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.
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