From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action

Babson College
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Monthly

A fast-changing and unpredictable world demands leaders with this visionary mindset to navigate complexity and seize opportunities. Welcome to From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action Presented by Babson College.Join us each episode as we spotlight inspiring entrepreneurial leaders and innovators from the Babson community and beyond. They’re shaping tomorrow’s world by addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges—like improving healthcare access, advancing sustainability, transforming media representation, and much more.Discover stories that will inspire and empower you—and maybe even spark your next big idea.

  1. Jul 27

    From Apocalypse to Opportunity: What AI Means for the Future of Education

    What happens when a technology powerful enough to transform society could also threaten it? Inspired by the documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, Babson College experts Patti Patria and Kristi Girdharry explore the promises, risks, and realities of artificial intelligence in higher education. Patria is the chief information officer at Babson, guiding the College’s use of AI and supporting academic AI initiatives while managing risk through policy and technology. Girdharry is an associate teaching professor and co-leader of The Generator, Babson's interdisciplinary AI lab, who describes herself as engaging AI critically from its "unsettled middle." In this episode, they explore how higher education must evolve, teaching not just AI fluency but also the critical thinking, ethics, and human judgment that no algorithm can replace. At the center of the conversation is entrepreneurial leadership and the ability to embrace emerging technologies while putting people, values, and responsible decision-making first. Show Notes Trailer- The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimisthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvq-jYira9I Article: ‘The AI Doc’ Is Probably the Scariest Movie You’ll See All Yearhttps://www.kqed.org/arts/13986980/the-ai-documentary-review-daniel-roher-how-i-became-an-apocaloptimist About Patty Patria Babson Magazizne: Babson CIO Patty Patria on Leading in Technology and the AI Transformation https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/people-of-babson-patty-patria/ Babson Thought & Action: Babson CIO Patty Patria Earns ORBIE Award for Technology Leadershiphttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/patty-patria-orbie-award/ About Kristi Girdharry Babson Magazine: How a Writing Professor Embraces AI at Babsonhttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/office-hours-kristi-girdharry/ “ A writing professor’s new task in the age of AI: Teaching students when to struggle” by Kristi Girdharry https://theconversation.com/a-writing-professors-new-task-in-the-age-of-ai-teaching-students-when-to-struggle-276590

  2. Jun 11

    Jake Thibeault: When Adversity Rewrites Your Business Plan

    What happens when the life you planned for yourself disappears in a single moment? A devastating hockey injury left Jake Thibeault ’26 paralyzed, and presented him with a challenge every founder eventually encounters: Surrender to circumstances or rebuild from a completely different reality. In this episode, we bring you Thibeault’s inspiring student address at Babson College’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony, where he blends humor, humility, and hard-earned wisdom. Show Notes Watch: Jake Thibeault ’26 2026 Undergraduate Student Speaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXEsEXHEUWw Read Transcript of Jake’s Speech- Babson Thought & Action: Jake Thibeault ’26 Delivers Babson’s Student Commencement Addresshttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-commencement-address/ Babson Thought & Action: Never Alone: The Journey of Jake Thibeault ’26 to the Commencement Stagehttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-never-alone/ Babson Magazine: ‘More than Hockey’: Jake Thibeault and the Power of Brotherly Bondshttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-more-than-hockey/

  3. May 11

    When Hustle Starts to Hurt

    What happens when the same relentless drive that fuels success begins to quietly unravel the person behind it? Emmy-and Grammy-winning film editor Sammy Dane ’15 reveals how entrepreneurial leadership isn’t just about building a career, it’s about navigating obsession, burnout, and the courage to reset. From walking 5 miles home in tears at dawn to trusting his instincts over security, Dane’s story reframes ambition as both a strength and a risk. In the end, leadership isn’t just about shaping stories on screen, it’s about learning when to rewrite your own. Show Notes Sammy Dane’s Website: https://sammydane.com/ Sammy Dane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammy-dane-58740423/ Babson Thought and Leadership, “Inspiring Viewers to Take Action through Film” https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/filming-with-sammy-dane/ Babson Magazine, “The Enduring Impact of Babson’s Posse Scholars” https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/impact-of-babson-posse/ The First Wave - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZR2VltfBSg, courtesy National Geographic American Symphony - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKSMsdq8ONs, courtesy Netflix

  4. Mar 30

    Why Health Care Needs Entrepreneurial Leaders Now

    What if the single most important reform in American health care has nothing to do with policy, technology, or funding and everything to do with how we train leaders to think like entrepreneurs? Dr. Errol Norwitz, executive director of the Kerry Murphy Healy Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Babson College, makes a bold and urgent case that the people who understand health care's problems best, frontline providers, already hold the solutions, but lack the entrepreneurial mindset and permission to act on them. In this episode, Norwitz challenges the next generation of health care leaders to stop stumbling into the field by accident, and instead choose it early, question everything they're taught, and build the courage to drive change from the inside out. Show Notes Dr. Norwitz’s Linkedin bio https://www.linkedin.com/in/errolnorwitz/ Poets and Quants: “Why Healthcare needs Entrepreneurs To Fix a Broken System” https://poetsandquants.com/2025/12/29/the-pq-interview-babsons-errol-norwitz-on-why-healthcare-needs-entrepreneurs-to-fix-a-broken-system/ Babson Thought & Action: Dr. Errol Norwitz Named New Executive Director of the Kerry Murphy Healy Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurshiphttps://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/errol-norwitz-kmh-center/ Babson Thought & Action: A Doctor and Entrepreneur Reflects on His New Role at Babson https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/doctor-and-entrepreneur/ About the Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship https://www.babson.edu/healthcare-entrepreneurship-center/

  5. Feb 23

    If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Build It

    When the market ignores customers, what does it take for an entrepreneurial leader to fill the void? Babson College student Jolie Wyatt ’26 was tired of being overlooked and is now on a mission to change footwear for millions of women. In this episode, Wyatt shares how she launched If The Shoe Fits, a tech-driven startup designing custom footwear addressing the lack of options for women’s sizes, such as the size 12 she wears. Jolie explains how entrepreneurial leadership, vulnerability, and resilience helped her transform a personal frustration into a scalable business. From leading student government at Babson to navigating chronic illness, Wyatt shows how bold, mission-driven entrepreneurship can create impact beyond profit. Show Notes Jolie Wyatt BIO https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliewyatt/ Jolie’s Story https://iftheshoefits.co/pages/our-story If The Shoe Fits https://iftheshoefits.co/ Babson Thought & Action: “From Acceptance to Leadership: The Personal Journey of Babson’s SGA President” https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/sga-president/ Babson Thought & Action: “Babson Entrepreneurs Lead the Way on BostInno’s 25 Under 25 List” https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/bostinno-25-under-25-2/

  6. Jan 20

    How Can Colleges and Universities Lead in Health and Wellness?

    Student well-being has moved from the margins to the center of higher education, and for good reason. Today’s students are feeling the squeeze of unprecedented pressure, heightened security concerns, and the nonstop anxiety of our times. In this episode, we unpack how colleges are adapting, with two innovative national leaders on campus well-being: Ryan Travia, Ed.D., Associate Vice President for Student Success at Babson College, and Dr. Thad Mantaro, Dean of Student Health and Wellness at Dallas College. Though their schools serve students in different regions and different socio-economic backgrounds, their work reveals a common road map for what’s working, what’s falling short, and what students truly need to thrive in our times. Show Notes Ryan Travia: https://www.babson.edu/health-and-wellness/meet-the-staff/ryan-travia/ Thad Mantaro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-thaddeus-mantaro-7435728/ Ryan Travia and Thad Mantaro’s book, “Well-Being Leadership in Higher Education” https://www.naspa.org/book/well-being-leadership-in-higher-education-a-guide-for-successful-well-being-programs Babson Thought & Action: “Leading the Way: Babson Wellness Chief Elevates Well-Being Priorities in Higher Education: https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/well-being-in-higher-education/ Babson College Health and Wellbeing: https://www.babson.edu/undergraduate/student-life/mental-health-and-wellbeing/\ Dallas College: Student Well-being and Health Promotion: https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/health-centers/health-promotion/ Dallas College: Eight Dimensions of Wellness: https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/health-centers/health-promotion/wellness/

  7. 12/15/2025

    Shark Tank’s Biggest Miss: Ring’s Jamie Siminoff

    What happens when passion becomes both the greatest gift and the biggest risk for an entrepreneurial leader? For Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21, the founder of Ring, his passion was undeniable as he pursued his dream. But after failing to secure an investor on Shark Tank, Siminoff faced rejection and self-doubt and then a moment of self-reflection. In this episode, we revisit his journey, from Babson College to Shark Tank to now as a co-author of "Ding Dong: How Ring Went From Shark Tank Reject To Everyone's Front Door." Siminoff’s journey carries the emotional weight of leadership, and reflects how he balanced bold vision with humility and reminds every entrepreneurial leader that innovation thrives not on perfection, but on the courage to fall, rebuild, and rise again, ultimately leading to his billion-dollar breakthrough. Show Notes Jamie’s appearance on Shark Tank https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-iVXiXedc Babson Magazine: The Biggest Miss in “Shark Tank” History: Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21 Looks Back https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/ring-on-shark-tank/ Babson Magazine: Shaq, a Snowstorm Ride, and Other Entrepreneurial Tales from Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff ’99, H’21 https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/entrepreneurial-tales-from-jamie-siminoff/ Babson Magazine: Meet the Babson Names Behind Your Favorite “Shark Tank” Products https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/babson-shark-tank-products/ Fortune: Ring’s founder went from shoveling horse stalls to selling to Amazon for $1.15 billion and says work-life balance is a myth https://fortune.com/2025/11/10/ring-founder-jamie-siminoff-hustle-success-story-no-work-life-balance-sold-to-amazon-billion-dollar-company/ Inc.: How Ring’s Jamie Siminoff Navigated Failure to Achieve Great Success https://www.inc.com/video/how-rings-jamie-siminoff-navigated-failure-to-achieve-great-success.html

  8. 11/17/2025

    Food Insecurity, Nutrition, and the Power of Leadership

    What if ending hunger took the same entrepreneurial leadership as launching a startup? That’s exactly how Jeni Wheeler MBA’05 tackled food insecurity. Drawing on her Babson-trained mindset and personal hardship, Wheeler founded the Family Table Collaborative—now feeding thousands across Cape Cod. In this episode, hear how she used business modeling and social entrepreneurship to turn crisis into opportunity, creating a sustainable system that rescues food and nourishes families in need. Wheeler’s story shows that entrepreneurial thinking isn’t just for profit—it’s also for purpose, transforming how we confront today’s most pressing social challenges. Show Notes Profile of Jeni Wheeler: https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jeni-wheeler-cape-cod/ Family Table Collaborative: https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/ Donate to the Family Table Collaborative: https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/donate Volunteer for the Family Table Collaborative: https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/getinvolved Profile in Cape Cod Culinary Incubator: https://capeculinary.org/aprils-foodie-interview-jeni-wheeler/ Profile in Edible Cape Cod: https://ediblecapecod.ediblecommunities.com/food-thought/food-thought-where-food-and-faith-meet/ Video Q&A with Atwood Museum- Chatham Historical Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwkmu08vakk

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A fast-changing and unpredictable world demands leaders with this visionary mindset to navigate complexity and seize opportunities. Welcome to From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action Presented by Babson College.Join us each episode as we spotlight inspiring entrepreneurial leaders and innovators from the Babson community and beyond. They’re shaping tomorrow’s world by addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges—like improving healthcare access, advancing sustainability, transforming media representation, and much more.Discover stories that will inspire and empower you—and maybe even spark your next big idea.

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