Podcast
From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action
Hosted by Babson College · EN
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.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Apocalypse to Opportunity: What AI Means for the Future of Education
3w ago00:14:18Tap to summarizeWhat 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
Transcribe →Jake Thibeault: When Adversity Rewrites Your Business Plan
Jun 1100:07:43Tap to summarizeWhat 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/
Transcribe →When Hustle Starts to Hurt
May 1100:14:10Tap to summarizeWhat 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
Transcribe →Why Health Care Needs Entrepreneurial Leaders Now
Mar 3000:14:43Tap to summarizeWhat 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/
Transcribe →If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Build It
Feb 2300:16:06Tap to summarizeWhen 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/
Transcribe →How Can Colleges and Universities Lead in Health and Wellness?
Jan 2000:15:02Tap to summarizeStudent 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 NotesRyan 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-programsBabson 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/
Transcribe →Shark Tank’s Biggest Miss: Ring’s Jamie Siminoff
Dec 1500:14:27Tap to summarizeWhat 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 NotesJamie’s appearance on Shark Tank https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-iVXiXedcBabson 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
Transcribe →Food Insecurity, Nutrition, and the Power of Leadership
Nov 1700:17:15Tap to summarizeWhat 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 NotesProfile 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/donateVolunteer for the Family Table Collaborative: https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/getinvolvedProfile 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
Transcribe →How Do You Assemble a Winning Team?
Oct 2100:17:27Tap to summarizeWhat 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.SHOW NOTESJamie's Bio: https://babsonathletics.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/coaches/jamie-rice-90/529From Babson Magazine: ‘More than Hockey’: Jake Thibeault and the Power of Brotherly BondsFrom Babson Thought & Action: A Head Coach, a Backup Goalie, and the Inspiring Story of a Gift
Transcribe →An Audacious Plan to Fix Foster Care
Sep 2500:18:06Tap to summarizeWhat 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.SHOW NOTESSandy’s Bio: https://www.babson.edu/about/our-leaders-and-scholars/faculty-and-academic-divisions/faculty-profiles/sandra-bravo.phpBabson Magazine Profile: “Fighting for Those Too Often Forgotten” by John Crawford, Babson Magazine, Summer 2023Sandy’s TEDx Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pGl1Lrd90Sandy appears on “Exceptional Women” podcast: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/exceptional-women-1556e/episodes/sandy-bravo-on-exceptional-women-55602440K Project- https://440kproject.org/
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