Babson College Hosts Babson Connect: Worldwide - Its Inaugural Latin America Summit / Global MBA Reunion in Cartagena, Colombia

WELLESLEY, Mass., April 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College is hosting its inaugural Latin America Summit / Global Master of Business Administration Reunion -- Babson Connect: Worldwide -- an unprecedented opportunity for the global Babson community to gather and celebrate Entrepreneurship of All Kinds^®.  This global gathering is taking place April 24-26, 2015 in historic Cartagena, Colombia, a celebrated World Heritage city.

Attendees at this prestigious, three-day global business summit will include Babson alumni, parents, and friends from Latin America; Babson alumni from around the world; and prominent regional entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Cartagena is the ideal host city for the summit, given Babson's long and deep connections with that part of the world:

• The region is home to over 1,200 alumni,
• 81 current MBA students are from Latin America, and
• More than 150 current undergraduate students are from Latin America.

Babson's entrepreneurial culture thrives in Latin America:

• Over 75 Latin American businesses are owned by Babson alumni, and
• Nearly 100 businesses in Latin America are owned by Babson parents

"Babson College's strong relationships throughout Latin America are so important to our global reach, academic reputation and diversity," said Babson President Kerry Healey. "Currently, 41 percent of Babson MBA students come from Latin America — including 10 from Colombia. Their enthusiasm and impact as entrepreneurial leaders serves as a cornerstone for economic and social growth across the region while creating exciting opportunities for collaboration around the world."

"It is my pleasure to host Babson Connect: Worldwide in Cartagena, Colombia, my home country, and one of the most sought-after destinations for investment and entrepreneurial opportunities in Latin America. Colombia is a premier Latin American hotspot for entrepreneurship, leadership, and social enterprise, which makes this a perfect venue for Babson Connect: Worldwide. I hope that this forum in Cartagena will enhance Babson's spirit and the ties with its MBA alumni network worldwide," said Carlos Mattos MBA '76 P'17.

Entrepreneurial Culture in Colombia

According to the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Colombia report, the country is a leader in entrepreneurial thinking.

The entrepreneurial pipeline concept indicates that, in the Colombian adult population:

• 77% have a positive socio-cultural perception about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs,
• 65% are potential entrepreneurs,
• 55% are intentional entrepreneurs,
• 14% are nascent entrepreneurs,
• 10% are new entrepreneurs, and
• 6% of adults in Colombia are established entrepreneurs.

Babson Connect: Worldwide Events

• Engaging keynote speakers and panels discussing emerging trends in entrepreneurship, family business, global investing, and social enterprise;
• A gala celebrating the newest inductee into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^®, and the first ever Lewis Community Changemaker Award winner;
• A corporate education workshop from Babson Executive Education designed to explore ways to drive growth and create value.

Babson Faculty Presentations

• Leading into the Future: Innovative Entrepreneurs vs. Corporate Caligulas - Jay Rao, Professor, Technology, Operations & Information Management;
• Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business - Raj Sisodia, F.W. Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business;
• Building Entrepreneurship Ecosystem – The Manizales Mas Project - Dan Isenberg, Professor of Entrepreneurship Practice at Babson Executive and Enterprise Education, Executive Director of the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project (BEEP):

         Panelists:

• Marcela Escobar Arango - Manizales Mas Director,
• Sebastián Escobar Aristizabal - Esar CEO,
• Jose Alfredo Restrepo Echeverry - Luker Foundation Chairman,
• Nicolas Restrepo Escobar - La Patria Newspaper CEO,
• Gabriel Cadena Gomez - Autonoma University President,
• Lina Maria Ramirez Londono - Manizales' Chamber of Commerce President,
• Oscar Villegas Velasquez - Sumatec CEO,
• Pablo Jaramillo Villegas - Luker Foundation CEO;
  
  
• Global Lessons from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business and 10,000 Women - Patricia G. Greene, Paul T. Babson Chair in Entrepreneurship; Candida Brush, Franklin W. Olin Chair and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Division Chair-Entrepreneurship, Research Director-Arthur M. Blank Center; Facilitated by Babson Executive Education Dean Elaine Eisenman.

Influencer Presentations

• Building Competitive and Entrepreneurial Cities – Babson Global's Competitiveness and Enterprise Cities Project - Panel presentation with Shanker Singham, Managing Director, Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project, Babson Global; and Erick Brimen '06, Partner, NeWAY;
• Leveraging the Babson Network for Global Enterprise – Moderated by Babson President Kerry Healey, former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts; Martin Restrepo '17, IdeaPaint Sales Representative for South America; and Jeff Avallon '06, Vice President of Corporate Development, IdeaPaint;
• Latin America Family Enterprise: with Robert Murray Meza - Moderated by Pedro Martin P'17, Chief Executive Officer, LILA Ltd., Babson Global Advisory Board; and Bettina Beckhoff P'11, '14;
• Welcome Reception - Carlos Mattos MBA '76 P'17;
• Latin American Telecommunications – Juan Carlos Archila Cabal, President of Claro;
• Windows to the Future of Global Health, A Conversation with President Kerry Healey and Donald Hannan III, Director, Kletjian Foundation, concerning the collaboration of three major institutions - Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, and Babson College - around their developing Global Surgery Project.

Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^®

Babson is pleased to honor celebrated investor and philanthropist Jaime Gilinski as the newest member of Babson's Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^®.

In 1978, Babson College established the world's first entrepreneurship hall of fame, the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^®. Since its inception, the academy has recognized and honored entrepreneurs who have contributed significantly to the development of free enterprise throughout the world. Serving as Master of Ceremonies for the induction will be Professor Candida Brush, Chair of Babson's Entrepreneurship Division.

Community Changemaker Award

The Lewis Institute at Babson is pleased to present its Community Changemaker Award to social entrepreneur and President of the Juan Felipe Gómez Escobar Foundation, Catalina Escobar.

The Lewis Institute illuminates a path for students, faculty, and corporate partners seeking entry into the field of social innovation. Cheryl Kiser, Executive Director, The Lewis Institute and Babson Social Innovation Lab, will present the honor.

Babson Connect: Worldwide Leadership

Host Committee:

• Vicente Carvajal '91, Board of Overseers, Global Advisory Board,
• Abraham Chehebar '92,
• Alvaro F. Pena '96, President, Colombia Alumni Club, and
• Oriana Torres M'13, Colombia Alumni Club.

Advisory Board:

• Eduardo Barco '82, P'18, Global Advisory Board,
• Lupo M. del Bono '79, P'09, Board of Overseers, Global Advisory Board,
• Alvaro and Tanya Heilbron P'17, Global Advisory Board,
• Raymond Kassin '84, Global Advisory Board,
• Leo and Pearl Lynn Katz P'17,
• Jorge Massa and Anita Massa de Cisneros P'94,
• Carlos J. Mattos M'76, P'17,
• Andres Pastrana P'08 '18, Former President of Colombia,
• David Seinjet and Esther Perez P'17,
• Alberto Perlman '98, Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, and
• Giuseppina "Chiquina" Vinaccia '74, P'15, Global Advisory Board.

Student Committee:

• Fernan Arias M'15, Co-President Babson Latin American Club,
• Paola Gerlein '17,
• Billy Mata M'15, Co-President Babson Latin American Club,
• Valentina Pastrana '18,
• Maria Pereda M'15,
• Martin Restrepo '17, and
• Sanjay Zimmerman '15.

ACCREDITATION

Babson holds accreditation from NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), and EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System).

New England Association of Colleges and Schools

NEASC provides accreditation services for more than 2000 public and private institutions in the six state region—Pre-K through university.

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Babson College has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business. There are 681 business schools in 45 countries and territories that maintain AACSB accreditation.

EQUIS

Babson College has received full five-year EQUIS accreditation. Currently, only three U.S. schools are accredited by EQUIS. Worldwide, there are 147 EQUIS-accredited schools in 40 countries.

Babson College is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Babson College to advertise and recruit for the following degree program: Master of Business Administration. Authorization by the HECB does carry with it an endorsement by the board of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the HECB at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430.

About Babson College

Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds®. The College is a dynamic living and learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society—while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action^® as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value.

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CONTACT: Michael Chmura, 781 239 4549, [email protected]

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