Babson’s CWEL Launches WIN Lab in Tulsa

Babson College’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL) announced its latest Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab® on Tuesday inside the historic Greenwood Women’s Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Babson WIN Tulsa will be located in the Greenwood Women’s Business Center, one of the remaining buildings left standing after the Tulsa Massacre 100 years ago. The building is a centerpiece in the initiative to “Help Rebuild Black Wall Street,” preserving the legacy of the historic district. The center provides an array of resources designed to support women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in achieving success.

Shakenna Williams ’94, executive director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship Leadership (CWEL) at Babson College

Shakenna Williams ’94, executive director of CWEL, spearheaded the WIN Tulsa project. “We are grateful to have been invited by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the Greenwood Women’s Business Center, and we look forward to working collaboratively with this distinguished organization in advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs,” she said.

The initiative is in partnership with the Greenwood Women’s Business Center, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Black Chambers Inc., the U.S. Small Business Administration, and local Tulsa universities, including Langston University (an Historically Black College and University), Oklahoma State University, Tulsa Community College, and Tulsa Tech. WIN Tulsa is made possible through a grant given to Babson College from FedEx Corp.

“This initiative is a natural fit for Babson. Creating an environment where the talented women of Tulsa can be entrepreneurial leaders is critical to addressing our economic development challenges at the national level,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “Babson WIN Tulsa builds on Babson’s strong track record in helping women leaders achieve success in business, government, and academia. We know that organizations that include women at all levels are more productive and successful.”

WIN Lab—a first-of-its-kind program helping women entrepreneurs launch successful businesses and create economic and social impact—was first launched by CWEL on Babson’s Wellesley campus in 2013 and expanded to Miami in 2016.

Posted in Babson Briefs

Tagged Women's Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship Education, Inclusive Excellence

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