Babson Magazine Spring 2024

BABSON

Scholar Stories

Babson’s role as a global leader in higher education manifests itself in myriad ways. From the social and economic value our alumni contribute to communities around the world to the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders on campus hailing from 92 countries, our global reach is expansive.

We’re intentional about bringing learners with unique perspectives from around the world together. As entrepreneurial leaders, we know we’re at our best when we embrace ideas and ways of thinking that are different from our own.

That global embrace was on full display at Babson Connect Worldwide 2024 in vibrant Singapore. Babson Connect Worldwide, or BCW, is the premier summit for entrepreneurs around the world. It’s a vital component of Babson’s global network of entrepreneurial thought leadership gatherings. Coming together for three days with nearly 300 Babson alumni and friends from more than 45 countries around the world instilled in me a new perspective of just how far Babson’s in uence extends.

I left Singapore and BCW invigorated and excited for the future of entrepreneurship

education on the global stage. Seeing the Babson community come together to recommit ourselves to lifelong learning and the ongoing pursuit of creativity and knowledge supports what I have long known: Babson produces entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere.

Our community of learners and their commitment to changing the world make us an everywhere institution. BCW reminded us that with our global reach comes a special responsibility to ensure that learners from across the country and around the world have access to a Babson education.

We were joined at the summit by recent Babson graduates from our Global Scholars Program, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship initiative for international students. These alumni shared experiences from their academic journeys and put into perspective the vital role that scholarships play in broadening the access of a Babson education around the world.

Today, nearly 200 need- and merit-based scholarships at Babson remove nancial barriers and open new doors for the next generation of entrepreneurs. This issue of Babson Magazine will inspire you as it tells the stories of those who have bene ted from nancial support along their path to changing the world.

Scholarships have changed their worlds so that they may change ours. They inspire me, and I know they will inspire you.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD

BABSON AND BE Y OND

A New Landmark Study Examines THE IMPACT OF FME

It’s a mindset that transcends the classroom. Students carry this mindset with them and put it to work after FME.

— Eliana Crosina ’05, MBA’11, assistant professor of entrepreneurship

To be a student in FME can be, frankly, a whirlwind.

First taught in 1996, the Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship class, or FME, is a long-standing rite of passage for first-year students at Babson, taking them through the process of starting a business. That means a lot of ups and downs. Students may see their business idea rejected, or they may have disagreements with teammates. Their venture’s product may not sell well, or it may be held up with supply chain issues. Or, students may encounter a storm of other unpredictable business issues.

“Students have real-life experiences in this course,” said Eliana Crosina ’05, MBA’11, assistant professor of entrepreneurship. “The course can be emotionally challenging at times.”

Crosina was part of a team of professors who recently studied the impact that FME’s experiential learning can have on students. Published in the prestigious Academy of Management Learning & Education journal and reported on in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the study is landmark research for the College.

“It is our first major evidence-based research on a central curricular initiative

here at Babson,” said Danna Greenberg, chair of the Management Division, associate dean of faculty, and the Walter H. Carpenter Professor.

In addition to Crosina and Greenberg, the research team included Andrew Corbett, The Paul T. Babson Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies, and Erin Frey, an assistant professor of management and organization at USC’s Marshall School of Business. By bringing an outsider perspective, Frey played a critical role on the research team and took the lead in conducting interviews with FME students. Over 16 months, Frey conducted 133 interviews focused on student experiences during and after taking FME.

The study confirmed what many students, professors, and Babson alumni may have long suspected—that the trials and struggles of FME, along with the support, mentorship, and reflection that the course offers, build resiliency and an entrepreneurial mindset in students. Even after the course ends, those benefits remain.

“It’s a mindset that transcends the classroom,” Crosina said. “Students carry this mindset with them and put it to work after FME.”

— John Crawford

THE HARMONY OF SELF-CARE AND SUCCESS:

Wes Woodson ’20 and an Empowering Call on MLK Legacy Day

Wes Woodson ’20, too, has a dream.

The mental health advocate and professional public speaker returned to Babson in February to share that dream and deliver the keynote address at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day event, the centerpiece of the College’s Black History Month celebration.

Woodson commanded the CarlingSorenson Theater stage with a deeply personal and inspirational presentation. He shared the story of his mental health journey—documented in his 2021 book, I Have Anxiety (so what?) demonstrating the importance of self-care, sharing actionable advice,

and empowering everyone to be more humane to themselves.

“My dream is for all Babson students here to feel less ashamed talking about their feelings (and) more empowered to feel less alone in those feelings, and I honestly believe that success and self-care don’t have to be mutually exclusive. They can be very much of a harmonious experience,” said Woodson, who recently completed his first national speaking tour.

Woodson concluded by recalling King’s most famous speech. “I similarly have a dream that everyone’s pursuit of their dream can be from a place of solace not a place of survival,” he said. “You are enough, and you’ve always been enough. And my question to all of you is: How are you going to help humanity?”

The theme was “Make a Career of Humanity,” based on a 1959 speech by King to support the youth march for integrated schools. Woodson said that a career of humanity begins by being

more humane to ourselves.

It was a powerful message that captivated the full house of students, faculty, and staff, especially Haja Fatoumata Ba ’24, the president of the Babson Black Student Union who introduced Woodson.

“Wes does a lot of meaningful work, and I think his message resonates to a lot of students,” she said. “I love that he’s promoting mental health. It’s such a beautiful thing.”

Ba also was recognized as the undergraduate recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award. The other award honorees were Rhesa Teesdale ’23, MSEL’24, CEO, Prophet | Envoy (graduate); Elissa Kalver ’09, founder and CEO, WeGotThis.org (alumni); Michele Brown Kerrigan, assistant professor of practice in the Management Division (faculty); and Lorien Romito, senior director of international education (staff).

— Eric Beato

‘COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP’: Board of Trustees Honored with National Award

BABSON RUGBY Wins Second National Title

The Babson College Board of Trustees was honored as one of the four recipients of the 2024 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB).

“While we have long known and appreciated the commitment and leadership of our Board of Trustees, it is a special moment to see this sought-after award bestowed upon them,” Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD said. “This important recognition is a testament to their enduring legacy at Babson.”

In accepting the honor at a presentation in February, Chair of the Board Jeffery Perry ’87, P’23 praised the College’s trustees and leadership. “This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of Babson’s leadership, reflecting our commitment to advancing the mission of the College,” he said. “As Chair of the Board, I greatly appreciate the dedication of our trustees, who contribute in many ways to guide the institution toward greatness. ”

At the presentation, Mary Papazian, executive vice president of the AGB, commended the board for leading in a time when many are questioning higher education’s value proposition, noting that Babson is countering all market trends. “The Nason Award selection committee believes that the Babson College Board of Trustees’ courageous leadership, commitment to best practices, and elevation of student success make it a model for other colleges and universities nationwide,” she said.

Under the leadership of Perry since 2021, the Babson board has helped the College to reach new heights, including surpassing the $500 million mark in campaign fundraising and being recognized as the 10th best college in the country by The Wall Street Journal.

The Board of Trustees also elected five new members in October: Philip Boulton ’97, P’28, Ryusuke Honjo MBA’99, Audrey McLoghlin, and two new recent graduate trustees: Martha Buckley MBA’23 and Corey O’Neill ’22.

The Babson United Rugby Club faced a daunting challenge in Houston, trailing by 3 points with mere minutes left in the championship game for small colleges. The Beavers then began marching down the length of the field. Finally, in front of the Wayne State goal, the ball popped out of a ruck, and back row Charles Price ’27 scooped it up, weaved through opposing players, and scored a try, sealing a historic victory for Babson, 27-23.

With the stunning finish, Babson won its second national championship of the year and secured its place among other top rugby programs. “We are the best small college rugby team in the USA, unequivocally,” Babson head coach Carrick Pell said.

Babson claimed its first title of 2023 last spring, when it won the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Small College National 7s championship. In December, Babson added the NCR Small College 15s title.

Fly-half Reed Santos ’24 (pictured above), who has played professional rugby, was named tournament MVP. “The lightning bolt for the team’s success on the pitch is Reed Santos,” Pell said. Meanwhile, center Jack Byszio ’27 received the Heart and Soul Award, presented to the player who exemplifies those traits.

After winning two national titles in a year, Santos praised the leadership of Pell, Babson’s loyal rugby alumni, and rugby advisor Len Green, a longtime Babson entrepreneurship professor. — John Crawford

Babson College accepted the award in a presentation that included (from left) Edward Cullinane, manager, governance affairs; Kelly Lynch, senior vice president; President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD; Mary Papazian, executive vice president, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges; and Chair of the Board Jeffery Perry ’87, P’23.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS : Professional Attire Program Empowers Students

A polished, professional outfit has long been connected to confidence and a corner office, and Babson created a new fund to ensure that every student has access to professional clothing.

Babson’s Professional Attire Program, which began in January, is available for any student who has a presentation or interview and can’t afford professional business clothing. The fund is available through the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) program of the Hoffman Family Undergraduate Center for Career Development (CCD).

“The Professional Attire Program will empower students to confidently and genuinely present themselves in professional settings,” said Larinda Cole, senior associate director of IDEA.

The idea for the fund came from students during a Back to Babson discussion in 2022, according to Gerri Randlett, assistant vice president of alumni engagement and annual giving. “They had peers who did not

have money to buy clothes for class presentations, interviews, or jobs,” she said. “They hoped that we could create a closet on campus that would have items they could select when needed.”

Randlett discovered that a closet would present too many logistical issues. She discussed the idea with Angel Long, director of the Office of Student Engagement, and Ann McAdam Griffin, director of CCD, and the Professional Attire Program eventually was born.

The fund quickly grew to $15,000, a large chunk of which came from Rick Blackshaw ’85, president of HEYDUDE, a division of Crocs. Blackshaw also has worked at Keds, Sperry, and Timberland.

The Professional Attire Program now works with Hyde, the professional dress service that works with other colleges, as its preferred retail partner to provide complimentary professional styling and consultations to outfit students, taking into account different industries.

— Hillary Chabot

BRAVA!

World-renowned soprano Karen Slack treated Babson to an inspiring performance of her critically acclaimed opera recital, Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice, accompanied by pianist Kamilla Arku, as the culmination of a weeklong intensive residency program in March that included a master class and a career discussion on personal branding.

Lawrence P. Ward Appointed to the NCAA’s Board of Governors

Lawrence P. Ward, Babson College’s vice president and dean of campus life, has been appointed to the board of governors of the NCAA, the organization’s highest governing body.

The board is made up of 16 members, including a number of college presidents, as well as graduated student-athletes and NCAA president Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts.

Ward’s one-year term on the board began in January. “I have long admired student-athletes,” Ward said, “especially those that compete in Division III at highly selective institutions like Babson College.”

The board of governors provides strategic planning for the NCAA, which governs intercollegiate

athletics at roughly 1,100 colleges across the United States. Nearly half a million athletes participate in NCAA sports. The board also initiates and settles litigation, provides oversight of the NCAA’s budget, and employs the NCAA president.

“Our student-athletes compete with passion and integrity for the love of their sport, their teammates, and their institution,” Ward said. “So, I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to advocate for their interests, development, safety, and overall wellbeing at the highest level of influence at the NCAA.”

As Ward sits on the board, he also will serve as chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council. He was appointed to the council in 2021 and is now in his final year of a four-year term there.

RISING IMPACT: What It Means to Be a Fulbright Scholar from Babson

For Sinan Erzurumlu (pictured above, center), his experience as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar was everything he hoped for and more. The professor of innovation and operations management at Babson College spent the fall semester abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he enjoyed researching sustainability, rich cultural exchange, and a traditional family Christmas party.

Erzurumlu’s Fulbright grant is just the latest for Babson College, which was named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the second year in a row by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The recognition is given to the U.S. colleges and universities with the highest number of applicants selected for the 2023–2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Erzurumlu, who moved with his family in August and returned in December, was based at Copenhagen Business School (CBS). He shared his thoughts on the Fulbright Scholarship and the experience.

Read the complete Q&A at babson.edu/fulbrightQA.

What did it mean to you to receive the Fulbright Scholarship?

“For me, the Fulbright Scholarship is important in two regards. First, it is a confirmation of doing leading research in sustainability. … Second, it is a recognition by two countries that my work can increase the mutual understanding between the people of two countries and serve as a cultural connector for many years beyond the grant period. I also cherish this partnership with my host country to examine the intercultural aspects of

sustainable systems and sustainability transformation. I am humbled and honored to be recognized for my work and its potential impact and accepted as a Fulbright Scholar for serving as a cultural ambassador.”

How was your experience in Denmark?

“Besides working on my research agenda, I took advantage of everything CBS could offer. CBS has a highly active scholarly environment, and Denmark and the European Union have different sustainability initiatives that we could learn a lot from. Also, my family and I enjoyed participating in Danish traditions and visiting cultural and recreational activities around Copenhagen and Denmark. It was nice to get immersed in the Nordic culture.”

As a faculty member, what does the Fulbright Top Producing Institution recognition mean to the College?

“It proves that Babson’s impact is rising, and we have creative and entrepreneurial minds on campus. The Babson community is producing great work and building cultural connections. I strongly believe that to deal with complex issues on hand, we need to learn how to come together and listen to understand each other’s perspectives. That is what an entrepreneur does, assembling the right resources for the right outcomes and impact, and acting with a learning mindset. Fulbright serves that mission, and it is amazing to hear that Babson has a strong and active community of entrepreneurial leaders.”

Cheryl Kiser Earns Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

Cheryl Kiser, the founding executive director of the Institute for Social Innovation at Babson, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Education in December by Vibha, a nonprofit committed to increasing the learning levels in public elementary schools in India. Kiser was honored for her immense contributions to the social impact and education landscape, including her visionary leadership at the Institute for Social Innovation and for her commitment to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Best Undergraduate Business Profs

Two Babson associate professors—Anjali Bal in the Marketing Division, and Erik Noyes in the Entrepreneurship Division— were named to Poets & Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors of 2023. Babson was one of 14 institutions with multiple faculty members selected from more than 650 nominations for the sixth edition of the list.

Pair of Awards for Public Safety

Babson Chief of Police Erin Carcia and Officer Justin Stiles were honored by the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (MACLEA). Carcia received the Ralph Avery Leadership Development Award, and Stiles received the MACLEA award for “administrative initiative to combat crime, improve efficiency or significantly improve public safety by the development of an innovative program.”

Honors for College Marketing

Babson’s College Marketing department earned a host of honors for its creative and strategic work, including two Platinum MarCom Awards (for Integrated Marketing and the College’s strategic communications campaign) from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, and eight gold awards at the Education Digital Marketing Awards.

A Real-World Perspective on Real Estate

Erin Degnan Escobedo utilizes her expertise and engaged alumni to build real estate curriculum

Associate Professor of Practice

Erin Degnan Escobedo, the George E. Slye ’53 Term Chair in Real Estate Management, has used her expertise as a real estate attorney and licensed broker to create new learning opportunities for Babson students.

A practicing attorney since 2004, Escobedo began her career in Florida, where she held a series of roles representing developers, lenders, and home builders. This period gave her a front-row seat to both the real estate boom and the 2007 collapse of the housing market. “When the real estate tides began turning, Florida was among the rst,” Escobedo says.

In time, she began teaching law and business students at the college level and joined the Finance Division at Babson in 2017, charged with expanding the real estate course offerings. She and Associate Professor of Practice Paul Griesmer began by talking with real estate professionals, including Babson graduates, about the knowledge students need to succeed in the eld. Since then, Escobedo has created and launched four new courses and completely redesigned a fth. Two new real estate transactions courses are modeled on a course she took as a law student at Georgetown, taught by two working real estate attorneys who inspired Escobedo to enter the eld.

As both an attorney and licensed broker, Escobedo aims “to infuse the real estate curriculum with a realworld perspective, a practitioner approach.” In addition to sharing her experiences and published case studies, she also invites real estate professionals, including many

Babson graduates, such as Babson Trustee Amanda Strong ’87, to speak to her classes. “Babson alumni who work in real estate have been really instrumental to our success and growth as a program,” Escobedo says. For example, guest lecturers in the real estate transactions courses regularly discuss their current projects, sharing nancial statements and details about investment returns, allowing students to experience and learn from realworld scenarios.

“It’s really this eye-opening experience for students,” she says. “I hope to inspire the next set of people to say, ‘I’d love to go into real estate.’ ” Even if they do not choose that path, courses such as the residential real estate class prepare students to make savvy decisions when they purchase their own homes, she adds.

The curriculum continues to grow; Escobedo is currently developing a real estate capstone course built around hands-on learning opportunities such as internships. Her ultimate goal is to establish a real estate institute on campus, which she says would strategically align well with Babson’s existing centers and institutes.

Students are enthusiastic about these new offerings. This spring, Escobedo is teaching approximately 160 students in four real estate classes, and almost all of the real estate courses had a waiting list. She points to a “robust” and engaged network of alumni in real estate and active student real estate clubs, “which have really exploded and reinvigorated.” Escobedo says, “There’s a momentum happening right now.”

— Erin O’Donnell

Associate Professor of Practice Erin Degnan Escobedo has created and launched four new real estate courses.

Small Talk with TEMI BA JULAIYE

As a track and field athlete at SUNY-Binghamton, Temi Bajulaiye discovered how to channel his creativity and love of sports into a career as a multimedia storyteller. He served as an intern at Binghamton, FloSports, and, after earning his economics degree, at Penn State. Now, as the marketing and new media specialist, Bajulaiye brings a big-school approach to Babson Athletics’ storytelling efforts on social media and beyond. “Babson is unique in that most Division III schools don’t really have the position that I have,” he says, “and I get time to do the creative stuff that Division I schools have.”

What’s your favorite part of your role?

“I try not to miss a home game unless there’s another home game at the same time. My favorite part is connecting with student-athletes and shooting video, so that’s why I prefer road games to home games. By going to the road games, student-athletes see you want to be here. Because you get that connection and relationship with them, when it comes to trying to tell their stories, they’re willing to share information, they’re willing to be their authentic self, and it makes these pieces better. When you’re around a team, when you understand their culture, their vibe, then you can put that into the video so it actually re ects the program.”

How do you manage capturing and editing so much content?

“My rst year here, I thought I was a Superman and I didn’t need help. But I learned quickly that having a team is huge. Now, we have a team of nine student-workers, who are creative content producers. Some do photos, some do videos, some do both. Some make graphics. My rule of thumb is you can do anything you want as long as it helps. It doesn’t have to be something we’re already doing. It can be something new. You can create your own path.”

What reactions do you hear about your multimedia storytelling?

“The best and most gratifying reaction is from alumni who say, ‘Wait, why didn’t we do this when we were here?’ It means that they’re engaged in what we’re doing and they like what it is. That’s all you can ask for because our audience is the alumni, the current athletes, the parents.”

— Eric Beato

The Ripple Effect of Scholarships

Story by Eric Beato Photos by Nic Czarnecki

The true impact of scholarships extends far beyond the initial financial benefit, creating entrepreneurial leaders determined to change more than their own lives. Here, six current scholarship recipients share their stories.

Scholarship recipients (from left) Mpho Montsho ’24, Madison Grogan ’24, Colby Martel ’24, Dominique Miles MBA’24, Luz Torres-Huerta ’24, and Nate Herring ’24

They come from New England, Atlanta, Dallas, and Southern California. They come from big cities and small towns across the country. And they come from small villages in South Africa.

They come with ambition and drive. They come with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. And they come with their hopes and dreams.

They are Babson College scholarship recipients.

“and I think that education is the main way to change somebody’s life.”

Ask recipients about their scholarship’s impact, and it’s not long before they call it “life changing.” Ask them about the moment they received the scholarship, and some liken it to winning the lottery, others a simple sense of relief that college—and more speci cally, a Babson education— would even be possible. They recognize it as much more than a gift, though; they see it as

I’m always going be grateful, because  it literally changed the course of my life.

— Luz Torres-Huerta ’24, Roger and Rosemary Enrico Dallas Scholar

Scholarships are an important component of the Babson experience—for students and for the College. They help level the playing eld, removing or lessening the nancial burden to ensure Babson enrolls the most quali ed students regardless of economic circumstances, creating a holistically diverse campus.

Scholarships help the College’s continued commitment to meeting 100% of undergraduate students’ demonstrated nancial need in their rst year. That commitment increases opportunities for more rst-generation students and for highly talented international students through the need-based Global Scholars Program.

Currently, 461 students—undergraduate and graduate—attend Babson due, at least in part, to the nancial support provided by donor-funded scholarships. There are nearly 200 need- and merit-based scholarships funded by the College and by donors— alumni and others—committed to investing in the future through higher education.

“Education is the number one way to change your status, to reach whatever you want to achieve,” says Madison Grogan ’24, one of the inaugural Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholars,

an investment in them and their future.

“Somebody believes in you, probably more than you did yourself,” says Luz Torres-Huerta ’24, a Roger and Rosemary Enrico Dallas Scholar. “In that sense, I’m always going be grateful, because it literally changed the course of my life.”

The impact ripples beyond their time and experiences at Babson, propelled with a shared sense of responsibility to give back, changing not only their lives but also those around them.

“I was given an incredible opportunity that changed my life,” Grogan says. “So, I consider it my duty to try to pass that on in the future.”

They come to Babson as eager and grateful students who are determined to maximize their gift and pursue every opportunity that otherwise would not have been afforded to them. They depart as entrepreneurial leaders empowered and inspired to impact their communities and the world.

In these pages, we present the stories of six exemplary Babson students whose lives have been impacted by their scholarship. As these six scholars graduate this spring, their stories—and their impact—will continue to ripple far into the future.

Born and raised in a village two hours west of Johannesburg, South Africa, Mpho Montsho ’24 knows the importance of access and opportunity.

MPHO MONTSHO ’24

After high school, he attended the African Leadership Academy for highpotential young leaders on the continent, which provided “access to the right circles, the right rooms, the right people” and put him on a path to attend college in the United States.

Seeking a “monomaniacal focus” on entrepreneurship and nance and a community-based education, Montsho discovered Babson, which awarded him a full-tuition scholarship as part of the Global Scholars Program. It was exactly the opportunity and access he needed.

“For me and for my mom, it was a moment of relief,” Montsho says. “As a result of the scholarship, just having to focus on my mind and being active in this community, it has really ampli ed who I am as an individual.”

His fellow Global Scholars provided a built-in support system— “co-conspirators and allies,” he calls them—especially during his rst few weeks on campus when “I experienced a huge culture shock,” he says. Montsho adapted quickly and has thrived on campus the past four years. He found his greatest enjoyment in the Babson College Fund.

“It has really built the con dence in me to be a really good analyst going to Wall Street,” says Montsho, who interned at Credit Suisse last summer and is headed to Deutsche Bank as an investment banker after graduation.

Global Scholar

Being selected for the Global Scholars Program, he says, allowed him to focus on two things: “How do I maximize this experience, and how do I open the door for somebody close to me?”

He has accomplished both. Because of his experience and the nancial freedom afforded by his scholarship, his sister, Masego Montsho MSF’24, enrolled at Babson last fall and will earn her master’s in nance in May. “It’s been a real full-circle moment for me,” Montsho says. “The narrative of our family does not end here. It has a ripple effect.”

It’s a leap worth taking, he says, because the Global Scholars Program continues to open doors.

‘SPACES TO SUCCEED’

“What we do know is that once we are in these rooms,” Montsho says, “we’ve got the mental aptitude to perform, we’ve got the mental aptitude to add value, and we can seek out those spaces to succeed.”

Watch Babson

Blank Leadership Scholar

MADISON

GROGAN ’24

Madison Grogan ’24 had already committed to Babson before receiving the phone call that changed not only her life but also her perspective.

Originally awarded a half-tuition Presidential Scholarship, Grogan accepted even though she wasn’t sure how to meet the nancial needs. Then the Southern California native was invited to be one of the inaugural Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholars. Created as part of a $50 million gift by Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98 in 2019, the scholarship program provided not only full tuition but also a unique opportunity.

“Being a Blank Leadership Scholar means being a part of the next generation of leaders who believe in the importance of leading by values,” Grogan says. “This scholarship has changed my perspective on business, pushing me to prioritize personal happiness and values over salary and prestige.”

The rst cohort of scholars played an integral role in forging the program at the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, brainstorming ideas to incorporate Blank’s six core values and offering input on projects such as the Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village. “We helped set the stage for what it would become,” she says.

‘CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE’

One of the other valuable highlights was Entrepreneurial Leadership Field Studies, a class created by Professor Jeffrey P. Shay ’87, MBA’91 speci cally for Blank Leadership Scholars, who wrote case studies informed by their access to entrepreneurs and values-based leaders.

Among her accomplishments, Grogan studied abroad in London her junior year and served as a mentor for both Babson Summer Study and Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship. “I’ve been trying to take advantage of every opportunity given to me,” she says.

In the fall, Grogan will join FTI Consulting in Denver, where she interned last summer. It’s the next step in a journey shaped by Blank’s and Babson’s values. “I’m always going to be looking for opportunities where I can not only nd happiness for myself, but I’m going to be empathetic to those around me, and I’m going to try to lift up my work environment,” she says.

The perspective and opportunities are a product of her scholarship, she says. “It’s really changed my life. I can follow my heart and what I want to do.”

Nate Herring ’24 was at a crossroads without a compass. He had studied nursing for four years, while attending a vocational high school in Spring eld, Massachusetts, but decided he wasn’t passionate about medicine.

“I was lost on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” he says. “Being a rst-gen student, I didn’t have many resources at home, so I often didn’t go to my parents for anything.”

Herring turned to a support system he built at school, and an advisor suggested he apply to Babson. He got in but was worried about the nances—until he was awarded the Weissman Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship established in 2008 by Robert (Bob) Weissman ’64, H’94, P’87 ’90, G’19, his wife, Janet P’87 ’90, G’19, and their family. “It was just surreal, and I had felt like I won the lottery,” he says. “It was almost magical.”

NATE HERRING ’24

The Weissman Scholarship provided more than just the direction he sought. “It was a big culture shock coming here, and it took a little time to adjust to,” he says, “but with the other Weissman Scholars, I found myself within their community. I’ve come to call Babson my second home.”

At Babson, Herring served as a resident assistant, made the Dean’s List, and earned the 2022 Heather Maloy Award. He completed a concentration in nance but also is interested in operations, and he’s exploring rotational development programs after graduation.

Most importantly, his world opened in ways he hardly dreamed possible. Before Babson, he had never been on an airplane or traveled outside New England. At Babson, he spent a semester studying abroad in Milan, living with a host family for four months. “It was very scary, but also very exciting,” he says. “Aside from the studies inside the classroom, I got to learn a whole new culture and see sights abroad, and that was wonderful.”

It was a transformational experience he credits to the Weissman Scholarship.

“It has given me a sense of belonging, passion, and freedom,” he says. “Prior to the scholarship, I didn’t think I’d ever make it this far. It has opened so many new doors, it’s given me so many new perspectives, and I am just eager to get out into the world and make a difference.”

Weissman Scholar

‘BELONGING, PASSION, AND FREEDOM’

DOMINIQUE MILES MBA’24

Frank & Eileen Scholar

For Dominique Miles MBA’24, her scholarship is particularly personal.

After earning her undergraduate degree from Bentley, the Atlanta native started a notary service for loan closings. The startup business was successful, but she wanted to make a bigger impact. “I thought business school would be a way to open my eyes to different things,” she says. So, she focused on an MBA from Babson, if she could receive a full scholarship.

Enter the Frank & Eileen Female Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship. Miles was selected by Babson as the inaugural recipient, and once on campus, she struck up a relationship with Frank & Eileen founder Audrey McLoghlin, who now sits on the Babson Board of Trustees.

Their mutual admiration grew as they met on campus and at Frank & Eileen of ces in Los Angeles. On International Women’s Day 2023, Miles spoke alongside McLoghlin at the naming ceremony for the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL), a commitment by McLoghlin to invest more to support women entrepreneurs like Miles. “She’s super intentional about why she gave this money and what she wanted to do,” Miles says, “and I always want to make sure I am giving back as much as I’ve been given. I feel a sense of obligation.”

Now the co-president of the Black Graduate Club, Miles participated in the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program and was the lone graduate student participating in a case study of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, hosted by F&E CWEL. The experience had a major impact on Miles, who was born in Oklahoma. “It was wild that I even got the opportunity,” she says.

She also serves as an analyst on Babson’s Private Equity Committee, providing input on managing the College’s endowment. After graduation, Miles will be a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs, where she interned last summer.

‘SOMEONE IN MY CORNER’

“Life is different now,” she says. And so is Miles. The change was obvious to McLoghlin when they met on campus in February. Miles recalls how McLoghlin told her, “Your life has changed so much from when I met you less than two years ago. The change is profound.”

Miles credits the change to the opportunity afforded by the scholarship funded by McLoghlin. “It’s meant a lot to me. The whole time I felt like I had someone in my corner,” Miles says. “I wanted to make her proud and expand whatever she was giving to me 20 times more.”

Colby Martel ’24 now has 1,200 Rubik’s Cubes in his residence hall room—a symbol of both accomplishment and appreciation. As a recipient of the Rick and Sandy Sorenson Endowed Scholarship for the Arts, Martel and his fellow scholars showcase their artistic work in an annual spotlight. In his rst two years, Martel created an autobiographical video with drawings and a short documentary about stretching beyond his comfort zone. Last year, though, he used his Rubik’s Cubes to create colorful mosaic murals—8 feet tall and 6 feet wide each—of more than 20 friends and mentors as a gesture of gratitude.

“I would not be where I am today without so many of these impactful mentors and friends,” he says. “And, the reactions are just always so awesome to capture and share with other people.”

Martel has used his creativity to inspire people since he was a kid in New Hampshire who dabbled in drawing. His interest in art dwindled in high school until he discovered a skill for creating social media videos. Needing nancial support for college, he discovered the Sorenson Arts Scholarship, which was the deciding factor to attend Babson, because “I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship and continue with a creative career.”

Martel didn’t waste time on campus. “I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity to get involved,” says Martel, who was elected a Student Government Association (SGA) senator as a rst-year student, then a vice president as a sophomore. This year, he is president of the Campus Activities Board. “I realized that visual media would be the most impactful way to inspire change.”

The Sorenson Arts Scholarship helped not only fuel his artistic interests but also carve out a creative career. He started a YouTube channel, rst posting SGA videos weekly before creating videos from other college campuses. His rst non-Babson video drew 5 million views, emboldening his creative and business pursuits. Now, he makes videos for companies such as Starbucks and American Eagle, and his YouTube channel has more than 400,000 subscribers.

After graduation, Martel plans to continue growing his social media brand with a goal to showcase content in an entertaining, educational way that inspires people.

“It’s been the ideal platform to satisfy my passions.”

COLBY MARTEL ’24

‘A CREATIVE CAREER’

Watch Babson

Unscripted: Colby Martel ’24

When Luz Torres-Huerta ’24 was a junior in high school, she dreamed of attending a prestigious college out of state. “It was something that I aspired to,” she says. As a rst-generation student with limited resources, though, she thought her options might be limited to a handful of local public universities.

A high school counselor recommended three top schools to match her interest in business. Babson was at the top of the list. She was accepted but couldn’t afford to attend— until she received the Roger and Rosemary Enrico Dallas Scholarship, established by Roger Enrico ’65, H’86 and his wife, Rosemary, to provide full-tuition, need-based scholarships for economically disadvantaged students from Dallas-area public schools.

The “completely life-changing” scholarship has opened unforeseen opportunities—on campus and beyond. “I wouldn’t have had the experiences here at any other school, and it wouldn’t have happened without my scholarship,” Torres-Huerta says. “It broadened my horizons to know that I can be at a place like this.”

At Babson, she has committed herself to making a difference, living at both GIVE Tower and the HealthyLiving Tower. As a Natalie Taylor Scholar—the Institute for Social Innovation program that incorporates service and social change into academic and cocurricular experiences—she taught entrepreneurship to the Boys & Girls Club of Boston as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, and her nal project is focused on rst-generation college students.

Torres-Huerta also studied abroad—a week in Spain last spring, and six weeks each in Berlin and Singapore last fall. In addition to the academic and cultural opportunities, the experiences opened her eyes in other ways, especially after meeting Babson alumni. “It was really empowering to see the Babson footprint across the world,” she says.

After graduation, Torres-Huerta is returning to Dallas as a risk management analyst at Citibank, where she interned last summer. “Being able to work in my hometown holds special signi cance for me,” she says.

She will return home a different person. “All of this changes you in very meaningful ways,” she says. “I’ve become a more well-rounded person. It pushed me to try my best and continue to give back to others, give back to my Babson community, and give back to my community back home.”

‘BROADENED

HORIZONS’ Enrico Dallas Scholar

SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS

Scholarships provide opportunity, which endures long beyond scholars’ time at Babson. And, that impact is made possible by the College’s commitment—powered by the generosity of alumni and other donors—to assisting and rewarding high-potential students through both need- and merit-based scholarships.

$49M

in need-based aid and merit-based institutional scholarships awarded to undergraduate students in 2023–2024

$110,683,521 committed to scholarships during the Centennial/ELevates Campaign*

461 current individual students on donor-funded scholarships in 2023–2024

$14M in institutional scholarships awarded to graduate students in 2023–2024

214 undergraduate students from the Class of 2027 demonstrated financial need

* As of March 25, 2024.

182 current donor-funded scholarships in 2023–2024

131 new scholarships established during the Centennial/ELevates Campaign*

$43,355

Average need-based institutional grant for the Class of 2027

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS

You can contribute to the long-lasting impact of scholarships with a donation today.

SCENES FROM

Three minutes. Three slides. It’s simple yet exhilarating. It’s fast and frenzied. And, it’s a Babson rite of passage for many student and alumni entrepreneurs.

It’s Rocket Pitch. For more than 20 years, the signature event of The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship has provided entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to pitch their endeavors and collect real-time feedback, ideas, and connections. It’s a proven process to improve pitches and fuel ventures.

Rocket Pitch this year featured 56 entrepreneurs representing 51 ventures presenting simultaneously in four rooms over three hectic hours. For presenters and attendees, it’s a fast-paced exchange of ideas. In this photo essay, we go behind the scenes to illustrate the buzz of excitement and inspiration that boosts Rocket Pitch.

Photos By Nic Czarnecki, Michael Quiet, and John Harmon

THE SETTING » 4 ROOMS

Olin Hall is abuzz with activity long before the first pitch at 5:10 p.m. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff members register then make their way to one of four rooms, each dedicated to a different industry: Consumer Products & Services, Education & Sustainability, Tech & Mobile, and Fashion, Pets & Food. This year, for the first time, first-year students in Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship are required to attend, introducing them to this hallmark Babson experience and the Blank Center. Over the next three hours, attendees will rush from room to room in a rapid succession of entrepreneurial activity.

THE PITCH » 3 MINUTES

Babson’s hallmark Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® comes to life as rapid-fire pitches begin simultaneously in all four rooms. Presenters have been honing their pitches, incorporating feedback from bullpen sessions with the Blank Center and Babson’s acclaimed Speech Center. Now, it’s showtime, and each entrepreneur has just three minutes and three slides to make their pressure-packed pitch pop. The presenters this year include 27 undergraduate students, 20 MBA students, four MSEL students, and two MSBA students, as well as three recent alumni. their

THE FEEDBACK

» 5 MINUTES

After the pitches, the magic begins, as the audience of peers, mentors, and other startup supporters has five minutes to share real-time feedback on the venture and the pitch, offering praise and constructive criticism. No questions are allowed, and presenters cannot respond in order to hone the entrepreneurial leadership skill of listening. There are just two minutes before the next pitches begin, so if you’re switching rooms, move fast. The whirlwind experience repeats over and over, as dozens of entrepreneurs make their pitches and absorb the reaction. In the end, entrepreneurs gain valuable feedback, important connections, and, sometimes, even a potential investor.

Watch Babson Unscripted: Rocket Pitch

TRANSFERS OF POWER

With extra years of eligibility because of the pandemic, graduate transfer students have helped drive Babson’s recent successes.

Will Spangenberg MSEL’23 (right), a transfer from Holy Cross, was one of three graduate transfers on the 2023 men’s lacrosse team that won the program’s first NCAA tournament game.

Inset far right: Jackie Hill MSEL’24, a transfer from Colby College who plays field hockey and softball, is one of 25 graduate transfers competing on 10 Babson teams this academic year.

Success in its simplest form is de ned as an accomplishment, and Babson Athletics has accomplished much on the eld of play, including championships, deep postseason runs, and record-breaking performances.

One recent development helping drive Babson’s successes has been a surge of transfers, particularly graduate students with extra years of athletic eligibility because of the pandemic. This academic year, there are a record 25 graduate transfers competing on 10 Babson teams.

With three graduate transfers, including two from Division I and one from Division III, the eld hockey team returned to the NCAA Final Four in the fall for the rst time since 2016 and second time overall.

Jackie Hill MSEL’24 is one of those student-athletes who have continued their athletic and academic careers at Babson. A transfer from Colby College, Hill plays eld hockey and softball while pursuing her master’s degree.

“I chose Babson because of entrepreneurship while attending a school close to Boston and competing in both sports,” Hill says. “Field hockey and softball are instrumental in my life, and Babson was my opportunity to experience and excel in both sports one nal time.”

Will Spangenberg MSEL’23 was one of three graduate transfers (among seven total transfers) on the 2023 men’s lacrosse team that won the program’s rst NCAA tournament game while advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. After earning his undergraduate degree from Division I Holy Cross, Spangenberg continued his playing career at Babson, where his father, Tom Spangenberg ’83, played lacrosse four years.

“The real value for our transfer group was the added diversity of perspective we brought from other programs,” Spangenberg says. “Sharing our experiences helped our team grow and understand where we were on track and where we needed extra work from an achievement and cultural standpoint.”

For the rst fall season in school history, the eld hockey, women’s volleyball, and both soccer teams all quali ed for their respective NCAA tournaments. Women’s volleyball and men’s soccer had at least one Division I transfer on their teams, while women’s soccer had three the previous year, when they went 14-4-1.

“The perception of D3 athletics has changed for many D1 athletes,” Hill says. “D3 can be just as competitive and

goal oriented as D1. D1 players who seek a well-rounded collegiate experience look at Babson and appreciate the work we do here.”

“From my perspective, there’s a palpable shift in priorities at a Division III school like Babson,” Spangenberg says. “The balance between athletics, academics, and personal growth is more evenly distributed. This doesn’t mean the competition is less erce or the dedication less serious, but there’s a broader perspective embraced.

“This holistic approach fosters a different kind of appreciation for the sport that values the lessons learned through athletics—such as teamwork, resilience, and time management—and how they apply beyond the eld.”

— Scott Dietz

ADV ANCEMENT SPOTLIGHT

‘AN EVERYWHERE INSTITUTION’

By John Crawford

In the vibrant and entrepreneurial setting of Singapore, Babson’s engaged community of alumni, founders, executives, and thought leaders unites for the return of Babson Connect Worldwide, demonstrating the College’s global reach and impact.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD looked out over the crowd.

The Babson College president stood at a podium, speaking in Singapore, the bustling, cosmopolitan island country located more than 9,000 miles, or the equivalent of an 18-hour airline ight, from Babson Park.

Spinelli often talks of the role Babson plays in educating entrepreneurial leaders and the global impact they are making. Those words, however, felt different in Singapore, where Babson was hosting the latest edition of Babson Connect Worldwide, or BCW for short, which Spinelli described as “the premier global summit for entrepreneurs.”

Spinelli’s talk of entrepreneurial leadership, before an engaged group of founders, executives, and thought leaders on the other side of the world, felt even more essential here. The vibrant location and diverse audience seemed to illustrate exactly what he was talking about.

“At Babson, we create entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities

everywhere,” Spinelli told the crowd during BCW’s opening. “Babson Connect Worldwide is core to that strategy. You make us an everywhere institution.”

The globetrotting BCW, which has taken place in locations around the world, touched down in Singapore in February, marking its rst conference since 2021 when BCW went virtual during the pandemic.

For several days in Singapore, nearly 300 attendees from more than

45 countries networked, attended educational sessions, and toured a city-state that proved to be an apt entrepreneurial destination.

“Singapore is a cultural melting pot, much like Babson, rich with traditions and backgrounds and experiences from around the world,” Spinelli said in his remarks. “It is an honor to be with you in such an innovative and inspiring place like Singapore. This is a tting venue for a global entrepreneurship summit.”

Babson Connect Worldwide convened alumni, leaders, and entrepreneurs in the stunning setting of Singapore.

A Fitting Entrepreneurial Setting

The story of Singapore is an entrepreneurial one. “I am very glad that Singapore has a chance to host Babson Connect Worldwide this year,” said Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, who spoke after Spinelli’s opening remarks. “There are many similarities with the Singapore story and the Singapore spirit.”

A former British colony, Singapore became an independent country in 1965. “We are a young nation,” Tan said. At the time of its independence, the country faced tough challenges. It was small, and it had no natural resources. “We had nothing,” Tan said. “The only thing we had were people.”

The country also had what so many successful entrepreneurs possess: grit, a sense of purpose, and perhaps a bit of luck.

“Like many startups, our founding fathers had a belief, a belief that if they worked hard and followed their hearts

and passions, hopefully something will work out,” Tan said.

Today, the country that hosted BCW is marked by a robust, diversi ed economy with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. More than 4,000 tech startups make their home in Singapore. “We are a vibrant startup nation,” Tan said.

That entrepreneurial spirit resonated with BCW attendees. “It was fascinating hearing about the history of Singapore and what an entrepreneurial place it is,” said Ab Igram MBA’96, the executive director of the Tariq Farid Franchise Institute at Babson College. “I think it is perfect we are here to talk about entrepreneurship.”

Talking About Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship was certainly the matter at hand at BCW, which was supported by a number of sponsors, including TN Group, Camus Cognac, Indorama Healthcare, Shruti Lohia

Hora ’98, and Ingrid Prasatya P’19 ’19 ’20. With a theme of Shaping the New Tomorrow, the summit featured sessions on many pertinent topics, such as leadership, sustainability, arti cial intelligence, health care, family entrepreneurship, and women’s entrepreneurship.

Alumni and leaders from around the world served as BCW speakers. They included Khailee Ng, managing partner at 500 Global, a venture capital rm; Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, an Indian retail brokerage platform; and Jacqueline Poh, managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board.

In addition to the array of panels, BCW kicked off with executive education workshops from two Babson faculty: Lauren Beitelspacher, the Ken and Nancy Major Romanzi Senior Term Chair in Marketing, and Scott Taylor, the Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership.

Members of the BCW Advisory Committee (right) and the Board of Trustees (below)

See highlights and photos from BCW.

“It broadens your horizon listening to speakers’ stories and their entrepreneurial path,” said Wilma Miranda ’89, a CPA, who has attended every BCW since the rst one in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2015.

Global Connections

Beyond the entrepreneurial learning, attendees were networking and connecting, not only with old Babson friends but also with people from all over the globe. “The energy to me is the most important part of this event,” Miranda added. “You get to mingle with so many cultures, people from all these countries.”

Babson’s Global Advisory Board, an enthusiastic supporter of BCW, is constantly looking to expand these sorts of global networking opportunities. Cyril

Support Global Scholars Today

Babson Connect Worldwide 2024 learned, a critical part of Babson’s Global Scholars Program, which this year

Camus ’91, P’26, a member of Babson’s Board of Trustees, serves as the Global Advisory Board’s chair. “The Global Advisory Board always gets so involved, so enthused, in being given the opportunity to bring Babson to the world,” Camus said, “and to bring the world to Babson.”

This feeling of openness and connection, in the dynamic citystate of Singapore, made for an inspiring summit that celebrated and empowered the global impact of Babson that Spinelli so often talks about.

“What makes Babson Connect special to me is very simple,” said Harsha Agadi, also a member of Babson’s Board of Trustees. “Unlike in the world where some leaders are de-globalizing, Babson believes in globalizing. And it is connecting the world.” 

full-tuition support to international students, ensuring them access to the exceptional educational opportunities at Babson. These remarkable individuals come from more than 40 countries, bringing with them a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Whether you are an ENTREPRENEUR, A BUSINESS LEADER, AN EDUCATOR, OR A STUDENT, your support and advocacy can make a meaningful difference in the lives of aspiring scholars around the world. Support Global Scholars

NEWS NOTES AND NODS

UNDERGRADUATE

1997

Joshua Lee Smith ’97, a partner at Bowditch & Dewey, was named a Go To Lawyer for Commercial Real Estate by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Involved in many of the most high-profile economic development projects in Central Massachusetts of the past decade, Smith focuses his practice on complex commercial real estate and land-use matters. These include permitting, acquisitions, leasing, financing, and environmental compliance.

Larry Fitzmaurice ’59, who has moved to South Carolina, said he misses his volunteer association with Babson and urges members of his class and other alumni to reach out to him at dorsets4@comcast.net. Fitzmaurice also issued a challenge to his classmates: “Let’s have the Class of 1959 be 100% donors in 2024.”

2005

Megan McGovern ’05 recently started SORT by Megan, LLC, a Wrentham, Massachusetts-based professional organizing business helping people clear clutter at home or in the workplace. McGovern was inspired by the organizational challenges that arose during the pandemic, and she began creating SORT, which stands for Simple, Organized, Repeatable, and Tidy.

2006

Vanessa E. Burrill ’06, vice president of WGB Construction Co., was named to Pro Builder’s list of 40 under 40 innovative leaders representing the future of the housing industry. When it comes to building projects, Burrill “has a full understanding of every aspect of this business and can step up in whatever capacity is needed,” wrote Greg Burrill P’04 ’04 ’06 ’11 ’11, founder and president of WGB Construction Co., who nominated his daughter to the list.

Richard Soo Hoo ’06 was named to the Insurance Business America Hot 100 list for 2024, an annual list that honors insurance professionals who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and significant impact in the industry. Soo Hoo, a founding member of the Sterling Insurance Group of Martha’s Vineyard, was recognized for his exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to the insurance sector.

2012

Jared Shulman ’12, who founded the AIbased lending company Lendica, recently announced the company’s partnership with CSG to create a new product called iBranch. The new product is an embedded financing service that enables small businesses to borrow money from their software vendors rather than traditional financial institutions.

2022

Teddy Sourlis ’22 recently committed full time to running Men’s X Mental, a nonprofit focused on the mental health of male athletes. Sourlis has cultivated a team of pro-bono workers at the nonprofit, and it recently received a generous grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation on Nov. 1.

Abraham Dugal ’06 was named director of investment management at Allen Insurance and Financial of Camden, Maine, where he has been a financial advisor since 2015. He holds FINRA Series 66 and 7 securities licenses and maintains the certified financial planner designation. Dugal lives in Camden with his wife and son.

Justin Drysdale ’04, CEO of Brookfield Properties, won the 2023 NAIOP Deal of the Year award for developing one of the largest e-commerce facilities in New Jersey at almost 1.3 million square feet leased to The Home Depot. The NAIOP is a commercial real estate networking and advocacy organization based in Herndon, Virginia.

Drysdale (right) is pictured with colleague Tyler Mordas (left) and former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

Mario Hernandez ’11 and his brother, Maurizio, created a startup called Knobl, an app that makes it easy to raise money for charities while doing common activities such as playing Fortnite or getting in your daily steps. By integrating with companies such as Fortnite, Apple Health, Tesla, and Spotify, the app allows people to crowdfund while doing daily activities. Thanks to a collaboration with Benevity, fundraisers can donate to their choice of more than 2 million nonprofit organizations. The app was created to empower individuals to turn their everyday actions into opportunities for social impact.

Justin Stoll ’10 married Elisabeth Christino on Sept. 30 in Manchester, Vermont, surrounded by family, friends, and plenty of Babson alumni, including Joseph DiMuccio ’11, Allen Austin ’12, Alex Friedberg ’12, Stephanie Bruso (formerly Burns) ’10, Kyle Natichioni ’07, and Patrick Burns ’12

Arjun Murthy ’15 (left) and Michael Brady ’16 co-founded RightPage, which makes AI-powered software for customer support teams, and recently completed Y Combinator’s summer 2023 program, which was the most competitive batch in its history. Murthy and Brady spent the summer in San Francisco hosted by the American technology startup accelerator, and were mentored by Garry Tan, Y Combinator’s CEO.

DON’ T MISS OUT on the latest news from Babson’s community of entrepreneurial leaders. Subscribe today to our weekly newsletter!

Arushi Chawla ’17 and Revant Khullar ’17 welcomed a son, Ahaan, on June 8, 2023. The couple referred to the newborn as their “beaver pup,” when announcing his arrival.

Sam Barber ’16 and Leanne Tremblay ’16 got married Sept. 3, surrounded by more than 40 fellow Babson alumni, family, friends, and loved ones. The wedding took place on a private island in Casco Bay outside of Portland, Maine. The couple met on their first day at Babson as students gathered to take their official firstyear picture in front of Knight Auditorium. They were photographed together in the class picture and have been inseparable ever since, according to their wedding announcement.

Jose Tcherassi ’22 announced plans to open an exclusive members-only sushi restaurant in Miami that will require a fee of $10,000 to get a seat.

Sushi Namba will be the first restaurant in America headed by renowned sushi chef Hidefumi Namba, who runs Tokyo’s eight-seat, referral-only Sushi Namba. Membership includes access to an American branch of Bar Cocktailante Oboro, another members-only Tokyo hot spot. The restaurant is expected to open later this year.

Nolan Hildebrand ’23 married Hilary Kopp on Sept. 9 in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. Hildebrand starred as goalie on the Babson men’s hockey team and was named the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Krampade All-American Scholar in 2021. He also earned New England Hockey Conference Academic All-Conference honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He finished his career with a 1.88 goals-against average in 34 games (29 starts) with a .931 save percentage, which ranks second and third respectively on Babson’s all-time rankings.

CONNECTIONS

The Babson Club of South Florida and Board of Trustees member Philip Boulton ’97, P’28, president of the Babson Alumni Advisory Board (BAAB), hosted the first Babson Golf Tournament at the Miami Beach Golf Club, followed by a reception hosted by the BAAB. Left to right: Edward Chiu, the Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Senior Vice President for Advancement; Dan Munson ’91; President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD; Ken Munson P’91; Matthew Krasnerman ’14; and Robert Kuftinec ’91

SUNSHINE STATE SWING / Babson alumni and friends gathered together at events in Florida during the annual Sunshine State Swing in March. The Babson Alumni Club of Jacksonville hosted a brunch at the Epping Forest Yacht and Country Club.

Scott Osler ’71, MBA’76 and his wife, Holly Osler, meet Wally the Green Monster, the Boston Red Sox mascot, at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, always a favorite stop on the Sunshine State Swing.

Babson alumni gathered in Naples at Hampton Social, including Babson Governance members Aram Hintlian ’74, MBA’75, GAB and Dorie and Dave Barber ’81, P’16 ’17, GAB

Babson alumni and friends in Tampa—including Delo Baker ’18, Pedro Sarabia ’20, Luis Sarabia, Stan Whitcomb ’61, Emma Tomlin ’16, MS’17, Florenza Minor ’14, Greg Tomlin ’16, Connor Defiore ’15, and McKinna Taylor—cheered the Tampa Bay Lightning to an overtime shootout victory.

GRADUATE

1972

C. M. “Rip” Cunningham Jr. MBA’72 recently published a book, Where the Acorn Falls, that details his childhood in the 1950s in suburban Boston. “It was a great time to grow older,” Cunningham said. “We grew up later.” The book is available at torchflamebooks.com.

1988

Tom Raffio MBA’88, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental, recently published his fourth book, Stories from the Starting Line. Raffio and his wife, Ellen, interviewed more than 60 runners, including Olympic gold medalists, Boston Marathon winners, Mount Washington Road Race champions, weekend warriors, and everyone in between. They compiled the runners’ varied stories to provide insight as to why they love running.

2023

Rodrigo Cavenecia MBA’23 was recently appointed to the board of Dranoff 2 Piano, a nonprofit focused on music and the arts.

Michael O’Neill MBA’86 recently received an award for excellence in urban education leadership in honor of his work as a councilor on the Boston School Committee for the past 15 years. O’Neill, executive vice president at the digital advertising agency Zozimus, received the award from the Council of Great City Schools, a national nonprofit that represents the top 78 urban public K–12 school districts in the country. The organization awarded O’Neill the annual Green-Garner Award for Excellence in Urban Education Leadership in October.

Irene Stern Frielich MBA’91 published a memoir detailing her father’s escape to Holland to survive the Holocaust and her quest decades later to retrace his steps. The book, Shattered Stars, Healing Hearts: Unraveling My Father’s Holocaust Survival Story, is available on Amazon.

Sheetal Acharya MBA’05 was recently named chief of staff to the chief strategy and external affairs officer at National Grid. The role encompasses serving as an advisor to the SEA leadership team and focuses on operations and engagement. She also is the executive sponsor for the Women in Networks Employee Resource Group.

IN MEMORIAM

Gustavo A. Cisneros ’68, H’19, of New York, New York, died Dec. 29. A businessman from Venezuela, he led his family’s company, CISNEROS, for 45 years. He was the first Babson graduate to be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs in 1981, served on Babson’s Board of Overseers, and was awarded the Babson-Camus Global Family Entrepreneurship Award in 2022.

Richard Nichols Cammett ’49, of Groveland, Massachusetts, Sept. 11

James Warren Stevenson ’50, of Wilmington, North Carolina, May 28, 2022

Gordon Scholey Dawson ’51, of Northport, Michigan, March 25, 2022

Richard Edgar Lucas ’51, P’10, of Marion, Massachusetts, Sept. 3

Fred Carl Schneeweiss Jr. ’51, of Old Forge, New York, Jan. 1, 2022

John Balfour Martin ’52, of Wrentham, Massachusetts, May 3, 2022

Edward L. Croke ’53, of Bellingham, Massachusetts,

Feb. 18, 2021

Kenneth D. Elgart ’53, P’90, of Newton, Massachusetts, Jan. 14, 2022

Frederick Penn Westman ’53, of Essex, Massachusetts, Oct. 4

Luis F. Rojas MBA’10 and his teammates won a charity golf tournament while competing as Team Babson on Oct. 16. The highly publicized competition was held in Mexico City and organized by the International Alumni Association of Mexico, an association of MBA schools in Mexico. All tournament proceeds went to FUNED, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to Mexican students who want to earn a graduate degree outside of Mexico.

Executive Edge: The Martial Arts Blueprint for Executives

Brent Earlewine MBA’10 released his book, Executive Edge: The Martial Arts Blueprint for Executives. Earlewine taps into his 35-year journey to attain Master Level in the martial arts to highlight lessons on leadership, personal development, and long-term goal attainment in the book, which is available on Amazon.

William F. Markey Jr. MBA’64, H’09, G’19 ’24, of Osterville, Massachusetts, died Dec. 8. He was actively involved in Babson College long after graduating, serving for many years on the Board of Trustees, including as chairman for six years. He also served on several other Babson committees, such as the fundraising and search committees, and the President’s Society.

Kenneth W. Weeks Jr. ’54, of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Sept. 29

John Kimberly Mumford Dutton ’56, of Cornwall, New York, Dec. 5

Charles William Hedrick Jr. ’56, of Auburn, Maine, Oct. 26

Alan R. Carp ’57, of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Oct. 12

Joseph Meredith Clarke ’57, of Leesburg, Virginia, Dec. 26

Jerome M. Scheckman ’57, of New York, New York, Sept. 18

Donald Leo McCarthy MBA’57, of Fairfax, Virginia, Nov. 11

Stephen Ryder Parkhurst MBA’57, of Peabody, Massachusetts,

Jan. 18

Donald H. Bornstein ’58, of Nevada City, California, Dec. 5, 2021

Ralph A. Brown ’58, of Fairhaven, Connecticut, Nov. 15

Paul G. Schilling MBA’74, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, died Oct. 17. Schilling coached the Babson men’s hockey team for five seasons (1970–1975) and the men’s lacrosse team for three seasons (1971–1974). He was a star hockey player at Boston College and played for Team USA in 1970–1971 and minor league hockey with the Lowell Chiefs for two years.

Eugene Peter Collatz ’58, MBA’59, of Nantucket, Massachusetts, March 3, 2023

John Peter McCurdy ’58, of Lubec, Maine, Oct. 28

William A. Woodcock ’58, of Sherborn, Massachusetts,

Dec. 23

Thomas Leo Callahan Jr. ’59, of Westfield, Massachusetts, Nov. 15

Mark Simcha Dronge ’59, of Tenafly, New Jersey, May 11, 2022

Richard D. Wardell ’59, of Salisbury, Connecticut, Oct. 21

Emerson Donald White ’59, of Placida, Florida, Oct. 29

George Rutledge Doran ’60, of Stratham, New Hampshire, Aug. 26

Anthony James Tiberii Jr. ’61, of Salem, New Hampshire, Oct. 18

Daniel McCann MBA’62, of Worcester, Massachusetts, Dec. 6

Richard Rodgers Sorensen ’63, of Westerly, Rhode Island, Oct. 27

David S. Freedman ’64, of Waltham, Massachusetts, June 26, 2021

Arthur Wayne Roberts ’64, of Jefferson, Vermont, Oct. 13

Julian Charles Schwab ’64, of Montgomery, Ohio, July 8

Peter Suydam Hendrickson ’65, of Babylon, New York, Feb. 20, 2023

Stuart M. Miller ’65, of Branford, Connecticut, June 15, 2021

James J. Boutilier ’66, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Feb. 1

Wayne M. Chapman ’66, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, Dec. 14, 2021

William H. Geller III ’66, MBA’72, of Braintree, Massachusetts, Oct. 11

Martin V. Murphy ’66, of Falmouth, Maine, Aug. 21

Bernardt J. Vogel MBA’17, the first venture capitalist from Nicaragua, was nominated as a 2023 National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) rising star. He currently serves as a senior associate at VU Venture Partners and holds the role of venture analyst at New World Angels, showcasing his deep commitment to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also writes about tech and VC in his Substack newsletter, Curious Compass, with more than 7,000 subscribers.

Stephen Patrick Hayes MBA’66, of Marion, Massachusetts, Sept. 22

Robert Graham King ’67, MBA’74, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Sept. 15

Retired Capt. Dene Brian Stratton MBA’67, of Camby, Indiana, Oct. 18

William J. Mason ’68, of Jensen Beach, Florida, Feb. 14, 2021

Daniel Ralph Steiger ’68, of Greenville, North Carolina, April 17, 2022

David S. Paul MBA’68, of Belchertown, Massachusetts, Jan. 17

Retired Col. William Tunstall Rogerson MBA’68, of Windcrest, Texas, Oct. 8

Eugene Paul Osborne Jr. ’69, MBA’73, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, July 8

Alvin Barry Yarsin ’69, of Ponte Vedra, Florida, Dec. 13, 2022

David K. Harmon ’70, of Tucson, Arizona, Dec. 23

Mark Steven Azia MBA’70, of Menlo Park, California, July 10, 2021

Jeffrey Brown ’71, of New York, New York, Jan. 16

Tomas V. Rodriguez ’71, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Jan. 15

Steven George Woodward ’71, of West Reading, Pennsylvania, Oct. 5

William J. Mahoney MBA’71, of Cape Coral, Florida, June 17

Edward F. Manion MBA’71, of Grafton, Massachusetts, Nov. 2

Richard L. Heinrich ’72, of Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Nov. 28

Richard Arthur Meyer ’72, of Orlando, Florida, Aug. 12

Shivam Lohiya MBA’23 recently launched LilacMosaic Technologies Pvt Ltd, a company looking to redefine the way wedding planners curate and organize weddings around the world. The company, founded by Lohiya and employing six people, will use cutting-edge technology to make wedding planning more efficient, enjoyable, and personalized. “My time at Babson College provided us with the foundation and inspiration to embark on this entrepreneurial journey,” Lohiya said.

William Robert Goyette MBA’72, of Venice, Florida, March 17, 2021

Ernest J. Benoit Jr. MBA’73, of Webster, Massachusetts, Oct. 6

Ronald J. Kanne MBA’73, of Madison, Alabama, Jan. 16, 2021

Kevin Kelley MBA’73, of Naples, Florida, Nov. 25

Joseph Z. Zdrok MBA’73, of Vero Beach, Florida, Dec. 26

Clark Easterly Jr. ’74, P’96, of Saratoga Springs, New York, Sept. 30

Bruce David Hambro MBA’74, of Brookline, Massachusetts, Dec. 29

Dale Arthur Misner MBA’74, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nov. 18, 2022

Andris E. Spura MBA’74, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Jan. 30

Lee Evan Weber MBA’74, of Mesa, Arizona, Dec. 14, 2021

Alison J. Alessi ’75, MBA’76, of Quincy, Massachusetts, Nov. 20

Peter Worthing Titus ’75, of Brightwaters, New York, Feb. 7, 2022

Retired Col. Mark Andrew Beerthuis MBA’75, of Alexandria, Virginia, Sept. 6

Douglas Graham McCaskey ’76, of Fairfield, Connecticut, Sept. 28

Pierre Osrik Agnew MBA’76, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, Nov. 22, 2020

Robert L. Bendiske MBA’76, of East Hampton, Connecticut, July 1, 2021

Brian William Longval ’77, of Conway, Massachusetts, Dec. 4, 2020

Fredda Lynn Rago ’77, of Wethersfield, Massachusetts, April 8, 2021

ALUMNI NEWS is in demand!

To accommodate news and photos from as many alumni as possible, please limit entries and photo captions to 50 words or less.

Babson Magazine has two requirements for Alumni News photos: The submitting alum must be in the photo, and the image must be at least 4 x 6 inches at 300 dpi—no digital alterations, please. We can’t promise that all submitted photos will run, but we’ll include as many as possible. Submit your latest news to the Alumni News Editor at babson.edu/nods.

Ellen Kelly Dickson MBA’77, of Delray Beach, Florida, Sept. 24

Alfred Robert Ryan MBA’77, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Sept. 2

Baron Manning Hartley Jr. ’78, of Boston, Massachusetts, Aug. 27

Jack Edward Lewis Jr. ’78, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Nov. 25

Alan Stanley Russell ’78, of North Andover, Massachusetts, Jan. 21

James Charles Miczek MBA’78, of Brookline, Massachusetts, Sept. 23

Edgar John Thomas Jr. MBA’79, of Milford, Massachusetts, Aug. 31

Dorothy M. Hurley ’80, of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, July 29, 2021

Thomas J. Buckley MBA’80, of Andover, Massachusetts, Nov. 21

Sarah Blatz Wilkins MBA’80, of Sherborn, Massachusetts, Jan. 3

Markus T. Krautli ’81, P’12, of Zurich, Switzerland, Oct. 3

William H. Dow MBA’81, of Auburn, New Hampshire, Nov. 15

Peter Michael Foster ’82, of Albany, New York, July 22

Phoebe R. Joseph MBA’83, of Walpole, Massachusetts, Nov. 30

Marion Morey Meenan MBA’83, of Lincoln, Massachusetts, Oct. 9

Nancy Morrison Randolph MBA’83, of Maynard, Massachusetts, Sept. 18

Joseph A. Pond MBA’84, of Framingham, Massachusetts, Dec. 5

George David Myers ’85, MBA’86, of Orlando, Florida, Jan. 11

Karin Lindsay Baere MBA’85, of Nyack, New York, Dec. 15

Salvatore R. Disessa MBA’86, of Lynn, Massachusetts, Jan. 26

Robert Stoddard Webber MBA’88, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, Nov. 21

Eric Kevin Purtee ’90, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sept. 27

Walter Edward Rondeau MBA’91, of Roanoke, Virginia, Aug. 13

Penny Rubin Ericson MBA’93, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, August

Chris John Stakutis MBA’93, of Daytona Beach, Florida, Aug. 22

Tatiana V. Danilenko MBA’95, of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sept. 4

Marvin R. Fischer MBA’96, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Nov. 21

John Patrick Hart ’97, MBA’07, of Concord, New Hampshire, Jan. 18

Stephen A. Sohn, MD, MBA’97, of Newton, Massachusetts, Nov. 15

Kristen L. Grossman MBA’06, of Hingham, Massachusetts, Nov. 21

George Raymond Girardi Jr. MBA’08, of Orange, Massachusetts, Dec. 30

Camila Maria Valdes ’25, of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Nov. 25

Charles Alexander Persons II, of Huron, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2021

New Degree, New Focus Leads to Social Impact

YVONNE WILLIS LYNCH MBA’23 FINDS RENEWED

Yvonne Willis Lynch MBA’23 was looking for a change. After 13 years working at Bright Horizons, a provider of child care and education services, she was thinking of making a pivot in her career. “It was honestly a midlife thing,” she says. “I was approaching 50. I was thinking a lot about how I would approach the latter half of my career.”

Her time at Bright Horizons had been spent on client relations and in operations, but that work no longer felt meaningful. “I was focused on growth. I was focused on revenue generation,” she says. “I just didn’t nd that rewarding anymore. I wanted to focus on something that would make a difference in a different way. I wanted to make a positive impact on the world.”

That need to make a difference led her to Babson. “I was looking for a pivot, and it enabled that pivot,” she says.

At Babson, Lynch relished how conversations about social and environmental impact were a constant, even in classes focused on nitty-gritty business issues. A course on nancial reporting, for instance, leaned into the importance of environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) concerns.

Professors emphasized that all organizations, no matter their industry, need to think about how they treat employees and affect their communities and the environment. “There was always thinking about impact and thinking of impact on the greater world,” Lynch says. “It captured my imagination. It got me excited

about taking on this kind of work.”

At rst, Lynch gured she would earn her MBA and nd a new job, perhaps at a nonpro t or corporate foundation. But then an unexpected opportunity opened at Bright Horizons, so instead of leaving, Lynch was able to make a social impact right at her current place of employment.

That turn of events underlines one of the key messages that Babson imparts, that given the right opportunity, a person can make a social difference wherever they work. “You don’t have to work for a nonpro t to make a real difference in the world,” Lynch says. “You can do it at any company if they have the right approach.”

A

Today, Lynch is the vice president of employee and community engagement and the president of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children. Her responsibilities include overseeing recognition and belonging programs for employees and supporting their volunteerism in the community. Lynch also has provided input into evaluating Bright Horizons’ ESG strategy. While at Babson, she did an

independent study looking at that very kind of ESG work. “I was able to apply what I was learning in real time to Bright Horizons,” she says.

In June, Lynch will mark 17 years at the company, a long, continuing tenure enabled by the help of the College. “There was no better place,” she says, “to prepare myself for this work at Bright Horizons.” — John Crawford

look at entrepreneurial leaders shaped by their Babson College experience.

After 13 years at Bright Horizons, Yvonne Willis Lynch MBA’23 decided to earn an MBA, which helped her to take on a new role.

Earn a degree that will help you achieve your professional goals without sacrificing your career momentum.

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Attend class 100% live online or in person with a remote option.

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Three starts a year so you can begin when you’re ready.

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Held for local alumni, students, parents, and friends of the College, Summer Receptions welcome new students and their families to Babson! Events take place between May and August at many destinations, thanks to the generosity and support of the Babson community. Learn more at babson.edu/summerreceptions.