From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action

About From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action

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.

Publisher

Babson College

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Mar 2025

Latest episode

10 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Passion, Perseverance, Impact: Season Two’s Memorable Moments

   Can entrepreneurial leadership actually change the world, or is it just a nice idea that sounds better in a classroom than it plays out in real life? That's the question our podcast set out to answer this season. In this season 2 finale, host Kara Baskin brings it all home, revisiting the boldest voices and biggest moments of the year: Sandy Bravo's no-nonsense take on fixing America's broken foster care system, Jamie Siminoff's blunt reminder that the smartest investments are always in people, never pitch decks, and a string of guests who refused to accept "that's just how it is" as an answer. Along the way, one truth kept surfacing louder than the rest: whether the conversation turned to food insecurity on Cape Cod, AI in the classroom, cancer care, student wellness, or a hockey rink, the entrepreneurial lens never changed; don't just see the problem, see the entire ecosystem that created it, then go fix it. The season closes with a gut-punch: Babson Class of 2026 commencement speaker Jake Thibeault, a student-athlete left paralyzed by a hockey hit, delivers a message about resilience and uncertainty that lands like a mic drop — a reminder that entrepreneurial leadership was never just a business philosophy. It's a way of moving through life when life stops asking permission.

2. 

   27 Jul 2026

   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.

3. 

   11 Jun 2026

   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.

4. 

   11 May 2026

   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.

5. 

   30 Mar 2026

   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.

6. 

   23 Feb 2026

   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/

7. 

   20 Jan 2026

   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/

8. 

   15 Dec 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.

9. 

   17 Nov 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.

10. 

    21 Oct 2025

    How Do You Assemble a Winning Team?

    What if talent isn’t enough to win? And what if entrepreneurial leadership is the key—by asking, how can we align individual strengths to create a team that truly performs together? In this episode, Babson College hockey coach Jamie Rice '90 fosters a culture of ownership that mirrors the entrepreneurial mindset. Hockey offers a unique lens on entrepreneurial leadership, showing that success comes not only from preparation and skill, but also from the ability to read shifting dynamics and empower individuals in real time. Rice's approach transforms both student-athletes and leaders, showing that great teams, like great ventures, are built on people who trust, learn, and grow together. Ultimately, Rice challenges the idea that leadership belongs only to star players or those with titles. Role players, bench leaders, and unsung contributors can have as much influence on outcomes as captains or CEOs. By recognizing and empowering these voices, entrepreneurial leaders- whether on the rink, in the classroom, or in the boardroom- can build winning teams that thrive under pressure, adapt to change, and achieve more than the sum of their parts.

11. 

    25 Sept 2025

    An Audacious Plan to Fix Foster Care

    What if the foster care system wasn’t broken beyond repair, but simply waiting for entrepreneurial leadership to reimagine it? In this episode, Sandra Bravo MBA’87, an associate professor of practice at Babson College, shares her bold 440K Project, designed to bring the number of children in foster care from 440,000 down to zero. Host Kara Baskin explores how Bravo’s approach breaks a massive challenge into actionable solutions, such as technology, adoption campaigns, and community partnerships. Together, they uncover how visionaries turn impossible problems into possibilities.

12. 

    20 May 2025

    Changing the Game

    If you watched the Paris Olympics in 2024, it was hard to miss the coverage on sports and mental health. Specifically, the amazing comeback story of Simone Biles, who became the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time after withdrawing from the Tokyo Games due to mental health issues in 2020. The narrative around sports and mental health requires nuance, and the specific situations smatter greatly. For example, in the world of elite athletes, a study conducted by the International Olympic Committee in 2019 found that up to 35 percent have mental health concerns. The intense pressure to perform and achieve perfection can often be a contributing factor to depression or anxiety. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, a widely cited 2019 study by the NIH noted that sports often has a net positive outcome on mental health in adults. And for kids, sports are generally accepted as something with positive outcomes on metal health, grades, physical health, and social emotional growth. However, as kids’ sports become more specialized and intense, sometimes mental health issues emerge even in these arenas. In this episode, we’ll speak with three entrepreneurial leaders each at the intersection of sports and mental health, who are creating access to mental health resources and provoking conversations surrounding it. First, an entrepreneurial leader in philanthropy who is helping organizations secure grants to do lifesaving work. A Babson alum and CEO of a nonprofit that has reached over 1 million kids with group mental health services through sports and a Babson alum and former basketball player whose nonprofit supports mental health services for college and elite athletes. Beth Brown, Managing Director of Mental Health and Well-Being at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation David S. Cohen ‘95, CEO of Doc Wayne Teddy Sourlis ‘22, CEO and Founder of Men’s x Mental, Inc. Sources: Intro and Outro Segments: 1. Reardon CL, Hainline B, Aron CM, Baron D, Baum AL, Bindra A, Budgett R, Campriani N, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Currie A, Derevensky JL, Glick ID, Gorczynski P, Gouttebarge V, Grandner MA, Han DH, McDuff D, Mountjoy M, Polat A, Purcell R, Putukian M, Rice S, Sills A, Stull T, Swartz L, Zhu LJ, Engebretsen L. Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019). Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jun;53(11):667-699. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100715. PMID: 31097450. 2. Eather N, Wade L, Pankowiak A, Eime R. The impact of sports participation on mental health and social outcomes in adults: a systematic review and the ’Mental Health through Sport’ conceptual model. Syst Rev. 2023 Jun 21;12(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02264-8. PMID: 37344901; PMCID: PMC10286465. 3. (2024, August 13). Athlete Mental Health: What You Need to Know. Mcleanhospital.org. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/athlete-mh 4. Brenner JS, LaBotz M, Sugimoto D, Stracciolini A. The Psychosocial Implications of Sport Specialization in Pediatric Athletes. J Athl Train. 2019 Oct;54(10):1021-1029. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-394-18. Epub 2019 Sep 18. PMID: 31532693; PMCID: PMC6805069. 5. https://988lifeline.org/ Beth’s Segment: 1. https://blankfoundation.org/ 2. https://www.adcouncil.org/ 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfUBNsnpMw 4. https://loveyourmindtoday.org/ David’s Segment: https://docwayne.org/ Teddy’s Segment: https://mensxmental.org/ Credits: Paul DeWolf, Executive Producer Madeline Poirier, Writer, Producer, and Host Billy Wirasnik, Audio Recording, Design, and Mix Epidemic Sound, Music and SFX

13. 

    5 May 2025

    Do Well by Doing Good

    If you live in the U.S., chances are you have a lot of stuff. Or at least you want to have a lot of stuff. As the MIT Press Reader notes in their brief history of consumer culture ’consumption is now frequently seen as our principal role in the world.’ We’ve been trained in a way to want more stuff, and that stuff takes a lot of resources to make, to ship, and then at the end of its life, to dispose of. And as sustainability becomes an increasingly important conversation for our collective future, how are brands looking at these problems? How do we account for all this waste and energy that we’re consuming? Can a company make consumer goods like clothes and electronics more sustainable without sacrificing their bottom line? Today, we’re tackling just about the biggest entrepreneurial problem there is in consumer goods - Sustainability. We’ll hear from two Babson College alumni and entrepreneurial leaders who are at the forefront of reimagining processes and their businesses and pointing us to a more sustainable future. And perhaps also a more thoughtful approach to consumerism. And we’ll speak with a renowned Babson accounting scholar who will help us understand how integrating sustainability practices into your balance sheet can not only create tangible value, but intangible value for your brand as well. Uddhav Bagrodia ‘21, Co-Founder and President of Wastewear Brigitte Wudernitz Muehlmann, PhD., MST, Professor in the Division of Accounting and Law at Babson College Samuel D. Herec MBA ‘25, VP of Product and Sustainability at TIvoli Audio Sources: Intro Segment: Higgs, K. (2021, January 11). A Brief History of Consumer Culture. The MIT Press Reader. Retrieved April 2, 2025, from https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-history-of-consumer-culture/ Uddhav’s Segment: https://www.wastewear.com/ Ruiz, A. (2024, March 18). 47 Official Sustainable Fashion Statistics. TheRoundup.org. Retrieved April 2, 2025, from https://theroundup.org/sustainable-fashion-statistics/ 2. Yorke, S. (2024, November 12). What is Sustainable Fashion? Oxfam.org. Retrieved April 2, 2025, from https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/7-facts-about-sustai nable-fashion/ (2025, March 30). Environmental Sustainability in the Fashion Industry. GenevaEnvironmentNetwork.org. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainabl e-fashion/ Circle Economy (n.d.). The Circularity Gap Report - Textiles. Circularity-Gap.World. https://www.circularity-gap.world/textiles 5. California State Legislature (2024, September 30). SB-707 Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024. California Legislative Information. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=2023202 40SB707#:~:text=This%20bill%20would%20enact%20a,producer%20resp onsibility%20organization%20or%20PRO. Professor Muelhmann’s Segment: The five entrepreneurial practices are from the book “Teaching Entrepreneurship: A Practice-Based Approach” by Heidi Neck, Candy Brush and Patty Greene. https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Entrepreneurship-Practice-Based-Heidi-Neck/dp/178 2540695 Sam’s Segment: https://tivoliaudio.com/ Evers, J. (2025, April 23). The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. NationalGeographic.org. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ Credits: Paul DeWolf, Executive Producer Madeline Poirier, Writer, Producer, and Host Billy Wirasnik, Audio Recording, Design, and Mix Epidemic Sound, Music and SFX

14. 

    17 Apr 2025

    Brand Love: Representation in Media

    Even though the advertising and entertainment industries have made strides in trying to be more inclusive and speak more directly to different consumer groups, work remains to be done. Research done by the Geena Davis Institute shows that representation for women, LGBTQIA+ race, disability, age and body size was actually shrinking for some audiences in recent years. So why does representation in media matter? How does it affect the business landscape in terms of sales and brand equity? And beyond even that, how does representation in the content we view every day affect consumers and how they view themselves? And how can entrepreneurial leaders lay the groundwork in the content creation ecosystem for creating authentic stories? In this episode, three entrepreneurial leaders talk about how authentic storytelling and representation in media can make an impact not only on a company’s bottom line, but on the customers they serve. We’ll speak with a Babson alum who’s an advertising Hall of Fame inductee and visionary creative agency leader. Babson’s own resident marketing expert, who will help us break down the connections between representation brands and consumers. And an entrepreneur who’s bringing inclusive casting practices for photo and video to a whole new level. Aaron Walton ’83, CEO and Founder Walton / Isaacson, Advertisers Hall of Fame Inductee Anjali S. Bal, PhD., Associate Professor of Marketing and Presidential Scholar at Babson College Kristie Raymond, Founder & Chief Casting Strategist, HumanKind Casting Sources: Intro Segment 1. (2024, September 1). See Jane 2024. The Geena Davis Institute. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from (Geena Davis Institute (2024, September 1). See Jane 2024: How Has On-Screen Representation in Children’s Television Changed from 2018 to 2023? Https://Geenadavisinstitute.org/. Retrieved February 24, 12025, from https://geenadavisinstitute.org/research/see-jane-2024-how-has-on-screen-repre sentation-in-childrens-television-changed-from-2018-to-2023/). Aaron’s Segment 1. Mckinsey & Company (2020, May 19). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. Mckinsey.com. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins -how-inclusion-matters 2. Gartner (2019, September 20). Diversity and Inclusion Build High-Performance Teams. Gartner.com. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/diversity-and-inclusion-build-high-per formance-teams 3. World Economic Forum (2019, April 29). The Business Case for Diversity is now Overwhelming. Weforum.org. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/04/business-case-for-diversity-in-the-work place/ Professor Bal’s Segment 1. 2. NeuroLaunch Editorial Team. (2024, September 15). The psychological power of using someone’s name. NeuroLaunch. Retrieved from https://neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-calling-someone-by-their-name/ Bond, J. (2021, August 30). The impact of respecting another person’s gender. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/more-diagnosis/202108/the-impact-res pecting-another-persons-gender Credits: Paul DeWolf, Executive Producer Madeline Poirier, Writer, Producer, and Host Billy Wirasnik, Audio Recording, Design, and Mix Epidemic Sound, Music and SFX

15. 

    31 Mar 2025

    Trust the System

    The way leaders are problem solving in the world we live in today is changing. The World Economic Forum has been touting the practice of systems thinking for years, which you can loosely define as a way of viewing problems and the path to their solutions in a multi-dimensional approach, as opposed to a linear path. Similarly, the concept of biomimicry, or analyzing a problem and evaluating solutions based on how nature would approach it, is another concept taking off in the business landscape. Especially as business and governments try to align behind sustainability goals and targets. In this episode, three entrepreneurial leaders talk about how systems thinking and biomimicry help drive their businesses from ocean cleanup to becoming simultaneously profitable and water positive. Ela Gokcigdem ‘24, Blue Economy Specialist Vikki L. Rodgers, PhD., Professor of Ecology and the Science Director and Integrated Sustainability Director at Babson Ramón Mendiola, Sustainable Business Leader, Former CEO of Florida Ice and Farm Company (FIFCO), Current Babson Board Member

16. 

    31 Mar 2025

    Believe Them, Include Them, Fund Them

    According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s 2023/24 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report, startup activity among women has risen steadily over the past 25 years, even as they face headwinds related to cultural perceptions of women in business and limited access to capital. One of the effects of this activity is women entrepreneurs who are taking problems affecting women in healthcare and creating business solutions to address them. In this episode, four entrepreneurial leaders in the women’s health innovation space, taking problems in women’s healthcare and leading the way to possibilities. Elissa Kalver Founder and CEO of Wegotthis.org Dr. Wiljeana Glover, Associate Professor in Operations and Information Management, and the founding faculty director of the Kerry Murphy Healey Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Babson College Elizabeth Bailey, Co-Founder and Managing director of Foreground Capital Mary Tinebra, Business Partner and Chief Commercialization Officer at Inflection

17. 

    31 Mar 2025

    What is Entrepreneurial Leadership?

    What is entrepreneurial leadership? And how can entrepreneurial leaders solve the problems that have perplexed so many others? New research from Babson College faculty proposes that entrepreneurial leadership is a paradigm-shifting model that could have a long-term impacts for businesses and organizations of all kinds. To outline how entrepreneurial leadership actually works, we’ve got two of Babson’s foremost researchers here today: Professor Scott Taylor, Professor of organizational behavior and the Arthur M. Blank endowed chair for values-based leadership Professor Danna Greenberg the Walter H. Carpenter professor of organizational behavior, also serving as the associate dean of the Faculty Division and chair of the management division They have co-authored with four colleagues a recently published paper that offers the first academic model for how entrepreneurial leaders can move teams from problems to possibilities.

18. 

    26 Mar 2025

    From Problems to Possibilities

    The world is evolving. The problems we’re facing are too big to be solved by any organization alone. A lot is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: change is coming. And the people driving it are entrepreneurial leaders.

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