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DearFriendsofF&ECWEL,
Asweconcludethe2023-2024academicyear,IextendmyheartfeltthanksforyoursteadfastsupportoftheFrank& Eileen™ Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL) at Babson College. This year, our strategic focusonBabson’sCriticalFewobjectiveshasguidedustowardamplifyingwomenentrepreneurialleaders,thinkers, and allies. Your contributions as Advisory Board members, Donors, Volunteers, Alumni, Students, Team Members, andBabsonColleagueshavebeeninstrumentalinoursuccess
Guidedbythethemeof"Resilience,"we:
ExtendedOurLeadinWomen’sEntrepreneurialLeadership:Wereinforcedourpositionasthegloballeader in women’s entrepreneurship education, inspiring and equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurialleaders
Advanced the Lifelong Learning Strategy: By expanding our educational offerings, we empowered women entrepreneursateverystageoftheirjourney,ensuringcontinuouslearningandgrowth.
Fast-Tracked Technology for Learning, Teaching, and Operations: Our strategic investments in technology enhancedourglobalreachandenabledustodeliverworld-classeducationalexperiences.
Strengthened the Learner Value Proposition: We aligned our resources with enrollment needs, ensuring thateveryBabsonstudentreceivesthesupportandopportunitiestheyneedtosucceed.
Reshaped the Business Model: We adapted and evolved our business model to meet the changing needs of ourcommunity,ensuringsustainabilityandlong-termsuccess.
Embedded Inclusive Excellence Across the Organization: We continued to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,makingitanintegralpartofourcultureandakeydriverofourcompetitiveadvantage.
As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also look forward to a significant milestone: the 25th anniversary of F&E CWEL, our Silver Jubilee This is a moment to honor the past, celebrate the present, and set our sights on a futurefilledwithcontinuedsuccessandresilience.
Weinviteyoutojoinusincelebratingthismilestoneandtocontinuebeingapartofourjourney Yourinvolvementis essential to our ongoing success, and together, we will empower the next generation of women entrepreneurial leaders
Thankyouforyourdedicatedsupport Here’stothenext25years!
Withgratitude,
Dr.ShakennaK.Williams Executive Director, Babson College, Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership
At the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL), we believe entrepreneurial leadership is a life skill. We educate leaders to drive social and economic change through innovation. Our research highlights the importance of inclusive leadership for global progress for women entrepreneurs and allies, everywhere.
MISSION The Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership is the premier source for business acceleration, global entrepreneurship research, and entrepreneurial leadership. We educate, convene, and champion Babson students, alumni, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem guided by the principles of Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action.
VISION To lead a global community of courageous humans who drive economic growth, innovation, and positive social impact, fueled by the resources and support of the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership and guided by the principles of Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action®.
MEET THE TEAM Dr. Shakenna K. Williams Executive Director of
Kara Miller, MBA Associate Director of Innovative Learner Programs
Natalie Joseph Associate Director of Innovative Learner Campus Programs
McKenzie Cloutier Program Coordinator of Innovative Learner Campus Programs
Amari Dias Program Manager of Innovative Learner Programs
Dr. Candida Brush
Franklin W Olin Professor of Entrepreneurship & Co-Founder of the Diana International Research Institute
Mackenzie Hayes Program Manager of Global Research & Ecosystem Development
Dr. Amanda Elam Research Fellow Diana International Research Institute
IMPACT AT A GLANCE 46
ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR SIGNATURE ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS IN 2023-2024
21 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS SUPPORTING THE BABSON STUDENT COMMUNITY
762
STUDENTS ENGAGED THROUGH EVENTS & PROGRAMS
112
RESEARCHERS AT THE 2024 DIANA INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE
58 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS IN 2023-2024
40
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AMONG DIANA INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE MEMBERS
84
MENTORS SUPPORTED OUR LEARNERS THROUGHOUT THEIR PROGRAM EXPERIENCE
$10m+
SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS AWARDED TO WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS SINCE LAUNCH
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Our Board of Advisors is instrumental in shaping the growth and strategic direction of our Center Their expertise, industry insights, and sound judgment help steer F&E CWEL towards its mission and vision We deeply appreciate their guidance and support.
Ambani Shanker '07
New Delhi Theaters Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. Candida Brush MP ‘14
Babson College
Christina C. Giguere '94
Family Office
Christopher S. Bignell '94, P '27
The Alchemy Fund
Christopher J. Floyd MBA '03
C.E. Floyd Company, Inc.
Daylana Ervin-Parker
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Debbie Ready MBA ‘86
Blissful Getaways
*Deborah Peckham, Chair
Burns & Levinson LLP
Joseph R. Ramrath '78
Colchester Partners
Judith Goldkrand
Wells Fargo
Julie Meyer
Eat Well Global
Lisa Schiffman
Ernst & Young
Mariel Aybar ‘06
Mastercard - Dominican Republic
Mary McInnis Tinebra MBA '90
FertilityIQ
Nadine Heubel
Newmark (Harper Dennis-Hobbs)
Dr. Nan S. Langowitz
Babson College
Richard Griffin
MassDevelopment
Dr. Sadie Burton-Goss
Babson College
Sandy Ip ‘02
Sevun Design
Selena Rodgers Dickerson
SARCOR LLC
Terrance Gresham
Babson College
Dr. Valaurie Lee
VB Consulting Services
Learner Experience & Programming WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP TheWomen’sLeadershipScholarsProgrambringstogetheradiversecohortofexemplarystudentsselectedfortheir demonstratedleadershipabilitiesandgrowthpotential.InAY23-24,thecohortconsistedof58undergraduate Women’sLeadershipScholars.Inadditiontoreceivingafour-yearmeritscholarshipcoveringaquarteroftheir Babsontuition,Women’sLeadershipScholarstakepartinmonthlyworkshopsandeventsdesignedtoelevatetheir personalandprofessionaldevelopment,growtheirentrepreneurialmindsetsandleadershipskills,andbuilda closelyconnectednetworkofwomen.
ScholarprogramminginAY23-24includedannualeventssuchasF&ECWEL’ssignatureDisruptionDinnerand SpringSoiréeSeniorSend-off,inadditiontoseveralcommunity-buildingprograms,aspeakereventhighlighting WomeninSports,andaworkshopteachingstudentshowtooutsmarttheirinnercritics IntheSpringsemester, severalscholarsalsohadtheopportunitytoattendadinnerwiththedonorsresponsiblefortheirspecificWomen’s LeadershipAward
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
na Kothari '26 pieceofadviceforfuturescholarsistoactivelyparticipateinall anizedbyCWEL.Thesegatheringscoverawidearrayoftopics, omovercomingself-doubttolaunchingyourownbusiness.Itis nitytoengagewithinspiringwomenfromdiversebackgrounds es,whohavealreadymadesignificantstridesintheirrespective ullyembracingtheseresourcesandevents,youwillconsistently ablesupportandguidancethatwillhelpyouinsomewayorthe ughoutyourlife.”
Ana Pau Alvarado ‘25 utureWomen’sLeadershipScholarsto zingcommunityisnotsomethingthat everybodygetstobeapartof.Soreallytakeadvantageofeverything thatithastooffer,whetherit'sevents,mentors,orthepeoplethatyou meetalongtheway.Justreallytakeadvantageofeverything. Specifically,you'recomingintoBabsonwithagroupofgirlsthatyou're eventuallygoingtoleavewith.Sojustmakesurethatyougettoknow them,makemeaningfulconnections,makefriends,andyou'regonna havesomuchfun.”
MENTOR PROGRAMS F&ECWELrunsatrioofmentorprogramsdesignedtofosterprofessional growthacrossacademicandcareerstages.Lastyear,theprogramsengaged96 studentsand82volunteermentors.
TheUndergraduateMentorProgrampairsjuniorandseniorstudentswith professionalswhohave5-10yearsofworkexperienceforvocational explorationandtransition-to-workopportunitiesandchallenges
TheGraduateMentorProgrampairsgraduatestudentswithseasoned professionals(10+yearsofexecutiveexperience)foradvancedvocational explorationandcareertransitionstrategiesforleaders
TheNear-PeerMentorProgrampairsfirst-yearstudentswithupperclassmentoaidintheiradjustmenttocollegeandintegrationwithinthe broadercommunity
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
“AsaCEO&entrepreneur,thereareissuesthataredifficultto discussandobtainguidanceon.Therearemanydecisions that,duetotheirsensitivenature,Icannotseekguidance frommyteamormyboardofadvisors.Mymentornotonly becameaninvaluablepersonaladvisor,butthroughher extensiveexperiencemanagingpeople,enabledmetotake difficultstepsaheadfeelingconfidentinmycapacityto deliveronthetasks.Icouldnotthankherenoughfor supportingmeinthisjourney.”
-BarbaraCristinadeSouzaPinto,2024MSEL
“Mymentor'sconstructivefeedbackonmyresumeand invaluablenetworkingtipswereinstrumental.She emphasizedthatperfectionisn'tnecessaryforaroleandthat learningoccursonthejob,evenifnotfullyqualified.Her guidanceinstilledinmetheconfidencetotrustmyabilities andrefrainfromsecond-guessingmyself.She'strulyan inspiration.”
-AshwiniChennurDwarakanath,2024MSF
DISRUPTION DINNER TheDisruptionDinnerisanannualsignatureeventhostedbyF&ECWEL ThiseventbringstheBabsoncommunity togetherforaneveningofinspirationandconversationaroundgenderandleadership.Eachyeartheevent showcasestheexperiencesofaccomplishedwomenleadersinacommonindustrywhoareactingboldlytobreak barriers,blazetrails,andlaunchmovementsthatchangeindustries,organizations,andcommunitiesaroundthe world.Thisyear,wecelebratedRESILIENCE,andfeaturedWINLab®Alumna,Dr.CharmainJackman,whoinspired participantstogrow,expandandleanintochallengesandhardship.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
“MyfavoritemomentatF&ECWELwasattheFall DisruptionDinnerof2023.Thethemewasresilience. Twoofourseniors,IsabelleandAlecia,gavespeechesat theendabouthowtheirjourneyatBabsonasa Women’sLeadershipScholar.Itwasajoyfuland emotionalmomentforthestudentbodyinattendance andtheExecutiveBoardoftheWomen’sLeadership Scholars.Itshowednotonlyhowclosethestudentsare, buthowclosetheentireteamatCWELis.Itshowshow importantitistohaveacommunityoflikeminded womenaroundyou.”
-TaryneaAggarwhal‘27 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ROUNDTABLE InOctober,wehostedaroundtableluncheonfeaturingFounder/CEOofFrank&Eileen,AudreyMcLoghlin Thiswasa uniqueopportunityforwomenentrepreneurstogainvaluableinsightsintotheworldoffashion,entrepreneurship, andleadershipfromournamingdonor Duringtheluncheon,theparticipantsconnectedwithlike-mindedfashion enthusiastsandhadthespaceandtimetoaskAudreyquestionsaboutlogistics,financing,andpracticalstrategies forbuildingandscalingasuccessfulfashionbusiness Whethertheywereanaspiringfashionprofessional,an establishedfounder,orsimplypassionateaboutfashion,thiseventwasbothinformativeandinspiringfor attendees.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
GRADUATE STUDENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ThroughouttheacademicyearF&ECWELhostedandco-sponsoredseveralprogramsforthegraduatestudent population TheseincludedaGraduateWomenEntrepreneursLunch,wherebusinessownerscouldsharewinsand painpoints Additionally,F&ECWELco-hostedaNetworkingworkshopandaPublicSpeakingworkshopin collaborationwiththeGraduateWomeninBusinessClub.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
EMPOWER BabsonCollegeshowcaseditscommitmenttoadvancingwomenleadersinbusinessbyhostingEMPOWER,an admittedstudentovernightexperience EMPOWERprovidedtheopportunitytoconnectwithotheradmittedstudents, currentstudents,andBabsoncommunitymembers.AttendeeslearnedaboutopportunitiesforwomenatBabson, includingF&ECWEL,theWINLab®,TheDianaInternationalResearchInstitute,andtheArthurM.BlankSchoolfor EntrepreneurialLeadership.TheF&ECWELteamalsoledasessiononResiliencewhichincludedajourneymapping exerciseforstudentstoreflectontheexperiencesthathaveshapedthem. Admittedstudentsstayedovernightwith acurrentBabsonstudentinaresidencehall,attendedclasses,andhadtheopportunitytogetanswerstoalltheir questionsdirectlyfromourstudents.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
BABSON WOMEN CONNECT F&ECWELsponsoredthe BabsonWomenConnectsummitincollaborationwiththeBabsonWomeninBusiness Club Withathemeof“TappingintoYourProfessionalSuperpower”thissummitwasdedicatedtoconnecting, empowering,andcelebratingwomen ParticipantshadtheopportunitytonetworkwithfellowBabsonconnections andhearfromaccomplishedprofessionalsfromdiversebackgroundsandindustrieshelpingthemtounlocktheir uniquesuperpower Thesummitbroughttogethercurrentgraduatestudents,campuspartnersandBabsonalumni foradayoflearning,reflectingandnetworking
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:EstablishPartnershipsthatCreateScaleandEnhanceOurValueProposition
Entrepreneurial Leadership Everywhere WIN LAB® VENTURE ACCELERATOR 2024 marked the 11th year of the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab®, a venture accelerator program designed by women entrepreneurs for women entrepreneurs and their allies The WIN Lab™ was created to address the lack of gender parity in entrepreneurship The program has won multiple awards for innovation and diversity, aiming to increasewomen'sparticipationasentrepreneurs
The WIN Lab's® curriculum focuses on four key areas: accountability, peer community, content sessions, and mentorship. The structured 10-week program offers an environment where participants are guided to set and track their own goals with regular feedback from a diverse group of professionals. Additionally, the WIN Lab® alleviates thelonelinessoftenexperiencedbysolofoundersbycultivatingacommunityofambitiousentrepreneurs.
Sinceitsinception,theWINLab®hassuccessfullygraduated337womenentrepreneursacrosstheselocations: Boston:140(2014-2019)
Miami:81(2016-2019)
GlobalVirtual:90(2020-2023)
Hybrid(Online/Wellesley):26(2024)
THE WIN LAB® 2024 COHORT Thisyear'sWINLab®cohortincluded26womenfoundersinahybridprogram,combiningvirtualandin-person sessionsatBabson'sWellesleycampus.Participantswere22Babsonstudents(4undergrads,18grads),3 alumnae,and1externalentrepreneur.
Theirbusinessesspanvariousstagesofdevelopment,fromthebetastagetothegrowthandscalingoftheir productorserviceinthemarket Thecohortisindustry-agnosticandincludesfoundersfromawidearrayofsectors, thusfacilitatingcross-industrylearningandcollaboration
WeconcludedthisprogramwithacelebratoryWINLab®VentureShowcase,wheretheBabsoncommunitylearned moreaboutthesephenomenalwomenfoundersandtheexcitingstoriesbehindtheirbusinesses!
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION: STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL WIN FOUNDERS Asri Wijayanti & Aya Iwata, Mombies Asri Wijayanti is the Co-founder, and Aya Iwata is the CSO of Mombies, an online platform empowering new mothers with expert guidance, personalized support, and a nurturing community. Since participating in the WIN Lab®, Mombies is currently developing an AI assistant to help new parents access curated and verified information from experts They also are connecting with potential investors and are progressing towards securing Letters of Intent. Mombies is now proudly registered as a C Corporation in Delaware. They are continuing to make valuable connections while exploring additional resources for business growth
FromAsri:"JoiningtheWINLab®hasbeenoneofthebestdecisionsofmylife, alongsidechoosingBabson.Thecurriculumoffersincredibleinsightsand empowerment,andyou'llneverfeelaloneonyourentrepreneurialjourneywiththe supportofyourcohortfriends."
Chloe Samaha, BOND App ChloeSamahaistheCo-founderandCEOofBONDApp,aSaaSB2B AI-poweredplatformforMillennialandGenZ,foundersandteam leaderslookingtocreatearevolutionarycompanycultureand maximizeemployeemorale,productivity,andengagement.
WhileintheWINLab®,Chloehaswonseveralpitchcontests includingPitch-A-Thon,SeedFund,andtheBabsonEntrepreneurial Thought&Action®(BETA)Challenge,raisingatotalof $37,250 forBOND BONDalsolaunchedanewproduct/service,expandedtoa newmarketsegment/customergroup,increasedsales,and expandedtheironlinepresence Inaddition,theywereintroducedto valuableconnectionsandpartneredwithothercompanies
“WINLab®isanamazingprogramthatprovidesyouwithallthebasic resourcestoscaleyourventure.”
THE BLACK WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (BWEL) BabsonCollege'sBlackWomen'sEntrepreneurialLeadership(BWEL)programisthefirstofitskindforBlack womenentrepreneursandalliesatafour-year,higher-educationinstitution.Ittacklesbusinessdisparitiesby offeringparticipantsreal-worldexperiences,resources,andcommunitysupport.
TheprogramincorporatesBabson'sEntrepreneurialThoughtandAction®approach,focusingonpersonal wellness,businessdevelopment,strategy,andnetworking BWEL'smissionistohelpBlackwomenentrepreneurs overcomechallengesinstarting,growing,andsustainingtheirbusinessesthroughmentoring,networking,anda mixofonlineandin-personlearning
BWEL COHORT 5 Atotalof20BlackwomenentrepreneursparticipatedinourFall2023BWELCohort.Thisyearwefocusedon providingparticipantswithpracticalinsightsandtoolstonavigateprocurementandotheruntappedopportunities forgrowth.Representingadiversegeographicalspread,ourentrepreneursjoinedfrom:California,Florida,Georgia, Illinois,Louisiana,Maryland,Massachusetts,NewYork,NorthCarolina,Ohio,Oklahoma,RhodeIsland,Virginia,and WashingtonD.C.Thiswide-rangingrepresentationdemonstratesourcommitmenttofosteringavibrant entrepreneurialecosystemthattranscendsregionalboundaries.
Theentrepreneursinthiscohorthavebeeninbusinessforatleasttwoyears,withanaverageannualrevenueof approximately$315,000 TheBWELacceleratorisindustry-agnostic,featuringabroadspectrumofbusinessideas andinnovations Thisapproachhighlightsthewideapplicabilityofthecorebusinessskillstaughtinourprogram WehostedacelebratoryclosingprograminTulsa,OK,joiningourfriendsattheGreenwoodWomen’sBusiness Center,theGreenwoodChamberofCommerce,andtheU.S.BlackChambers,Inc.Duringthiswonderfuleducation experience,participantshadtheopportunitytoexplorethepowerfulhistoryoftheGreenwooddistrict.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:SustainOurCommitmenttoDEIasaCompetitiveAdvantage; ExpandLifelongLearning
ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION: STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL BWEL FOUNDERS Dr. Life Cycle Direct Primary Care ChelseaMoorelandisaDoctorandtheFounderandCEOof LifeCycleDirectPrimaryCare,acomprehensivemembership basedFamilyMedicinepracticeservingpatientsofallages andstageswithconciergelevelmedicalcareforlessthan yourmonthlycellphonebill.
WhileintheBWELprogram,LifeCycleDirectPrimaryCare waspreparedtonegotiatetheirfirstpartnership/contract withalargebusinessworthover100k.Theyalsopurchaseda largecommercialbuildingasanowneroccupantwith significantrevenuepotentialinarapidlygrowingarea.Their patientpanelishalffullandtheyareonly2yearsand2 monthsintobusiness.
TheBWELprogramprovedtobedelicatelycuratedtoenhancesupportandsisterhood amongstblackwomenentrepreneurswhileexpandingtheknowledgeandhigherlevel businessconceptsneededtogofromstartuptoenterprise Theprogramchallengedthe thingsIthinkIknewwellasabusinessownerandintroducednewideasandperspectives tohelpmebetterplanfortheexpansionandfutureofmybusiness.BWELcreatedasafe andwelcomingspacetofullylearnandimmersemyselfinentrepreneurship,spaceto dreambigandnotshyawayfrommypotentialasanentrepreneur.
Chelsea Mooreland,
ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION: STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL BWEL FOUNDERS KristenSmithistheCo-founderandCEOofTre’sStreet Kitchen,providingreliablemobilecateringforemergencyand disasterreliefefforts,SchoolFoodandNutritionServices, concessionsservices,andcorporatecatering
WhileintheBWELprogram,Tre’sStreetKitchensecuredfive newfoodservicecontracts Additionally,theysuccessfully producedanddeliveredtheirsecondshipmentofTre'sStreet Sauce,anall-purposeLouisiana-certifiedBBQsauce,to Amazon.Furthermore,theircompanywonthreegrantsand gainedrecognitionfromindustrygiantssuchasHeinz,Pepsi, andAmericanExpress.ThisJanuarytheyaresettobe featuredin225Magazine,aprominentcitypublication
IamsogratefulfortheBabsonBWELprogram.Throughoutthe9-weekprogram,Iwas assistedwithfine-tuningmycapabilitystatementandhavingaccesstoBabson’sbest-inclassprofessors,staff,andcoaches Throughthepracticalandreal-timelessonslearnedin theprogram,Isecuredfiveadditionalfoodservicecontracts Iambeyondgratefulthat Babsonallowedmetoacceleratemybusinesswithagroupofoutstandingblackwomen entrepreneursInowcallmysisters
Kristen Smith, Tre's Street Kitchen
B.E.T.A. CHALLENGE AWARD PRESENTATION PresentedbytheArthurM BlankCenterforEntrepreneurship,theannualBETA (BabsonEntrepreneurialThought &Action®)ChallengerecognizestheprogressandpotentialofBabsonventuresastheyseektosolveproblemsand createimpact ThecompetitionembodiesBabson’sentrepreneurialspiritandfocusontakingaction
SeveralofourWINLab®Participantsreceivedawards,woncontestsandwerechosenforprestigiouscompetitions. Oftheparticipants,ChloeSamahafromBONDwonfirstprizeintheBETAChallenge(UndergraduateTrack)and receivedtheStephenH.Kramer’92andMichaelLondon’92Award,GopikaMaheshwarifromPlantexwontheFamily EntrepreneurshipPrize,andAsriWijayanti&AyaIwatafromMombies,wonsecondPrizeattheBabsonAcceleration ClubPitchCompetition.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:StrengthenConnectionofourWorktoPurposeandValues
“BeforecomingtoBabsonIusedtothinkbeingaleadermeanthavingthemostauthority.I usedtothinkleadershadalltheanswersanddidnotneedtorelyonothersindifficulttimes. ComingtoBabsonhasshapedmyperspectiveonleadershipbyteachingmeleadersarethose whohavethecouragetotakerisksandstepintotheunknown.Leadersaskquestionsandask forhelpwhentheyneedit.”
BWEL POP-UP F&ECWELinitiatedaBabsonBlackWomen'sEntrepreneurial Leadership(BWEL)ProgramReunioninWashingtonDC Thisevent providedauniqueopportunitytoreconnect,reflect,andcelebratethe stridesthealumnahavemadesincecompletingtheprogram The reunionwasfilledwithinspiringstoriesofgrowth,resilience,and innovation,aseachalumnasharedherentrepreneurialjourneyand theimpactshecontinuestohaveonherindustryandcommunity.It wasmorethanjustareunion itwasacelebrationofleadership, empowerment,andthesharedcommitmenttobreakingbarriersand drivingchange.
Babson Critical Few Objective: Sustain Our Commitment to DEI as a Competitive Advantage
Advancing Research & Thought Leadership A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF THOUGHT LEADERS Babson College's Diana International Research Institute (DIRI) connects global scholars focused on women’s entrepreneurship, shaping teaching, policy, and business practices worldwide. Our network spans 38 countries across six continents, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to advance evidence-based research on women's entrepreneurship.
DIANA INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE TheDianaInternationalResearchConference(DIRC)wasestablishedin2003to provideaforumwherescholarscouldcollaborate,develop,andshareearly-stage globalresearchonwomen’sentrepreneurship
TheConferencehasbeenhostedineightcountriesandinJune2024wasco-hosted withtheEntrepreneurshipandSmallBusinessResearchInstitute(ESBRI)in Stockholm,Sweden
ImpactDay,apublic-facingevent,followstheacademicresearchportionoftheDiana Conference.Lastspringthiseventdrewover200researchers,educators,Swedish Parliamentmembers,foreignambassadors,localCEOs,investors,andentrepreneurs todiscussbestpracticesandpolicyaroundthetopicofwomen’sentrepreneurship.
Thisyear,theBabsonGlobalCenterforEntrepreneurialLeadershipsponsored5 scholarsworkingonresearchintheMENAregiontoattendtheDIRC Wethankthem fortheirsupport!
BabsonCriticalFewObjectives:EstablishPartnershipsthatCreateScaleand EnhanceOurValueProposition;ExpandLifelongLearning
2024 DIANA INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE NUMBERS ATTENDEES
ABSTRACTS SUBMITTED
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
PAPERS ACCEPTED FOR PRESENTATION
Would attend a future DIRC based on their experience
QUOTES FROM ATTENDEES “Asalways,theenergyatDianaissoinspiring.Ienjoyedallthespeakersthisyearandthought theconferencevenuewasperfectlysituatedinthemiddleofthecity.Imetlotsofinteresting peopleandhopetokeepdevelopingmorecontactsevenaftertheconferencehasfinished!”
“Keepthisgreatworkup!TheDianaconferenceiswonderfulandIam lookingforwardtoattendfutureconferences.”
1% TOP
TheDianaInternationalResearchConferencehas beencitedasoneofthe“top1%mostimportant meetingplaces”intheacademicfieldof entrepreneurshipstudies.
THE FUTURE OF WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH Hosted by: University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand
Theme: On the Edge
Host Leads: Christine Woods, Janine Swail
2026
Hosted by: Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS) in Pretoria, South Africa
Theme: Social Impact, Entrepreneurship, and the South African Context
Host Leads: Ethne Schwartz, Caren Scheepers, Marianne Matthee
2027 To Be Determined Within 1 month after the 2024 Conference, 3 different institutions on 3 different continents have expressed their desire to host in 2027 This strong expression of interest underscores the growing global influence and relevance of the Diana Conference
WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON POLICY, RESEARCH, & PRACTICE Thisyear'sDIRIroundtableseriescovered6discussionsonwomen'sentrepreneurship,surpassingourgoalof hostingquarterly.Topicsrangedfromglobalscholarsandtheiremergingresearch,toglobaltrendsandfindings fromtheGEMWomen’sReport,toinvestmentstrategiesandbestpracticesinentrepreneurshipeducation Sessions alsoexploredpolicyimpactandecosystemchallenges Thediscussionshighlightedthecomplexlandscapewomen entrepreneursnavigateandourongoingeffortstoleveltheplayingfieldinbusiness
WearetheonlyofferingofitskindintheUS focusedonwomen’sentrepreneurship
BabsonStrategicPrinciple:ExpandLifelongLearning
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION WITH DR. HEIDI NECK WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS CEO
BR CY
DR ANDREW CORBETT
2022/2023 GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP MONITOR (GEM) WOME WITH DR. KAREN HUGHES, DR. CANDIDA BRUSH, DR. AMANDA E
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP MONITOR (GEM): 2022/2023 WOMEN’S REPORT Womenentrepreneurscontinuetoplayanimportantroleindrivingeconomicgrowthandadvancingsocial developmentintheircountriesandcommunities.Despitebeingactiveinallindustriesglobally,theyoftendominate smallerbusinessesincompetitive,low-marginsectors Genderdisparitiespersist,withwomenfacingunequal domesticresponsibilitiesandeconomicchallenges
Recommendationsinclude:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Supporthigh-potentialwomenentrepreneursinhigh-growthsectors
Tailorsupportthrougheffectivesegmentation
Facilitatedigitalaccessandaffordabilityforwomen-ledbusinesses
Recognizethesocialandenvironmentalcontributionsofwomenentrepreneurs
Dr AmandaElam,DIRI’sResearchFellow,istheleadauthoroftheGEMWomen’sReport
MEDIA IMPACT - GEM WOMEN’S REPORT 17,000 unique downloads to date (and rising)
Bylined in World Economic Forum, Diplomatic Courier, and The Economist
Press release to over 250+ news outlets
Featured in GEM monthly newsletter sent to 8k subscribers
Live webinars of findings with Dr Elam on panel (GEM, WTO, DIRI)
Shared across GEM channels (LinkedIn – 7.3k followers, Twitter – 8k, FB –10k+)
GEMREPORTKEYTAKEAWAYS WHATARETHEKEYGENDERDIFFERENCESACROSSTHEENTREPRENEURIALLIFECYCLE?
Oneinsixwomengloballyreportedanintentiontostartabusinessinthenearfuture,comparedtooneinfive men.Entrepreneurialintentionswerehighestforwomeninlow-incomecountries(28.2%)andlowestinhighincomecountries(11%)
WHATTYPESOFBUSINESSESAREWOMENINVOLVEDIN?WHATISTHEIMPACT?
Womenrepresentedoneinfourhigh-growthentrepreneursacrossthecountriesinthe2022GEMsurvey,with higherproportionsinlow-incomecountries(oneinthree)andNorthAmerica(twoinfive).
Globally,themajorityofstartupactivitywasobservedintheWholesale/Retailsectorforbothwomen(486%) andmen(401%)in2022 WomenweretypicallyfarlessactivethanmenintheICTsectorwheremostofthe globalventurefundingisinvested,withjust23%ofwomenoperatingtherecomparedto53%ofmen(W/M 43)
HOWDOPATTERNSOFDIGITALIZATIONVARYBYGENDER?
Morethanhalfofbothwomenandmenentrepreneursglobally reportedplanstoadoptnewdigitaltools.However,womenwerealso morelikelytosaythatdigitaltoolswerenotnecessaryforthe operationoftheirbusinessesthanmen(W/M105) Infact,almost halfofwomeninlow-incomecountriessaiddigitaltoolswerenot necessaryfortheirbusinessoperations(454%,W/M107)compared tolessthanonequarterinhighincomecountries(23%,W/M097)
Elam, A. et al. (2023). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/2023 Women's Report: Challenging Bias and Stereotypes
Expanding the Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Ecosystem Ecosystem Development is focused on building a robust network of resources, partnerships, and mentorship opportunities that empower women to thrive in their entrepreneurial journeys. By nurturing an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem, we provide aspiring women leaders with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to innovate, lead, and scale their businesses.
WOMEN OF COLOR BUSINESS SUMMIT F&ECWELproudlyservedasakeysponsoroftheCenterforWomen&Enterprise's4thAnnualWomenofColor BusinessSummit,heldatBabsonCollege apowerfulcelebrationoftheentrepreneurialspiritandimpactof womenofcolor.Theeventbroughttogether214attendeesfromacrossEasternandCentralMassachusetts, Vermont,NewHampshire,andRhodeIsland,creatingadynamicplatformtotackletheuniquechallengesand amplifythesuccessesofwomenofcolorinbusiness.AmongtheattendeeswerelocalBWELAlumna,whojoinedto supportandlearnfromtrailblazerslikeDr.ShakennaK.Williams,whowasfeaturedonthekeynotepanel:"Leveling Up&RisingAbovetheNorm."Thesummitwasatransformativeexperience,focusedonbreakingbarriers,reshaping narratives,andempoweringwomentoexcelintheirentrepreneurialjourneys.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:SustainOurCommitmenttoDEIasaCompetitiveAdvantage
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS AlumniconnectionsareessentialtoF&ECWEL’smission,providingaglobalnetworkofsupportforwomen entrepreneurialleaders.InLondon,GloriaandMarcusWiseMBA'06hostedaneventwherealumniandF&ECWEL discussedstrategiestoelevatewomeninleadershipanddrivingglobalimpact.Similargatherings,hostedby IsabellaCagnazzo'97andAlfredoFonseca'97inCostaRica,andPatrikSalen‘90inStockholm,underscorethe valueoftheserelationships.
Throughmeetingswithalumni,womenleaders,andentrepreneursinoverfivecountries,wearefosteringlifelong toadvancingo sthatCreate
WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE ACTION LOAN FUND InSpringof2024,BabsoncontinueditspartnershipwiththeWomen’sEnterpriseAction LoanFundtoofferacustomized,two-partworkshopseriesfortheMentorsoftheWEALF program.Inthesessions,participantslearnedthebestpracticesthatF&ECWELusesinour mentorprograms,includinginsightsonworkingwithearly-stagefoundersandstrategiesto helpsupporttheirmenteesastheynavigatechallengesintheirbusinesses.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:ExpandLifelongLearning
MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN F&ECWEL,alongwithotherBabsondepartments,proudlysponsoredtheMassachusettsConferenceforWomen, providingaplatformforourwomenentrepreneursandWomenLeadershipScholars Thissold-outevent,attendedby thousands,offeredunparalleledopportunitiesforconnection,networking,andskill-building Participantsengaged inworkshopsledbyexpertspeakersonvitaltopicsonpersonalfinance,business,entrepreneurship,health,and work/lifebalance,fosteringbothprofessionalandpersonalgrowth.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:SustainOurCommitmenttoDEIasaCompetitiveAdvantage
ENTERPRISING WOMEN’S CONFERENCE WorkingwithourWomenLeadershipscholarswasafantasticwaytoshowcasetheirtalentsandthevaluable lessonsthey'velearnedatBabson Duringthe22ndAnnualEnterprisingWomenoftheYearAwardsCelebration &Conference,Dr ShakennaK Williams,whowashonoredwiththeEducatoroftheYearaward,co-presented withgraduatestudentsRadhikaKaseraMBA'24andDominiqueMilesMBA'24.Together,theydeliveredan empoweringsessiontohighschoolgirlsfromacrosstheU.S.andCanadaonthetopic,"TappingIntoYour Superpower:EmpoweringWomenEntrepreneurialLeaders.”
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:EstablishPartnershipsthatCreateScale andEnhanceOurValueProposition
EMPOWERING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS EducatingthenextgenerationofwomenleadersandalliesisattheheartofF&ECWEL’smission.WithJamie Robitaille,DeanofUndergraduateAdmissionsatBabsonCollege,weconnectedwithstudentsandstaffatthe C d S h lf A t &S i dM lb hS hoolinLosAngeles,showcasingBabson’scutting-edge resentedwithintheCenterforEntrepreneurshipand AcceleratorfortheFutureLeadersofTomorrow,fosters to du ith
leaderssharedinsightsonresilience,adaptability,andoverc BeatrizAyalaMuñiz,JuanManuelBarrero,andBabsonMiamiDirector,CarlaCuriel,onnavigatingchallengeswith grace Dr ShakennaK Williamspresenteddataonresilienceandledadiscussiononbuildinginnerstrengthand supportsystems Theeventstressedtheimportanceofemotionalintelligence,problem-solving,andagrowth mindsetamidstsetbacks WeappreciateBabsonMiamiforhostingthisimpactfulgatheringofinnovativeleaders
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:EstablishPartnershipsthatCreateScaleandEnhanceOurValueProposition
BABSON CONNECT WORLDWIDE, SINGAPORE BabsonConnectWorldwide(BCW) animmersiveeventthatinspirescreativity,drivesinnovation,andfosters networkingamongtopbusinessminds washeldinSingapore ThiseventshowcasedBabson’scommitmentto EntrepreneurialThought&Action® Dr WilliamsrepresentedF&ECWELatBCW,moderatingapanelonwomen’s entrepreneurship,celebratingtheresilienceandachievementsofleaderslikeMargaritaForés,RachelLim,Crystal Lim-Lange,andWendyYap ConnectingwithinternationalAdvisoryBoardmemberslikeSandyIp’02wasinvaluable BabsonCriticalFewObjective:StrengthenConnectionofourWorktoPurposeandValues
GWBC INNOVATEHER WOMEN’S SUMMIT: TULSA, OK F&E CWEL proudly joined the Greenwood Women's Business Center for their second anniversary and participated in their InnovateHER Women's Summit during Women's History Month This inspiring event brought together local businesswomen for a day of impactful keynote speakers, enriching workshops, and invaluable networking It was a powerfulcelebrationofsuccess,entrepreneurship,andtheremarkableachievementsofwomeninbusiness TheF&E CWEL team connected with BWEL alumnae in the Tulsa area and other local businesses, benefiting from valuable financialliteracyadvicefromBWELcoach,RobinR.Haynes.
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:SustainOurCommitmenttoDEIasaCompetitiveAdvantage
BRIDGING CAMPUS TO THE CAPITOL Dr WilliamsparticipatedasapanelistattheSBASummitinWashington,DC thisMarch Theeventconvened speakersandpolicymakerstoaddresscrucialtopicsinwomen'sentrepreneurship,includingfinance,government contracting,work-lifebalance,innovation,andinternationaltrade
IncollaborationwiththeButlerInstituteforFreeEnterpriseThroughEntrepreneurship,andwiththesupportofthe InstituteforSocialInnovation,F&ECWELprovidedfourBabsonstudentsinterestedinpublicpolicytheopportunity toattendthesummit.TheexperiencewasenrichedbyonetooneconversationswithSarahBonner(Officeof InternationalTrade),MarkMadrid(OfficeofEntrepreneurialDevelopment),andShellieBressler(IndependentPolicy Consultant)aswellasatouroftheSBAoffices.
ThestudentswerealsofortunatetomeetIsabelCasillasGuzman,AdministratoroftheUS SmallBusiness Administration Thisinitiativegavestudentskeyinsightsintotheintersectionofentrepreneurshipandnational publicpolicy
Babson Critical Few Objective: Expand Lifelong Learning; Establish Partnerships that Create Scale and Enhance OurValueProposition
NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL IN STOCKHOLM OurExecutiveDirector,Dr.ShakennaK.Williams'94,servesontheNationalWomen'sBusinessCouncil(NWBC).This non-partisanfederaladvisorycouncilprovidesindependentcounseltothePresident,Congress,andtheSmall BusinessAdministration(SBA)oncriticalissuesaffectingwomenentrepreneursandbusinessowners.Dr.Williams' appointmentstrengthenseffortstosupportwomen-ownedbusinessesthroughouttheirlifecycles,frominceptionto expansion.
Dr WilliamscollaboratedwithfellowNWBCmemberMrs SelenaRodgersDickerson,presidentofengineeringdesign firm,SARCOR,LLC Together,theyrepresentedtheNWBCatthe2024DianaInternationalResearchConferencein Sweden Theirpresentationon,"HowtheNationalWomen'sBusinessCouncil(NWBC)WorkstoAdvanceWomen's Entrepreneurship”highlightedthecouncil'sandF&ECWEL’songoingeffortstopromoteandsupportwomenin businessatbothnationalandinternationallevels
BabsonCriticalFewObjective:EstablishPartnershipsthatCreateScaleandEnhanceOurValueProposition
Celebrating Our Donors: Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders TheFrank&Eileen™CenterforWomen'sEntrepreneurialLeadershipextendsits gratitudetoourgenerousbenefactors.Theirunwaveringsupportconsistentlyclearsthe pathforaspiringwomenentrepreneurstonurturetheirbusinessexpertiseand leadershipcapabilities.
WearegratefultoAudreyMcLoghlin,FounderofFrank&Eileen,forestablishingthe Center'sendowment.Hercommitmentenablesustoenrichourprogramsandprovide valuableopportunitiesforourlearners.Thankyou,Audrey,foryourdedicationto advancingwomen'sentrepreneurship
Weofferoursincerethankstooursignaturesponsor,FedExCorporation, fortheirenduringdedicationtoempoweringwomenentrepreneurialleaders.
Alexandra Balise McEwen MBA ‘15
Alexandra DiIeso Piccirilli ‘94
Alexandra Joan Guillot ‘21
Alison Brook Carter-Cady ‘95
Alison K Love ‘09
Allison Noelle Betito ‘16
Allyson Alexis Vargas ‘22
Amanda G Strong ‘87
Amanda Kristina Chin Yee ‘13
Amari Steward-Dias MBA ‘25
Amie Roulier Benedict ‘94
Amy Tournas MBA ‘20
Anahi Amado
Anita T Fink MBA ‘12
Anjali Wali ‘09
Artjola Huli ‘19
Ashley Jain Tevatia ‘04
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Atul Bhalla
Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund
Bank of America Employee & Matching Gifts
BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund
Boston While Black
Bronwen Cunningham MBA ‘83
C E Floyd Company, Inc
Cameron Larson MBA ‘06
Carla M. Curiel ‘05
Carlos E Espinal MBA ‘06
Caroline Michaud MBA ‘04
Catherine Friend White MBA ‘86
Ceylan Rowe MBA ‘22
Chelsie Rosemary Niehoff ‘11
Christina C. Giguere ‘94
Christina Ling Xiao ‘17
Christina R Young MBA ‘04
Christopher J Floyd MBA ‘03
Christopher S Bignell ‘94, P ‘27
Claire E McHale MBA ‘01
Consigli Construction Co Inc
Cristina Isabella Heilbron Luna ‘23
Danaher
Darcy Dolan ‘06
David Cenci
David Howe Ragone ‘23
Deborah Burton Ready MBA ‘87
Deborah S.V. Simpson ‘73, MBA ‘75
Debra Swersky MBA ‘14
Dee Rothman Kates ‘85
Defne Ungun
Dianne Spier Weinfeld ‘74
Thankyou! Divia Lalvani Cadbury ‘96
Divya Munjal ‘11
Dominie Garcia MBA ‘00
Donna B Stoddard
Douglas A. Garrote-Arango ‘88
Eat Well Global
Elaine Frazer Mann ‘91
Elaine S Goyette MBA ‘89
Elizabeth H Mercurio MBA ‘03
Elizabeth Swanson
Emily M Gierke ‘09
Emily Zhou ‘19
Equity in Education Coalition Washington
Erin Leah Janklow MBA ‘14
Erin McLean Smith MBA ‘23
Esther G Luh MBA ‘00
Eva Valentine ‘78
Farrel P Simpson ‘08
Felicia Lorens ‘01, MBA ‘05
Fidelity Foundation - Employee and Matching Gifts
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
Frank & Eileen LLC
Gail Serna
Genentech, Inc.
Google Matching Gifts Program
Gwendolyn Campero Barbieri ‘13, MBA ‘13
Heather Drysdale ‘04
Heather Webster Pidgeon ‘02
Helen M McGuire MBA ‘16
Hui Liu MBA ‘23
Inner Spark Foundation
J Britton Hutchins MBA ‘92
Jacqueline G Johnson
Jalila V Bouchareb ‘08
Jamie Connors
Jemmy Eka Putra
Jeni M. Wheeler MBA ‘05
Jenna N Kochen ‘09
Jennifer M Bell ‘06
Jennifer M Duffy ‘06
Jessica B Polito ‘09
Jillian Page Smith-Lakow ‘12
Jing Fan
Jodi-Tatiana Charles MBA ‘15
Johanna Mouyal ‘20
John E Rainey, Jr MBA ‘06
Jonathan Birnbaum
Joseph R Ramrath ‘77
Joshua M Roman MBA ‘10
Joyce M Bell ‘84, MBA ‘95
Julianne Balsis Carlin ‘17
Julianne Zimmerman
Justine Kayla Prophil ‘24
Kara M Miller
Karen Eldracher Winslow MBA ‘93
Katherine Collins Tecci ‘02, MBA ‘06
Kathleen Greer ‘73
Katrina Sundberg Minno ‘04
Kelly A Marchetti MBA ‘03
Kelly Gorman MBA ‘82
Kelly Mulligan Uller ‘95
Kevin T. Grimes ‘97
Kimberly A Mills
Kimberly J Baker ‘95
Kristen Dombrowski Cramer ‘14
Kristen M Waters MBA ‘13
Krystin Stafford MBA ‘06
Kumar S Balaraju
Larry L Rooney
Laurel Neylon
Lauren Schoenadel ‘18
Laurie Cohn Lily Wu ‘17
Linda Oubre, Ed D , MBA
Lindsay W. Gosnell ‘04
Lizabeth A Czepiel ‘07
Lourdes Carreras
Lynn M DiBiasi ‘00
Mackenzie Hayes MBA ‘25
Magdalena Sofia Cosio ‘17
Maria Cristina Cruz MBA ‘15
Mariana Salazar Fernandez ‘83
Mariel Aybar ‘06
Marisa DiMauro ‘94
Marissa Arguelles ‘11
Marissa L Paragano ‘10
Marnice Miller
Mary McInnis Tinebra MBA ‘90
MassDevelopment
Matthew D Murray MBA ‘08
Matthew Donald Brown ‘15
Meaghan Catherine Early MBA ‘15
Megan Deanne Osinski ‘13
Melissa Stevens MBA ‘16
Miranda Ditmore ‘19
Monica A Smith MBA ‘93
Nan S Langowitz
Nathalya Mamane MBA ‘21
Networks Matching Gift Program
Nicole Fiffe
Nori Horvitz ‘20
Nuance Communications
Pamela A Kimball ‘90
Patricia A Ducey MBA ‘88
Patricia G Brigham MBA ‘88
Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program
PNCBank Foundation
Priya Chimanlal Kanjia ‘14
Rachel Eve Green ‘17
Rena P Mirkin
Roopa Shah Plassmann ‘04
Rosemary McLaughlin MBA ‘10
Sadie Burton-Goss
Samantha Marie Leviste Gabales ‘18
Sara Cheah
Sarah Ella Christie
Sarah Grillo
Sarah Stone Ginand MBA ‘00
Scarlet M Batchelor
Sebastian F Lux MBA ‘04
Sevun Designs Ltd
Shaelyn Eldridge
Shakenna K Williams ‘94
Shannon MacDonald ‘15, MBA ‘20
Sheena Collier
Shiva Shanker ‘09
Sidney Jaury ‘23
Simriti Belani ‘21
Sree Poorvika Ramalakshmi Dasari ‘23
Stacy L Chiaramonte MBA ‘05
Sumeit Dua Aggarwal MBA ‘05
Susan Christensen Shirley ‘73
Tawna Rathe
Teresita M Bolivar ‘84
Terri Cox Monjar MBA ‘96
Thayer Glasscock ‘09
The Allstate Foundation
The Simson First Foundation
Theresa Haley Beach MBA 04
Valaurie B Lee
Vance M Loiselle ‘92
Vanessa M Theoharis ‘10
Vinitha Nair MBA ‘19
Vivian Fond ‘20
Wells Fargo Bank Matching Gift Center
Wendy McCormac Vick MBA ‘88
William E Deegans III ‘68
William M Randell
Women’s Enterprise Action Loan Fund
Yekaterina Gofman
Zoe Dunn
