From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXEsEXHEUWw] Read Transcript of Jake’s Speech- Babson Thought & Action: Jake Thibeault ’26 Delivers Babson’s Student Commencement Address https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-commencement-address/ [https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-commencement-address/] Babson Thought & Action: Never Alone: The Journey of Jake Thibeault ’26 to the Commencement Stage https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-never-alone/ [https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-never-alone/] Babson Magazine: ‘More than Hockey’: Jake Thibeault and the Power of Brotherly Bonds https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-more-than-hockey/ [https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/jake-thibeault-more-than-hockey/]

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/ [https://sammydane.com/] Sammy Dane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammy-dane-58740423/ [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/ [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/ [https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/impact-of-babson-posse/] The First Wave - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZR2VltfBSg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZR2VltfBSg], courtesy National Geographic American Symphony - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKSMsdq8ONs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKSMsdq8ONs], courtesy Netflix

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/ [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/ [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 Entrepreneurship https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/errol-norwitz-kmh-center/ [https://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/ [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/ [https://www.babson.edu/healthcare-entrepreneurship-center/]

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/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliewyatt/] Jolie’s Story https://iftheshoefits.co/pages/our-story [https://iftheshoefits.co/pages/our-story] If The Shoe Fits https://iftheshoefits.co/ [https://iftheshoefits.co/] Babson Thought & Action: “From Acceptance to Leadership: The Personal Journey of Babson’s SGA President” https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/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/ [https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/bostinno-25-under-25-2/]

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/ [https://www.babson.edu/health-and-wellness/meet-the-staff/ryan-travia/] Thad Mantaro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-thaddeus-mantaro-7435728/ [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 [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/ [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/\ [https://www.babson.edu/undergraduate/student-life/mental-health-and-wellbeing/%5C] Dallas College: Student Well-being and Health Promotion: https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/health-centers/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/ [https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/health-centers/health-promotion/wellness/]