to explore new seminars, events, and panels that are added weekly to the events calendar.

Check out a couple of popular Babson Connect examples:

Babson Connect: Disruption, Ripple Effect, and Recovery from COVID-19

The Babson Connect: Online series launched in May with guests Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD (above left), vice chairman and partner of Global Infrastructure Partners; and Michael Milken (above center), chairman of the Milken Institute. Drawing from their combined experience with global investments, macroeconomics, healthcare research, and public health policy, they explored interventions and opportunities to move us from disruption to recovery. The online event was moderated by Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD (above right), executive director of Babson’s new Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship.

Watch Babson Connect: Disruption, Ripple Effect, and Recovery from COVID-19 »


Babson Connect: Game On! How an Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Shape Our Return to Professional Sports

In June, “Game on! How an Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Shape Our Return to Professional Sports” featured Phillip J. Castellini ’92 (above left), president and COO of the Cincinnati Reds; Chris Zimmerman MBA’83 (above center), president and CEO of business operations/alternate governor for the St. Louis Blues; and Nigel Travis (above right), chairman and co-owner of Leyton Orient Football Club. The sports executives shared how their teams have responded to the pandemic and what the future may hold for professional sports.

Watch Babson Connect: Game On! How an Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Shape Our Return to Professional Sports »

Posted in Community

More from Babson Magazine »

Latest Stories

Woman leads program in front of class.
Her Pitch? Teaching Entrepreneurship to Middle Schoolers in East Harlem  Inspired by entrepreneurship professor Len Green’s course, Lauren Hammarstedt ’10 brings entrepreneurship education to middle school students in East Harlem, New York.
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.
July 14, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Collage of four photos depicting Babson teams celebrating
Keeping Score: A Look at Babson Athletics’ Success by the Numbers From national and conference championships to academic achievements, Babson’s student-athletes continue to post impressive statistics. Here is a look at the numbers behind Babson Athletics’ successes.
By
Eric Beato
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.
July 2, 2025

Posted in Community

A clear tip jar with cash sits on a counter
What Ending Taxes on Tips Could Mean for Workers and Tippers Babson thought leaders on tax policy explain how a federal proposal that includes eliminating taxes on tips might reshape the tipping economy.
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.
July 1, 2025

Posted in Insights