Meet Babson College’s MBA Class of 2020 - Poets&Quants

Most MBAs associate Babson College with entrepreneurship…for good reason. For over 25 years, U.S. News has ranked the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business as the top program for aspiring entrepreneurs. That’s just the opinion of elite faculty and administrators.

In the Financial Times ranking of graduate entrepreneurship programs, Babson ranked second only to Stanford. By the numbers, 37% of Olin MBA students started their own firm – the highest rate among any graduate business program. By the same token, 76% of these startups were still operating within a year of graduation – a testament to a curriculum that hammers home business fundamentals while fostering a zeal for calculated risk and inspired solutions.

“WE LIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ALL THE TIME”

That’s exactly what the Class of 2020 is seeking. According to Ashley Taylor, a first-year MBA who describes herself as a “mountain climbing mom of four,” the classes are “taught through the lens of the entrepreneur.” That’s because, says Elena Cavalca Knack, the program brings an entirely different mindset to the table.

“We live entrepreneurship all the time,” writes the Brazilian project manager. “That’s not about just creating your own business, but about doing things creatively. It is not about just thinking outside the box – it’s about thinking as if there is no box. Every subject we learn, professors are trying to push us to think beyond what is common.”

Babson Student team in a meeting.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, the Class of 2020 has tackled it from all angles. Take Claudia Monteverde. In her native Venezuela, she started her career as a dentist. Over time, her small practice grew into a dental center, employing 16 professionals whose background enabled patients to solve all their dental issues in one spot. Monteverde’s success came with a tradeoff, however. It was increasingly difficult to both work with patients and handle her backend responsibilities.

“I decided to dedicate almost entirely to the business,” she says. “Working long hours, studying complex dental cases, and coordinating schedules did not seem like work at all. Without realizing it, I became the manager of my own business.”

BRINGING MICROFINANCE TO EAST AFRICA

So why come to business school? For starters, Monteverde cites her countries “hyperinflation,” not to mention its political woes. More than that, Olin is her chance to gain a better rounded understanding of business complexities for the next venture. “Working in my business during the last years has made me aware that I still lack critical abilities to manage a business to reach its peak. This is the perfect time to fix this. An MBA will help me have a far better business understanding and give me the necessary tools I am missing.

Dancan Onyango didn’t start out as an entrepreneur. Two years ago, we was a financial services consultant…until an assignment with a microfinance bank changed his worldview. Here, he was exposed to the issues that women faced in securing loans and even basic financial services. At the same time, he also identified the potential that these women possessed in starting businesses.

That led him to found Jiwo Paro, a microfinance organization in his native Kenya to help women become successful entrepreneurs. Noting that just “one in hundreds” of women in East Africa hold a bank account, Onyango’s enterprise reduces the barriers that women face in accessing collateral – a situation that keeps most in poverty.

“We loan low income women sewing machines to enable them start their apparel microenterprises,” he writes. “Little as my contribution may be, I believe that it has been instrumental in molding these women into successful entrepreneurs in the textile industry and become successful leaders in their community.”

OVERHAULING THE FAMILY BUSINESS WHILE HIS FATHER IS AWAY

Ever hear the proverb, “When the cat is away, the mice will play.” That’s certainly not what Hamad Alfares’ father expected when he put his son in charge for his kitchen retail company for two months. Alfares’ scope of responsibilities? “Just run the business and sign the checks on my behalf until I get back from Germany,” said his father.

To do that, of course, Alfares had to first learn how the family business was run. Much to his surprise, the company was losing money courtesy of long cash cycle lengths and high storage costs which required deep price discounts to cover. In his research, Alfares also “stumbled” upon a potential solution: an unused proprietary software suite that enabled consumers to create custom-designed kitchens that they could see in 3D before ordering.

This outside-the-box thinking yielded immediate results. The “build-your-own-kitchen” branding becoming a marketing staple – and the franchise’s manager even visited to learn if Alfares’ strategy could be implemented across the board.

MBA students working together outside class.

“Not only were our operations costs exponentially decreased, our sales also grew,” shares Alfares, who has gone on to co-launch three apps, work for Kuwaiti government’s entrepreneurship department, and write research papers on the startup field. “Storage areas became obsolete…The operating cash cycle length was heavily decreased and constant at around two months, decreasing cost variation and allowing self-financed growth.”

DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR TO GAIN A LOT

You don’t have to be an entrepreneur like Monteverde, Onyango, or Alfares to get a lot out of a Babson MBA. Just ask the Class of 2018. Carola Leiva, a Poets&Quants MBA to Watch, touts the Olin community as “diverse and full of people with great ideas.” For her, Babson wasn’t just a spot for students who wanted to launch their own company. Instead, it was a place for students from all walks of life…even within her own family.

“I wanted to do something different from what I knew (very structured thinking) and put myself out of my comfort zone – and Babson has done it,” she points out. “My older brother studied at Babson seven years ago and he is a VP at Liberty Mutual. My younger brother is currently working at MetLife Chile and he will be part of the Babson Class of 2020. Here are examples of three siblings who don’t have family business and have always worked for corporations. Still we have all chosen Babson.”

Arriving on campus in 2016, David James, a 2018 Best & Brightest MBA, expected to see classmates “founding new businesses left and right.” Like many before him, he soon discovered that entrepreneurship can take many shapes beyond simply starting your own business.

“I’ve seen many more forms of entrepreneurship than I expected, including classmates running and growing family businesses; expanding businesses they had personally founded before grad school; working on the innovation team of large, Fortune 500 companies; or applying an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset to a social justice problem. Babson does an exceptional job of infusing an entrepreneurial perspective into every course you take so that you learn how to think like an entrepreneur across many contexts like finance, strategy, operations, and human capital.”

FINDING AN INTERNSHIP…THROUGH TWITTER

That applies to the Class of 2020 as well. Fupeng Pei, for one, worked as a district sales manager at Eli Lilly. Likewise, Masayuki Kameo was employed in Toyota’s public relations arm, where he served as the Strategy Planner for the Chief Communications Officer. At the same time, Alex Green loves marketing data analytics – and hopes to lead a team in that area in the coming years. Don’t forget Claudia Monteverde, who plans to work in healthcare and life sciences after graduation – until she comes up with her next ‘big idea,’ that is.

Not surprisingly, an entrepreneurially-minded class excelled in sports, where competition, teamwork, and sacrifice were the norms. As an undergraduate, Tricia DiGirolomo made First Team All American for women’s lacrosse, collecting an NCAA National Championship along the way. Will Gray played hockey at Trinity College. Whatever you do, be wary of Alex Green hitting you up for a game of ping pong. He is a former Division I tennis player.

MBA students preparing for class

If you’re looking for a feel good story, just ask Benjamín Mujica Dittborn how he landed his first internship. “Music and radio are my passions. For my first internship, I deeply wanted to work on a radio station. I didn’t know anyone in the radio industry, so I tweeted the famous radio personality Constanza Stipicic of Radio Duna, in Chile, and expressed my desire to work at the station. Thanks to this tweet I got the internship!”

‘EXPOSED TO SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY’

So how does the Class of 2020 feel about their classmates three months into the program? Mujica Dittborn admits to being struck by the diversity of the program, where 80% of the class hails from overseas. “If you want a global mindset, this is the right place,” he says.

Indeed, you could argue that Babson is the American answer to IESE Business School, a deeply international two-year program with deep roots in entrepreneurship. However, the school’s diversity extends beyond a 158 member class who hail from 26 different countries.

“They come from all different countries, industries, and backgrounds, but they are open to others’ ideas, anxious to learn about and experience other cultures, and very helpful and collaborative in nature, observes Ashley Taylor. “You get the sense that everyone wants to help you succeed, and that creates a cycle of generosity in the school.”

It also fosters an amazing learning environment, adds Tricia DiGirolomo. “Every day you are exposed to something you’ve never heard of before.”

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

MBA PROGRAM OFFERS 2-YEAR OR 1-YEAR OPTIONS

The Class of 2020 is diverse in other ways too. 30% of the two-year students are female, with another 28% being underrepresented American minorities. Overall, they bring a 618 average GMAT to Boston coupled with a 3.22 average undergraduate GPA. Academically, the largest segment of the class – 42% – earned their undergraduate degrees in Business Management. Social sciences and Law (8%), Economics (7%), Engineering and Computer sciences (7%), Humanities (4%), and Science and Mathematics (4%) also constitute larger blocs of the incoming class.

Professionally, just 6% of the class labeled themselves as entrepreneurs. The largest segment features students who previously worked in financial services. They account for 13% of the class, followed by manufacturing (11%), technology (11%), consulting (9%), consumer products (5%), and healthcare and life sciences (5%).

Overall, Olin received 604 applications for a spot in the two-year Class of 2020, ultimately accepting 70% of those who applied. In addition, Olin offers the flexibility of a one-year program, which drew 39 students with an average GMAT of 599. International students comprised 67% of this class, with women holding 36% of the one year seats.

NEW DEAN LOOKING TO “REIMAGINE” THE PROGRAM

What’s new at the Olin MBA this year? In July, the program appointed Keith Rollag as dean. A Stanford Ph.D. and Procter & Gamble veteran, Rollag has taught startup courses at the school for 17 years. As the school heads towards its centennial in 2019, Rollag plans to look at ways to “reimagine” its MBA program, he said in a 2018 interview with P&Q.

“[We want to] make it more entrepreneurial, more relevant, more adaptable for the future. As the market for graduate education is evolving, we’ll make sure that our MBA is evolving with it.”

Monica Moody Moore

That process has already begun, Rollag notes, with the school’s efforts to lengthen its reach in entrepreneurship. This includes adding new faculty in the field and expanding the Babson Institute for Family Entrepreneurship. In addition, the school has also opened its Weissman Foundry Center, which focuses on fostering innovation in graduate and undergraduate programming.

DUBAI CAMPUS DEBUTS IN JANUARY

“It’s another way that design thinking, innovation, and social entrepreneurship are all coming together under one hub and umbrella. We’ll have events there, seminars, programming, and more,” writes Monica Moody Moore, dean of graduate admissions at the school.

That’s not the only area where Olin has been in expansion mode. In January, the school will launch its Babson-MBA Dubai, a program for professional that will be housed in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a hub for Middle Eastern, Asian, and African commerce that covers 272 acres and boasts nearly 23,000 professionals.

“The Babson MBA-Dubai offers students the opportunity to complete their degree in 19 months with an equal ratio of face-to-face and online classes,” Moody Moore tells P&Q. The expansion into Dubai will continue to broaden Babson’s global footprint, in an effort to educate entrepreneurs of all kinds everywhere.”

PROGRAMMING TIED CLOSELY TO CENTERS AND INSTITUTES

For Babson, this is the latest step in a larger strategy, whose last move was opening a hub in Miami last year to cater to prospective entrepreneurs in Latin America and Mexico. “Since 2010, we’ve had a hub in San Francisco where we deliver our Blended Learning MBA,” says Kerry Healey, Babson College’s President, in a 2017 interview with P&Q. “Now, we have undergraduate student cohorts who spend a semester there, alumni events, and exec ed. Then our new Boston hub opened in 2015. That facility has brought us much closer to the Seaport financial district and the innovation district in Kendall Square and enabled us to be a part of both. We now have hundreds of events a year there plus graduate and undergraduate courses.”

While the program is expanding externally, it still keeps a close eye on what’s happening on campus. In fact, Moody Moore considers the school’s extensive network of Centers and Institutes to be the most underrated part of the Babson MBA experience.

“While other school may use a “look but don’t experience” approach, Babson’s Centers provide relevant programming and ongoing enrichment activities that strengthen the student experience and deepen their network and professional understanding,” she asserts.  “Our Centers are very hands-on, offering programming on a regular basis, not periodic or once-in-a-while basis. It’s a regular part of the Babson experience. Topic areas include: social innovation, women’s entrepreneurship, finance, entrepreneurship, and family entrepreneurship.”

COMING DECEMBER: A LIVE-STREAMED STARTUP COMPETITION WORTH $250K

Student team applying Olins ET&A methodology

This year, the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship even added a new wrinkle. In December, it will partner with the Indian Angel Network (IAN) – India’s largest business angel network – to host a live-streamed competition with a $250,000 equity stake as a prize.

“For Babson, we can give early-stage Babson entrepreneurs access to an experienced source of capital and a well-connected, successful group of mentors who have seen it all,” says Debi Kleiman, executive director of Blank Center, in a 2018 interview with P&Q. That network and experience is invaluable to entrepreneurs, particularly in the early stages or if they are first time entrepreneurs.”

Such events, coupled with a robust roster of clubs, have stirred the Class of 2020’s imagination. Ashley Taylor, for example, is looking forward to the Butler Launchpad and Summer Venture Program. Similarly, Hamad Alfares plans to take advantage of Babson’s business support infrastructure, including incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces. At the same time, Manan Bhandari, whose startup was selected to be launched at Santa Clara’s DEMO Fall ’12, is eyeing two pivotal events at the school.

“As the flagship event of Babson, I’m looking forward to participating and being part of the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum and all it has to offer—speeches, startup showcase, interactions, etc.,” he says.  I’m also looking forward to the electives abroad—studying an elective or two in a different country with new educational surroundings.”

ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT & ACTION IS THE PROGRAM’S CORE

Entrepreneurship is undoubtedly Babson’s biggest draw. Aside from a wealth of resources, partnerships, and expertise, the program is held together by a patented and repeatable – ET&A, otherwise known as Entrepreneurial Thought and Action. In a nutshell, ET&A is a deeply data-driven and profoundly reflective approach that harnesses an entrepreneur’s creative energies to help them to quickly identify their commitment, possibilities and limitations.

It starts with prospective entrepreneurs taking a deep dive into the what and the why. The reason? Entrepreneurship is rarely about simply making money. Instead, it comes with a purpose and a desired impact – one that will determine a venture’s scope and strategy. From there, entrepreneurs conduct an inventory, evaluating resources such as expertise, network and capital. Such research will ultimate determine a founder’s risk tolerance – or what they’ll be willing to sacrifice to turn their dream into a functioning operation. After conducting the market research, ET&A practitioners are encouraged to take a small and calculated action, the Olin equivalent to Silicon Valley’s “fail fast” mantra. Afterwards, they assess their performance. In the process, they bring others into the process for guidance before deciding whether to move on, continue experimenting, or make tweaks before starting a business.

This methodology is what separates Olin from all the rest, says Benjamín Mujica Dittborn. “Many MBAs have entrepreneurship as one of their strengths but, in my opinion, Babson has two big differences from the rest. First, entrepreneurship at Babson is the base and foundation of everything, not just one subject in the curriculum. Second, the focus is on adding real value to society, making a true impact.”

ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET SCARCE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD

ET&A also has heavy application to established enterprises, whose success and failure are equally dependent on reflection, research, action, and evaluation. “The majority of students aren’t creating their own businesses,” writes Ross Chesnik, a 2017 Olin grad and Best & Brightest MBA. “The appeal of Babson’s entrepreneurship intrigue and status is that it attracts students who want to learn the principles of entrepreneurship to help them be better business leaders. Whether it’s a Fortune 500 company, or a two-person venture, Babson’s methodology allows its students to navigate uncertainty in any business setting. This skill set is still a scarcity in the business world, and Babson MBA alumni take these assets to heart, and are better leaders because of them.”

Student discussion after class.

This advantage is only amplified in a small program like Olin, where students can get to know everyone personally. The faculty have also earned high marks from Olin students past and present. “Professors here consistently teach you how to use the course material outside of the classroom,” says Alex Green.

“The faculty at Babson not only have given me helpful advice, but also have been forthcoming in connecting me to their network,” adds Ravish Majithia, another Best & Brightest MBA from the Class of 2018. “I owe a lot to the faculty members at Babson!”

BRINGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO THE MASSES

Add to that, the MBA program benefits from its location in Boston. A biotech Mecca, Boston was ranked as the top metropolitan area for startups by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the second year running in 2018, thanks to a highly educated and skilled talent pool along with strong partnerships between government and business.

“Boston is known as the up-and-coming startup hub that presents numerous area-specific offerings like high-caliber accelerators and incubators that allow me the chance to get hands-on experience in a cutting-edge startup environment,” writes Hamad Alfares. “This will enable me to be several steps closer to reaching my career goals and aspirations.”

What’s next for the Class of 2020? Many plan to return to the home countries to grow their businesses and spread the word about entrepreneurship. “I have a deep desire for building a centre in my hometown that promotes entrepreneurship and creates more opportunities for people with ideas,” writes Manan Bhandari. “I believe in the talent pool available there, with the right skill set, I will be able to be a part of building the infrastructure that will create a great innovation ecosystem.”

“My plan is to come back to Chile and work in my family business,” adds Benjamín Mujica Dittborn. “I feel that post-graduation, with an MBA and five years in a big company as LATAM Airlines, is the right time to support my family and make my contribution to the companies we have. There are huge challenges in these companies but I’m looking forward to this!”

What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates.

Student	Hometown	Alma Mater	Employer
Hamad Alfares	Qortuba, Kuwait	University of Missouri-Kansas City	The Ministry of State for Youth Affairs-Kuwait
Manan Bhandari	Indore, India	University of Pune	Webdunia.com India Pvt. Ltd.
Elena Cavalca Knack	Sao Miguel do iguaçu, Brazil	Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina	NA
Tricia DiGirolomo	Annapolis, MD	Salisbury University	Videology
Will Gray	Boston, MA	Trinity College	Black Duck Software
Alex Green	Nashua, NH	Boston University	Millennium Partners
Masayuki Kameo	Tokyo, Japan	University of Tokyo	Toyota Motor Corporation
Claudia Monteverde	Valencia, Venezuela	Universidad de Carabobo	Centro Odontologico Monteverde
Benjamín Mujica Dittborn	Santiago, Chile	Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile	LATAM Airlines Group
Dancan Onyango	Kisumu, Kenya	University of Nairobi	Rural Finance Expansion Programme, Zambia
Fupeng Pei	Beijing, China	Beijing University of Chinese Medicine	Eli Lilly
Ashley Taylor	Provo, UT	Brigham Young University	Taylor Custom Rings

Hamad Alfares

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“I am passionate about creating and leveraging collaborative relationships in business to deliver successful outcomes.”

Hometown: Qortuba, Kuwait

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have competitively raced in the most dangerous track in the world, the Nurburgring, aka the infamous “Green Hell..

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Bachelors of Business Administration-Entrepreneurship

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: The Ministry of State for Youth Affairs-Kuwait, Managerial Coordinator

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: “Just run the business and sign the checks on my behalf until I get back from Germany” was how my father initiated my two-month responsibility of running the German ready-made kitchen retail company Hacker in Kuwait.

I knew that if I was to sign checks on my father’s behalf, I needed to understand the company’s operations. I delved into the accountant’s records and studied various operating models. It was soon obvious that although Hacker Kitchens (HK) had large amounts of revenue, it was not breaking even due to the operating cash cycle length.

HK was paying for and holding inventory anywhere from three months to two years. Storage costs were greater than 15% of total costs on average. HK was also relying on deep discounts to sell and cover the costs of outdated unsold inventory, negatively effecting the brand’s quality perception.

My objective became clear. Lower costs through decreasing the operating cash cycle length. I soon stumbled upon a proprietary design software that was already paid for by the HK but never used. This software allowed the user to build kitchens with various options of designs, materials, and colors offered by the franchiser and view them in 3D.

This discovery allowed me to think outside the box: I asked why not only order customized kitchens? I set in motion the changes needed to fundamentally change the business model. Initially, Large TVs were installed in the showroom with seating areas to facilitate customers’ kitchen customization process. The marketing department soon followed, advertising the build-your-own-kitchen system that we recently adopted.

Results of our changes came by the year’s end. Not only were our operations costs exponentially decreased, our sales also grew. Storage areas became obsolete, allowing us to use my family’s personal farm for short-term storage at no cost. The operating cash cycle length was heavily decreased and constant at around two months, decreasing cost variation and allowing self-financed growth. The franchiser took notice and we were visited by the regional franchise manager keen on understanding the changes we made and checking if implementation in other markets is possible.

My experiences at HK have been fundamental in my professional growth. They have molded my work ethic and leadership style, giving me the confidence to ask questions, think analytically, and take decisive action.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaborative. Based on my pre-MBA research, I expected the classroom experience to be very competitive. Gratefully, my classmates have shown a clear commitment to positively contribute to the quality of the learning experience.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  I carry my grandfather’s name. A lawyer who had worked across the Middle East. Growing up, I always wanted to be a lawyer. I was interested in the intellectual challenge of critiquing ideas by finding their gaps and points of strength. Now, I intend to carry this challenge to early stage investing.

Joining a high-quality learning community and gaining the necessary education in Babson will offer me the knowledge, network, and skills that increase my chances of success in my future endeavors and hasten my career path to becoming a leader, innovator, and disruptor.

I aim to take full advantage of the interpersonal skills acquired throughout my Babson MBA journey by learning from a diverse set of faculty members and students. I would also like to further strengthen my practical leadership and management skills, analytical skills in business situations, and academic credentials.

When planning my MBA, I only looked for the highest-rated universities offering an emphasis in entrepreneurship – leading me to the leader in the field, Babson College. As is clear, I am not only interested in entrepreneurship as a subject matter, I am also interested in the real-life applications of this knowledge. Therefore, I also based my decision on the area’s entrepreneurial eco-system. Boston is known as the up-and-coming startup hub that presents numerous area-specific offerings like high-caliber accelerators and incubators that allow me the chance to get hands-on experience in a cutting-edge startup environment. This will enable me to be several steps closer to reaching my career goals and aspirations.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am interested in the process of articulating, communicating, and selling a new venture idea. Therefore, I plan to make full use of the pitching opportunities and competitions. This would be especially advantageous given the diverse and informed peers, faculty, and network that Babson offers.

I am also interested in the direct entrepreneurial business support organizations like incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces. Consequently, I look forward to working with the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, especially within the startup acceleration field.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I aim to create a program that accelerates startups in the oil and gas industry across MENA. This career path will provide the mental challenge that I crave for and the ambiguity that enables and empowers innovation and creativity. Matching investments with an academic curriculum will also offer personal satisfaction due to the positive interaction with startups and their founders. I would love an opportunity to create something out of myself and to become a constructive influence on the regional startup ecosystem.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I remember it like it was yesterday, the day I got the acceptance for Babson College. To be completely frank, I was surprised. My father, a PhD holder, was not. In a heated discussion with him about price and value of an MBA program from Babson, he stated: “When trying to measure return-on-investment for education, it should be compounded.” This not only gave me a new perspective on the value of education, it also made me confirm my acceptance to Babson College.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?

– Miami University

– Loyola Marymount University

– Colorado University-Boulder

– University of San Francisco

– University of South California-Marshall

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I am passionate about entrepreneurship as a subject and a career. My undergraduate major was Entrepreneurship, I have gained experience in The Entrepreneurs Department in the Kuwaiti government, I co-founded three apps, and I am currently working on two academic research papers within the entrepreneurship field. Unsurprisingly, the most relevant reference was the entrepreneurship program ranking, in which Babson College is first.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I always had a fear of heights. It was never life-altering, but it always affected my psyche that I had an irrational fear. I decided to face this challenge the only way I know how to, head-first. My mouth was dry, knees shaking, and looking down from a rocky cliff in Queensland, Australia. After more than 45 minutes of self-motivation, I jumped. I enjoyed it so much, I jumped again. Now I enjoy bungee jumping and am currently planning my sky diving experience in San Diego.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I aim to create a program that accelerates startups in the oil and gas industry across MENA. This career path will provide the mental challenge that I crave for and the ambiguity that enables and empowers innovation and creativity. Matching investments with an academic curriculum will also offer personal satisfaction due to the positive interaction with startups and their founders. I would love an opportunity to create something out of myself and to become a constructive influence on the regional startup ecosystem.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I aspire to be a successful leader of a startup business accelerator in the Middle East by offering value to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. I also aspire to use my acquired Babson knowledge and network to accelerate the improvement of the entrepreneurial eco-system in the area.

Manan Bhandari

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Entrepreneur, Technology Lover and a Real Madrid Fan. Not necessarily in that order.”

Hometown: Indore, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I do not wear plain T-Shirts. All my T-Shirts have a quote or reference to my favorite books, movies, T.V Shows or fictional characters.

Undergraduate School and Major: Pune Institute of Computer Technology, University of Pune – Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Project Consultant at Webdunia.com India Pvt. Ltd.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Co-founding a mobile application startup in my hometown – a small city in India, and was selected to launch it at DEMO Fall ’12 – a startup showcase event in Santa Clara, CA

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Friendly and Collaborative! My classmates are always ready to help each other out, be it academics, extracurricular activities, or just having fun. We’ve been here for only a few weeks, but it feels like we’ve been friends forever. The feeling of companionship is contagious.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Focus on entrepreneurship and class size – Babson’s commitment towards creating Entrepreneurs (of all kinds) and the design of the program to enable that was a key factor. Also, I wanted to go to a program where I could know my entire class personally. The comparatively smaller class size of Babson was a key factor too.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? As the flagship event of Babson, I’m looking forward to participating and being part of the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum and all it has to offer—speeches, startup showcase, interactions, etc. I’m also looking forward to the electives abroad—studying an elective or two in a different country with new educational surroundings.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? As a startup co-founder, I became more aware of the shortcomings I had as an entrepreneur. I realized the need for learning about business in a more structured environment.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I wanted to meet people from all over the world, learn from others’ perspectives, and strengthen my own skills. For me, it was never about if it was worth it, it was just about where!

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford and USC Marshall

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I went through a step-by-step process in determining my fit. First, I was sure about coming to the United States. I wanted to attend a 2-year program compared to a 1-year program, giving me more time to evolve, and coupled with the desire to experience education in US, it made the most sense. Then, I was looking for schools with entrepreneurship value and focus. Even though every school these days is talking about it, I wanted a school that ‘lived it’. Then, I looked at faculty of the courses I was interested in, class size, and location. And finally, I wanted to go to a school with a very diverse global community.

I attended events, talked with alums of various schools, researched online, and also had long conversations with my friends who had attended undergraduate and graduate schools in the US. I was always figuring out which school I could see myself being a part of, which school could I call ‘home’!

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I spent a (gap) year figuring out what I was really passionate about and wanted to do. I worked on several projects and ideas eventually culminating into my startup. That entire year helped me be more comfortable with the choices I make; doing something you are passionate about (or being willing to explore and discover) is always worthwhile.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Be part of (or begin it myself) a tech startup. Currently figuring out the domain I want to be in, using the MBA to gain more clarity.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I have a deep desire for building a centre in my hometown that promotes entrepreneurship and creates more opportunities for people with ideas. I believe in the talent pool available there, with the right skill set, I will be able to be a part of building the infrastructure that will create a great innovation ecosystem.

Elena Cavalca Knack

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“I´m passionate about factory, managing, and how leadership can improve the result of industries.

Hometown: Sao Miguel do iguaçu – Parana – Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I haven’t liked any type of fruit I’ve ever tried!

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Project Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Turning around an industry coming from a -16% gross margin to +18% in 6 months

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The diversity of the students, the places they are from, and the background they have – that’s what make them the most friendly, interesting and supportive classmates you could ever have.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Babson has a different kind of mindset compared to other programs – we live entrepreneurship all the time. That’s not about just creating your own business, but about doing things creatively. It is not about just thinking outside the box – its about thinking as if there is no box. Every subject we learn, professors are trying to push us to think beyond what is common.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school?  Family Business Club, Manufacturing Club, and Consulting Club

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I believe that from time to time, you have to try to break assumptions, to open your mind and try to have another kind of experience. For me, this was my moment. I believed I was ready to share my experience with others, and that I could contribute to the class. That is what an MBA is all about changing experiences, thoughts, and knowledge. 

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I did a lot of research, about how the MBA could help me be ready for the next step in my career. Of course, the jump in the salary is really attractive, but besides that and the exposure, the opportunity to be challenged in a different environment and the networking makes the investment worth it.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? ESADE, Purdue, McCombs, UCLA, and Babson

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I tried to decide based on the schools that I believe fit better with me – I used Poets & Quants a lot while doing my research – I printed from the Poets & Quants the “profiles” of the schools I believed fit better with me and started to rank them based on the programs and the extras features (clubs, electives, outside projects) for the schools that interested me the most.

I also choose four schools to visit, which I encourage people to do if they can. Also, speaking with students and alumni is always a good idea – they always have something to say that we haven’t read or heard before.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t believe I had a defining moment, I believe that the sum of the moments, the experiences, the conversations, and the mistakes is what shapes you. That is what has put me in this path right now.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? My plan is to come back to my home country, work in a consulting company, and focus on manufacturing plants.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In 5 years, I see myself ready to return to my family business as a CEO of the company.

Tricia DiGirolomo

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“I am joyful, fun-loving, and always up for a new challenge!”

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was fortunate enough to be both a NCAA National Champion and a First Team All-American for women’s lacrosse during my undergraduate athletic career.

Undergraduate School and Major: Salisbury University, Dual Degree: Accounting and Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Videology, Senior Accountant II

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  Passing the CPA exam while working 70+ hours a week.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse. My classmates are from all different professional backgrounds, from all over the world. It makes the sharing of knowledge and ideas so interesting. Every day you are exposed to something you’ve never heard of before.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Babson’s entrepreneurial and wholesome approach to business is what led me to choose this program. They offer a large amount of customization in the program, and the faculty members are so dedicated to helping you succeed. As soon as I visited, I knew this was the place for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I really hope I’m lucky enough to participate in the summer venture program this year. It is an intensive experience where you use the summer to focus on growing your entrepreneurial venture. The Blank Center in general offers amazing activities!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After several years working at a venture back technology company, I decided that my long term goal was to start a venture capital fund focused on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle innovation. I knew that to achieve this goal, I needed time to explore entrepreneurship further. The MBA seemed like a great place to start.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I looked at the MBA as taking a bet on myself. I am confident that it will be worth every penny I’ve invested and more.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?  I also applied to Wharton, University of Maryland, and Georgetown.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I based a large part of my decision on the available curriculum at each school. It was important to me that the school have a strong entrepreneurial focus. I also significantly valued experiential learning opportunities. I learn best by doing, so I wanted to be sure I had plenty of exposure to my interests. Finally, I visited each campus to assess cultural fit. I wanted to feel at home wherever I was headed.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Moving to Boston to pursue my MBA was definitely a defining moment. I think it has reinforced what I have tried to practice my entire life. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone and persist, good things will come!

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to pursue a venture of my own both during school and after graduation. But most of all I just want to be happy and love what I am doing, whatever that is!

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself running my own company, and raising money to start a venture capital fund focused on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

Will Gray

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Someone who would prefer having others describe them!”

Hometown: Boston, MA

Fun Fact About Yourself: Former college hockey player turned avid men’s league player

Undergraduate School and Major: Trinity College, B.S. in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Black Duck Software, Regional Sales Manager; Head of Business Development, AGC Partners

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Promoted to the first-ever Head of Business Development role for AGC Partners, a Boston-based boutique tech-focused investment bank.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse. 80% of our class is international, and as a local Bostonian, I’m extremely lucky to work alongside and learn from impressive individuals from every corner of the globe.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The entrepreneurial focus of the program. As someone who respects entrepreneurs in any capacity and strives to improve my entrepreneurial ability, I felt a gravitational pull to how Babson prioritizes this throughout the MBA program.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to working alongside two other MBA students as analysts for the Private Equity Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees that is responsible for investing 20%+ of Babson’s endowment into private equity and venture capital funds.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  At 27, I felt comfortable with taking a calculated risk by pursuing full-time personal growth over a considerable income stream at this point in my life. In addition, I had spent two years in investment banking and two years with a high-growth cybersecurity software company, but I hadn’t applied my entire focus to the portfolio of residential real estate investment properties that my two best friends and I have built. I felt that business school offered me the opportunity to narrow my focus and build more skills to improve the entrepreneurial approach to real estate investing.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Prior to applying, I had spoken with dozens of MBAs and non-MBAs about how they chose whether to pursue the degree. Based on their feedback and with Babson’s valuable scholarship contributions, I believed I was ready to make this commitment to myself.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I made my decision based on feedback from alumni, current students, mentors, and professionals in the Boston area.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was recruited and finally received an offer to play hockey at Trinity College, it was a major inflection point in my life. Just a few years prior, no one would have thought I’d have that opportunity, but through hard work, sacrifice and determination, I proved to myself what I could accomplish. That moment gave me confidence never to limit my goals, no matter the arena.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?  Ideally, I would fundraise to continue expanding the portfolio of residential real estate opportunities that my two business partners (and former Trinity hockey players) and I have built over the past two years.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Working alongside great people, who share a goal of building businesses with a mission to succeed, while also contributing back to the communities we value.

Alex Green

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“I am a curious problem solver who loves Boston sports.”

Hometown: Nashua, NH

Fun Fact About Yourself: I played Division I tennis in college, and am always up for a game of ping pong.

Undergraduate School and Major: Boston University, Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Millennium Partners, Operations Specialist

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  Working to implement a new equity trade capture system using SQL queries and Tableau Dashboards because I had to learn both programs after the project had already begun.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse – our cohort was 66% international and it has been amazing to learn with so many smart and caring people from all over the globe.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The combination of Babson’s Entrepreneurship specialization and the fact that I could do my MBA in one year. Babson teaches Entrepreneurship through Entrepreneurial Thought & Action, which is truly felt in each class because the professors here consistently teach you how to use the course material outside of the classroom.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Babson Business Analytics club (to participate in the Hackathon!).

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I wanted career growth, and decided that I needed to take a step back and develop my business tool kit in order to figure out what I really wanted out of my career.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decided that an MBA is worth the investment because it was the quickest way to big career jump. Some of the factors that went into this decision for me are the skills that I could develop, relationships that I could make, and of course the jobs that I would be eligible for.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? NYU Stern School of Business and Fordham Gabelli School of Business.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I looked for an MBA to learn skills as opposed to just classroom theory, so I wanted to go somewhere the encouraged action in addition to thought and learning. I researched culture by visiting campuses, attending classes, and personally speaking with current students and alumni.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment came at the end my summer program when I was finally comfortable giving a class presentation without almost having a panic attack from public speaking! I haven’t had to deliver a presentation since undergrad, and didn’t realize how much my fear of public speaking was holding me back; at Babson I learned how to clearly identify my strengths and weaknesses and discovered ways to turn weaknesses into strengths.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to be in a consulting role that allows me to leverage my passion for Data Analytics and build on my technical skillset.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I’ve recently found a passion for marketing analytics, so in five years I see myself leading a team that makes data driven decisions to help companies maximize ROI on their marketing plan.

Masayuki Kameo

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Passionate about creating a better mobility in society and respect for all people in the world.”

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m very good at the moonwalk. When I was an undergraduate, I practiced it very hard.

Undergraduate School and Major: The University of Tokyo, Bachelor of Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Toyota Motor Corporation / Strategy Planner for the Chief Communications Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Upgraded the information sharing system among public relation headquarters of Toyota.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They are my motivation to be entrepreneurial. Many of them have a strong passion for starting business, and we have a lot of opportunities to discuss it.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Entrepreneurial mindset. In the changing automobile industry, we have to identify the right opportunities and continue to create new values for the society, such as autonomous, connected, and electric vehicles.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Manufacturing Club and Automobile Club.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? When I worked with the Chief Communications Officer of Toyota, who has an MBA. I felt a huge gap between him and me.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It is important for me to acquire knowledge of an MBA and to develop my international experience and networks so that I can make up the gap quickly.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I didn’t apply to any others.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I thought a school’s culture and emphasis were important. I had an opportunity to meet with Babson students who came to Japan in the Japan trek program and asked them about Babson to know whether it fits my goals.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was a university student, I was a leader of a dancing club, which consisted of over 200 students. The success of the dancing performance at the club taught me the power of teamwork, and I started to want to collaborate with many people and make something that contributes to our society.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to go back to Toyota and contribute to the company’s challenge of new business.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Leading global external affairs at Toyota.

Claudia Monteverde

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“A proud Venezuelan who believes that if you can dream it you can do it.”

Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am obsessed with burgers. When I am on a trip, I always want to try the best burger of the city.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad de Carabobo, Dental School

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Founder and Manager of Centro Odontologico Monteverde (COM)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been founding my own business, Centro Odontologico Monteverde (COM). It started in 2008 after I obtained my dental degree. COM was a small dental office in a remote part of the city. In 2011, this small office grew into a dental center. I rented a new space where I could fit three offices. At that time, I only offered my service as a general dentist. Three years later, I have created a team of 16 professionals and we offered nine dental specialties. More importantly, patients could solve all their dental issues at COM.

Although I loved dentistry, I realized that if I wanted to have a successful business, working with patients full-time would make it impossible. Therefore, I decided to dedicate almost entirely to the business. Working long hours, studying complex dental cases, and coordinating schedules did not seem like work at all. Without realizing it, I became the manager of my own business.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are very dedicated, very smart, and have a wide range of backgrounds. I believe that the feature that best describes them is the entrepreneurial mindset, the majority came with the clear idea of creating or expanding their own businesses, in a short or long term.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor was Babson’s entrepreneurial mindset philosophy. I believe that being an entrepreneur is a way of living and I apply it in a professional and a personal level. Finding a program that perfectly aligns with my way to see life was a key factor to make my decision.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to work in the Healthcare and Life Science Club and eventually have a leadership position that lets me contribute in to the Babson community.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Usually not many dentists choose to attend to business school. However, while my business is still running, my native Venezuela faces the worst hyperinflation and economic and political uncertainty in history. I started to research ways to expand or create a new business within the health sector. I considered other areas of dentistry or creating other branches of COM. It all seemed worthless with the current and forward-looking situation of Venezuela.

For these reasons, now is the best time for me to pursue a graduate degree to grow professionally within the health sector. Furthermore, working in my business during the last years has made me aware that I still lack critical abilities to manage a business to reach its peak. This is the perfect time to fix this. An MBA will help me have a far better business understanding and give me the necessary tools I am missing.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I decided to attend business school while looking for better opportunities that my country cannot offer me. I realized that my 10 years of experience running my healthcare business in combination with an MBA will give me the opportunity to work within the health sector in the United States.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Besides Babson, I applied to Boston University and Northeastern University.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? First, I prioritized location. Boston was my target. Second, I looked for programs with concentrations in health or entrepreneurship. I believed these would me fit best according to my background. Then, to make sure there was a cultural fit, I asked every school to connect with current students. That was a good experience, because they gave me really good insights about the schools and the student life.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment when I first started to manage my business. I have always loved dentistry, but managing my business let me realize how much I can do, how much I can learn, and how interesting the business world is. That was an incredible discovery for me.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After getting my MBA degree, I want to work in a pharma or a dental company focusing in operations or marketing.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a successful business woman in a Healthcare and Life Science company and developing my own and new venture idea.

Benjamín Mujica Dittborn

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“A Chilean MBA Student from the airline industry ready to take off to new challenges!”

Hometown: Santiago, Chile

Fun Fact About Yourself: I got my first internship thanks to Twitter. Music and radio are my passions. For my first internship, I deeply wanted to work on a radio station. I didn’t know anyone in the radio industry, so I tweeted the famous radio personality Constanza Stipicic of Radio Duna, in Chile, and expressed my desire to work at the station. Thanks to this tweet I got the internship!

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: LATAM Airlines Group, Strategic Alliances Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment is the ascendant career I had in LATAM Airlines, the largest airline in Latin America. I started as an analyst in Network Development, where I learned tons about the industry. Then, as a senior analyst in revenue management, I was responsible for the prices and availability of those prices for routes that accounted for more than $30M per month.  This experience helped me to understand the complex and challenging world of prices in this non-stop business. Finally, in strategic alliances, I led the relation of LATAM Airlines with partner airlines, such as Lufthansa and Air France. This collaboration meant representing LATAM, which was a huge honor and responsibility.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Passion about entrepreneurship. I knew everything at Babson was about entrepreneurship, but it was shocking how many students have started something on their own. It almost made me feel strange amongst my peers! In addition to entrepreneurship, diversity is incredible at Babson. Eighty percent of my classmates are international students. If you want a global mindset, this is the right place.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Entrepreneurship was the main reason I chose Babson. Many MBAs have entrepreneurship as one of their strengths but, in my opinion, Babson has two big differences from the rest. First, entrepreneurship at Babson is the base and foundation of everything, not just one subject in the curriculum. Second, the focus is on adding real value to society, making a true impact. Given my long-term goal of working in my family business and having my own company, Babson was the perfect fit for me.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Babson has several clubs and activities for almost anything you want to do, which is great. I’m looking forward to joining the Institute for Family Entrepreneurship, launched in 2018, to enhance my knowledge of family business. In addition, I joined the Latin American Club, which is one of the biggest clubs at Babson and is the right place to build a strong network in Latin America. Finally, I could not live without soccer so the Soccer Club is a must. We are already playing and I believe we have a strong team this year.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I always had an MBA in mind. During college, I studied in Bath, UK, as an international student. That experience was amazing and opened my eyes to a more global mindset. Later, I had the opportunity to work in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for LATAM. Both opportunities enhanced my desire towards an MBA. The tools acquired in this program will provide me skills to accomplish my future goals. To get the most of an MBA, you need professional experience, at least four years in my opinion. After working for five years in a huge company such as LATAM, I believe it was the right moment. I could contribute to the classroom and also make the most of the program. The call was not easy. Staying in Chile was tempting, especially because my wife got pregnant and our daughter would be born two months before the MBA started. However, we took the challenge and came to Boston. So far, it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made!

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? First of all, I did my research and spoke with several mentors about an MBA and its future returns. It was shocking to only hear great MBA experiences. In contrast, mentors that didn’t take advantage of international experience expressed regrets. Second, I put all the numbers on the excel sheet. With a few assumptions, which I hope are right, the investment paid off. Nevertheless, the experience of leaving my comfort zone and living abroad with my wife and four-month daughter is an experience that is difficult to quantify in the excel. But, it was worth it for me to take the risk and come to Babson.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? In addition to Babson, I also applied to IE, in Spain. Their program, with a deep focus on Entrepreneurship and a great network in Chile, was an excellent option. In addition to this, living in Madrid was really tempting. It wasn’t an easy choice. However, I’m sure I made the right call by coming to Babson.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The most important factor was my long-term goals. The classical question, ‘Where do you see yourself in five or ten years’ was crucial here. Getting the right answer took me time but was essential to find the right school. Some programs could have provided me with tools and networking to work in a big company. Others offered advantages in consulting or starting my own business, as Babson does. The values of the university, the culture, and the network are very important in this evaluation of the fit between you and the program. Another important factor in this complex decision, that can also test the previously-mentioned items, are former students. First, it is the post-graduation jobs they get. Secondly, and even more important, I had a conversation with several of them. This provided me useful insights and helped me to clearly understand the path I was taking. This made me inclined to pick Babson.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In 2011, I studied for six months in Bath, UK. This international experience opened my eyes toward a global mindset. It was the moment I truly realized the world that was outside of Chile and how I should be more receptive towards new cultures and realities. After this experience, I started looking for more opportunities to expand my global mindset, as I did when LATAM gave me the opportunity to work in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In addition to the global mindset, the experience in Bath showed two important things. First, it showed me the long road that Chile has to becoming a developed country. Secondly, it reinforced the critical role that young privileged students, like me, have in this huge challenge to take Chile to a next level. I have a strong desire to contribute to this task in the private sector as an entrepreneur, creating good jobs and being a good and responsible leader.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Back to Chile? My plan is to come back to Chile and work in my family business. I feel that post-graduation, with an MBA and five years in a big company as LATAM Airlines, is the right time to support my family and make my contribution to the companies we have. There are huge challenges in these companies but I’m looking forward to this!

Where do you see yourself in five years?  In five years, I would like to live any Babson’s student dream and become an entrepreneur. One option could be acquiring a small company with a complicated present and make a turnaround, as my family has done it in the past. The other option is to start from scratch and form a new company. All of this with three big intentions: provide more jobs in Chile, being a good leader who makes a difference for his community and, finally, create value for my country.

Dancan Onyango

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Within all these, my interest lies in advocating for, promoting and expanding access to affordable financial services for the underserved.”

Hometown: Kisumu, Kenya

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love dancing.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Nairobi-Bachelor of Commerce

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Rural Finance Expansion Programme, Zambia; External Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Other than my work in Digital Financial Services consulting at a continental level, I am involved in activities that seek to improve access to finance for women in my native, Kenya. I am the founder of Jiwo Paro, a development microfinance organization that provides microenterprise training and tools of the trade and sewing machines or startup capital to unbanked entrepreneurs in the textile value chain. Women are marginalized in East Africa, whereby one in hundreds have a formal bank account. Lack of collateral or financial history limits women’s access to credit and consequently, their socio-economic mobility. As CEO of Jiwo Paro, I have been instrumental in changing the narrative of those communities I have been able to engage to date.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse. Through the MBA class, I have learned to engage with people from different cultures and to assimilate into new environments that may appear to be unfamiliar to me. I have learned to work cross-culturally and embrace new ideas and ways of thinking. I have learned that it is important to take the plunge and experience things out of one’s comfort zone, if growth is to be achieved. These ideals have been of great significance to me, and I will continue to build on them throughout this MBA program.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? In 2016, I took an Executive Education Program on Innovation for Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School where Professor Daniel Isenberg was teaching. He cited some cases from Babson College, which reflected the current position of Babson as the No. 1 in Entrepreneurship in the USA.  Thus, I chose the Babson MBA, confident that I would receive instruction from top notch professionals on how best I could contribute to the regional and global discussion on financial inclusion by curating entrepreneurial mindset and consequently contributing to social change in Kenya.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Consulting Club

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I am interested in the implementation and monitoring mechanism for financial services, products and standards. The MBA would be a platform for sharing and exchange from diverse backgrounds, countries, and industries where the students draw from. With these connections and perspectives from across the world, I will be better equipped to comprehend and devise strategies to many of the shortcomings I encountered in my work across emerging markets, more so as an independent consultant in what may seem to be a hostile environment for young progressive minds.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Babson has a great reputation for entrepreneurship. First, entrepreneurship has far reaching consequences in solving the problems we encounter daily providing formidable financial services to the poor. I am particularly interested in integrating technology to expand such services. Thus, an MBA within Boston and particularly at Babson was a perfect mix. Babson was supportive. Besides, I am a Diversity Leadership Scholar, which is a full tuition scholarship for the MBA!

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard Business School and the University of Notre Dame

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I wanted to study in a school with an international reputation. I also wanted a program that would impact my personal and professional development as well as gain me credibility in the international consulting space. First, financial support was top of my priority. I needed a scholarship to study for the MBA. Additionally, I wanted an MBA in a place where it would be easy to settle in, where diversity is appreciated. That is why I chose Babson.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In 2016, I took part in a consulting assignment where I was supporting a top microfinance bank in Cambodia to review its agent banking strategy and products before developing a 5-year strategy plan. Realizing the many challenges that women face in accessing basic financial services, I returned to Kenya and started Jiwo Paro, loaning low income women sewing machines to enable them start their apparel microenterprises. Little as my contribution may be, I believe that it has been instrumental in molding these women into successful entrepreneurs in the textile industry and become successful leaders in their community. I am learning what it takes to grow a startup into a financial partner of choice for all microentrepreneurs working directly with tailors in the textile value chain.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Given the exposure I will have had out of Babson, I envision that upon my return to Kenya, I will be better equipped to devise strategies to many of my organization’s challenges. Before that, I do want some experience. Thus, I envision myself engaging in a top consulting firm in the US or Europe where I can build on my experiences and knowledge that I will need to position Jiwo Paro on its path to growth.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years from now, I envision myself working at working in with an intergovernmental body such as the International Finance Corporation, or The Gates Foundation where I can continue to actively effect change in policy and practice of responsible financial services across the world.

Fupeng Pei

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“I will persist until I succeed.”

Hometown: Beijing China

Fun Fact About Yourself: Next year in April, I will become a father.

Undergraduate School and Major: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Engineering.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, District Sales Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am one of the youngest sales manager in Eli Lilly China.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Smarts, perseverance, and creativity. For example, recently in a class assignment, every group created smart ideas to promote their business in order to get more profit. All of us succeeded and got great results.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Definitely the Entrepreneurship. Babson has the best entrepreneurship resources. I can learn the knowledge on how to run a company and how to become an entrepreneur. In the Babson academic center, I have so many opportunities to practice entrepreneurship, share the experience, and attend entrepreneurship programs and forums.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Business Analytics

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? For my short-term career goal, I want to switch my job from sales to marketing and strategy. So during my MBA, I can get a lot of knowledge, such as finance, marketing, strategy, and data analytics to help me achieve my goal.

For my long-term goal, I want to start my own business so I chose the Babson MBA to help me increase my experience in entrepreneurship.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Depends on the career goal. You have to think about whether the MBA can help you achieve your specific goals.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Boston College.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Campus visit is the most efficient way to understand a business school. You can talk with the current students and participate in a class. All of those experiences are first-hand information and help you gain a deep understand of the program and business school.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Moving to Boston is one of my defining moments. A new country and new environment makea me better and gives me a deep understanding of the American culture.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am planning to find a job in marketing or strategy in healthcare industry.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Beijing

Ashley Taylor

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Mountain climbing mom of four: believer in smiles, hugs, spicy curries, and effective altruism.”

Hometown: Provo, Utah

Fun Fact About Yourself: I speak Slovenian.

Undergraduate School and Major: Brigham Young University, English major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Taylor Custom Rings, Co-founder

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being a mom to four children has definitely been my greatest accomplishment, and I do consider it as part of my career!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I fell in love with my classmates on day one. Above all, I would call them generous. They are friendly, accepting, and supportive to a really remarkable degree. They come from all different countries, industries, and backgrounds, but they are open to others’ ideas, anxious to learn about and experience other cultures, and very helpful and collaborative in nature. You get the sense that everyone wants to help you succeed, and that creates a cycle of generosity in the school – I hope it spills into the world!

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was drawn to Babson’s focus on entrepreneurship, and I have not been disappointed. Every course is taught through the lens of the entrepreneur, and a myriad of resources are available to those seeking to launch or grow a new venture.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am very excited about the Butler Launchpad and Summer Venture Program.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have been nurturing aspirations of launching a social enterprise, and personally, I have come to a point where investing my time in a master’s program is feasible.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An entrepreneurship-focused MBA seemed like the best way to pursue my interest in social entrepreneurship, so I decided it was worth the cost. The decision was based more on the rightness of the program than on projected income, so in that way I likely differ from others pursuing more conventional paths where ROI is more clear-cut.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford GSB, Berkeley Haas, Harvard, MIT Sloan, Duke Fuqua

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I was most interested in which program would help me the most toward my goal of launching a social-purpose venture. A collaborative culture embracing true diversity was also of paramount importance to me. School visits, interviews, and copious research helped me evaluate these criteria.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? After the birth of my third child, I struggled with debilitating postpartum anxiety and depression for nearly a year. It changed the way I saw emotions, vulnerability, and relationships. While I was always bent toward caring for people, the experience deepened my empathy and opened my understanding. Now, whenever I go through hard things, I try to take the invitation to grow in courage, compassion and connection.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to work on my new venture after graduation.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope by then to have helped many people through my growing social enterprise. I might even have the chance to help other starry-eyed entrepreneurs to make an impact with their careers.

 

 

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