Advisory Board

Carlos (Charly) Rojas Aboumrad is the Chief Executive Officer at Grupo Rotoplas, a leading company in the development of solutions for storing, carrying, treating, and purifying water throughout the Americas.

He received an MBA from Babson College and an undergraduate degree from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM). He is an industrial engineer, passionate about sustainability and technology for the creation of decentralized solutions with economic, social, and environmental impacts.

He has driven several innovation and development projects, as well as the expansion of the Group into new markets and businesses.

Khalid Al Tayer is the Managing Director of Al Tayer Insignia, the retail business of Al Tayer Group, after being appointed as its Chief Executive Officer from 2011 till 2019. Al Tayer Insignia represents over 60 luxury, lifestyle, beauty and hospitality brands including Harvey Nichols – Dubai, Bloomingdale’s (Dubai and Kuwait), Armani, Coach, Boucheron, Kiehl’s, and Gap. Al Tayer Insignia also operates its proprietary luxury ecommerce site Ounass.com, where Khalid is the CEO. In his time at the helm of the retail business, Khalid has spearheaded Joint Venture arrangements with Kering (Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen), LVMH (Bulgari and Loro Piana), Prada Group (Prada and Miu Miu), Ermenegildo Zegna, Brunello Cucinelli, Jimmy Choo, Thom Browne, and MCM.

Khalid currently serves as the Chairman of Taaleem, on the Board of the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS), the Board of the Fashion Commission at the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Board of the Retail Business Group at the Dubai Chamber.

Prior to joining Al Tayer Group as Group General Manager in 2005, Khalid founded an internet startup (makook.com), worked at McKinsey & Co. and Emirates Financial Services.

Khalid graduated with a Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurship, corporate finance and economics from Babson College in the U.S. in 1999.

Cynthia D. Alvarez is currently the Founder and CEO of Patrimonial Group and Opinio Alvarez Financial Planning Group in the Dominican Republic.

She is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional that specializes in personal and family financial planning, family governance and family entrepreneurship. She has an MBA from Babson College, a Master Planner Advanced Studies™ designation and a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ designation.

Throughout her 30-year career, she has assisted more than 750 individuals and families in reaching their life and financial goals. She is a multidisciplinary professional dedicated to the preservation, growth and transfer of family wealth and legacy.

She is a member of the Financial Planning Association® (FPA) in the United States and Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) in Dominican Republic.

Arianne Atala ‘22 graduated from Babson College with a Bachelor of Science degree and a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Leadership. She is a third generation in her family business and has become the next generation representative. By the side of her family consultant, she has created a plan to prepare both generations, the family consultant and the business for a successful succession plan. The third generation academy consists of training and development in personal and professional aspects, in order to generate a team of leaders that solidifies a culture of respect, collaboration, communication and trust.

Arianne has a certificate in “Leading for Impact within Family Enterprises” at Northwestern University; a program which helps leaders establish credibility and authority in the business community, among family shareholders, with the board and management team. The program has enabled Arianne to manage the nuanced paradoxes effectively as these are the main characteristics that establish a successful leader in the family business.

She has interned in her family business, Grupo Financiero Ficohsa, where she collaborated with the marketing team to create a new communication strategy for existing social media platforms. Additionally, she created a successful internal campaign with the purpose of promoting the company‘s five-year strategy plan while bringing about an event focused for 5,000 employees around the Central American region.

As part of Babson College, she was enrolled in the Foundations of Managements & Entrepreneurship course where she was the Head of Human Resource in the business, Kai Straws. She developed and implemented key initiatives for the team including a compliance framework in alignment with the company‘s fundamentals. In addition, she focused on motivational strategies to encourage the team to generate and increase sales. Additionally, she was a junior representative in the IFE Student Advisory Forum, which consists of providing feedback in order to shape the family entrepreneurship program.

Arianne is also involved in a philanthropic project in her home country, Honduras. She founded “Fundación Creciendo Con Diabetes,” a Honduran-based non-profit organization that aids children with Type 1 Diabetes by providing them with education and supplies, in order for them to have better control of their condition.

Luis Alberto Atala is the Executive Vice-President of Ficohsa Financial Group, which provides banking, insurance, and pension funds services in Central America. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Assets Business-Holding Company, a group of businesses in the commercial, real estate development, and health services industries.

He is currently a member of the local Board of Insurance Companies association (CAHDA), Board member of the local Honduran Council of Private Company (COHEP) and an active Board Member of Central American Leadership Initiative (CALI). Luis participates in various foundations as a board member, Fundación Ficohsa para la Educación Infantil, dedicated to providing access to preschool education to underprivileged children, Director of HONDUFUTURO, a non-profit organization that contributes to the development of the country, by expanding higher education opportunities for students of high academic potential and professional by providing scholarship loans, Fundación Amigos del Hospital Maria, a public Children's Hospital, Fundación Creciendo con Diabetes whose objective is to strengthen the country's public system and bring successful practices which allow children with a diabetes condition and their families to improve their quality of life.

He lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with his wife and three daughters.

Priya Balaraj is a Trustee of KPB Family Trust, based in Bangalore, India. She is a mental fitness entrepreneur, and the founder of Intentional Coaching Online, where she partners with clients to help inspire them to maximize their personal and professional potential. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as well as a Professional Member of The Association for NLP (ANLP).

Priya also holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from Bangalore University and an Executive MBA from Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode. Her interests include writing, sketching, and travel.

Born in Cognac, France in 1971, Cyril Camus is the fifth-generation owner and president of the world’s leading independent Cognac House. Since taking over from his father in 2003, Cyril has consolidated the family business’ operations in the U.S., Europe and Russia, while forging a close relationship with China.

In addition to being a producer of Cognac, the Camus Group is also the owner of Lambay Irish Whiskey, and one of the leading importers of Wines and Spirits into China. Based in Shanghai, Cyril was recognized in 2014 as one the 50 personalities who most influenced the relationship between China and France.

In 2017 he became Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France’s highest distinction). A member of YPO Greater-Europe, Cyril is a co-founder of Reseau Entreprendre Poitou-Charentes, an association providing financing and mentoring to first time Entrepreneurs.

Cyril is an alumnus of Babson College, and member of its Global Advisory Board.

Todd is the Chief Growth Officer and a Partner in the Boston office. He is a member of the firm’s Leadership Team. Todd is responsible for driving the firm’s growth strategy, sales, and execution. He has over 20 years of experience in financial services.

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Todd was Mariner’s Chief Strategy & Growth Officer. He was responsible for driving enterprise growth across all the Mariner Wealth Advisors business units, including its ultra-high-net-worth practice and Mariner Advisor Network. Before Mariner, Todd was the President of Financial Institutions and Advisory Solutions at John Hancock Investments and the head of institutional distribution at Manulife Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers. Todd led institutional distribution and overall sales, client service, and relationship management with global financial institutions, broker-dealers, RIAs, consultants, direct, plan sponsors, and platforms, covering the United States, EMEA, Latin America, and South America. He headed the defined contribution investment-only business and was a board member of Manulife Investment Management NA, John Hancock Worldwide, and an executive management team member. Earlier in his career, Todd was a Vice President at Neuberger Berman and the National Distribution Manager at American Skandia.

Todd belongs to the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the Outthinkers Network, and sits on Sacred Heart University’s (Welch) Business School, Junior Achievement Americas, and Montrose School boards. Todd is also an advisor to Anasova and an Honorary Trustee of the Boston Children’s Museum.

Chris is a third-generation member of his family business, originally founded in 1968 by his maternal grandfather, a Greek entrepreneur who immigrated to the United States in the late 1950’s. 

DAMCO, Inc., having started as a metal fabrication company early on to serve Massachusetts’ emerging high-tech industry, the family business adapted to changes in the manufacturing industry and took part in the metal-to-plastics conversion, officially becoming Plastic Molding MFG., which is now the family’s core business. With manufacturing facilities in four states across the U.S., the company's growth has been a result of both organic expansion and the acquisition of six companies over the past twelve years. In addition to industrial manufacturing, the family’s overall portfolio of companies also includes real estate development and management, food importing, production and processing, and industrial distribution. 

After graduating from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University with a BS in Business Administration, Chris joined the family business and has served in various roles including Sales & Marketing, Operations, Corporate Development, M&A, and Strategic Planning.

While attending the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business for an MBA, Chris has participated in the NextGen FEL program, attended numerous events at BIFE, and currently is the ’23-‘24 graduate representative for BIFE’s Student Advisory Forum.

Denise is the Owner and CFO of Hangar9, a multi-brand luxury retailer with boutiques in Canada and an award-winning e-commerce platform. Hangar9, founded 40 years ago, remains a proudly female-owned and female-led family business, spanning three generations of women. The brand goes beyond traditional retail by curating style, crafting memorable experiences, and telling stories through their collections. Central to Hangar9’s philosophy is their exclusive formula, H9+9=36, which demonstrates how nine timeless pieces can be styled into 36 different looks.

Denise holds both an HBA and an MBA from the Ivey School of Business. Before joining the family business in 2003, she built a diverse career in information systems consulting, finance, and commercial real estate, with no initial plans to enter the retail sector. Denise’s journey into Hangar9 began when her corporate colleagues repeatedly inquired about her wardrobe, which led her to consider a role in the family business. She started by organizing limousine trips to the boutique for her colleagues, allowing them to shop and network. The overwhelming interest from these excursions eventually spurred the opening of the downtown Toronto location catered to professional women.

Denise’s unique blend of strategic vision and operational expertise has been instrumental in Hangar9’s growth and success.

Denise’s son Jack graduated from Babson in 2023.

Stephen Martiros ’83, MBA’85 is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Bertarelli Institute of Family Entrepreneurship. Stephen Martiros is an entrepreneur and wealth management expert with more than 25 years of experience working with private investors, family offices, family businesses, and family foundations. Stephen is the founder and CEO of Kindros, a public benefit corporation focused on financial literacy.

Previously, he founded and served as CEO of Summitas, an award-winning cloud application that provides family offices and investment advisers with a digital vault and secure client portal, for which he was awarded multiple patents. Stephen also served as the managing partner of CCC Alliance, where he helped build America’s largest private network of single-family offices. He is the recipient of the Babson College Snyder Award for Distinguished Service and recipient of the college’s Cruikshank Award for representing the highest ideals of service and loyalty to the college.

Sophie Michels is part of the third generation of her family business, Michels Corporation, which is the largest construction company in Wisconsin and one of the largest energy infrastructure contractors in the United States.

Michels Corporation was founded in 1959 and as a result of its rapid expansion in the 63 years since, the company employs over 8,000 people today. The company was founded by Sophie’s grandfather, Dale Michels, and since his passing over 20 years ago Michels has been run by Sophie’s father and uncles. The company was initially exclusively a pipeline contractor but today includes 9 companies: Michels Pipeline, Michels Power, Michels Construction, Michels Utility Services, Michels Road & Stone, Michels Pacific Energy, Michels Canada, Michels Asia Pacific, and Michels Trenchless Europe. Sophie is excited to be part of the next generation of the company and looks forward to working in various sectors of Michels and gaining the experience she needs to become a strong leader.

After graduating in May 2023, Sophie joined the infrastructure division of Michels where she will take her knowledge of the business from the family perspective and apply it in a more direct way to the work that the company does. Sophie has interned in both the pipeline and infrastructure divisions of Michels in the past and as a result, has gained an understanding of the importance of the energy infrastructure that the company provides.

Through the many business oriented classes and the courses provided by the Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship, Sophie has gained many key skills that she will bring with her into her work at Michels. She has also served on the Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship Student Advisory Board for the past 2 years, where she offered insight about how to tailor programs to meet the needs of students. BIFE has allowed Sophie to collaborate with other students who come from family businesses and to be part of a community that fosters innovation and leadership.

Umar Mukhtar is a visionary entrepreneur from Pakistan with a deep-rooted connection to one of the country’s most prominent business legacies. His family business, Sadaqat Limited, was founded in 1951 and has grown to become one of Pakistan’s largest textile exporters, employing over 12,000 people. Renowned for its innovation, quality, and sustainability, Sadaqat Limited has established itself as a trusted supplier to prestigious global brands, playing a key role in driving Pakistan’s economic development.

In addition to its export success, Umar's family also operates Khas Stores, a thriving retail subsidiary that spans Pakistan. Offering a diverse range of premium lifestyle products, Khas Stores has become a household name, catering to the evolving needs of the modern consumer.

Building on this legacy, Umar founded Safar Capital, a startup focused on supply chain finance in emerging economies. Safar Capital addresses critical working capital challenges faced by exporters, leveraging technology to connect them with international lenders. Through this venture, Umar aims to empower businesses, drive economic growth, and transform trade finance in undercapitalized markets.

Umar’s professional experience also includes an impactful internship at HOF Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm. During his time at HOF, he worked closely on due diligence processes for high-growth startups, gaining hands-on experience in evaluating founders, market opportunities, and business models. He also participated in sourcing promising startups and engaging with founders to understand their visions. This exposure to the global investment ecosystem sharpened his analytical skills and strengthened his ability to identify scalable opportunities, laying a strong foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.

Ingrid is a director and Managing Partner of Entebe Shipping and PT. Energy Samudera Logistics. A family-owned shipping business on sea transportation and logistics services for the mining and natural resources industries in Indonesia. Ingrid is involved in the start-up of the family’s recent health care and wellness business and continuously looking to grow the family business portfolio.

Pablo is a highly accomplished finance professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Originally from Venezuela, he relocated to Miami, where he graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Economics and Finance, accompanied by a minor in Marketing. His journey commenced as an investment analyst at Insigneo Financial Group, a prestigious investment firm headquartered in Miami, FL. Seeking to broaden his expertise, Pablo transitioned to J.P. Morgan Private Bank, assuming the role of an analyst at the Miami Office. There, he honed his skills in delivering comprehensive financial insights and strategies to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families.

Motivated by his passion for international finance and building lasting client relationships, Pablo accepted an opportunity at J.P. Morgan's headquarters in New York City. Joining the Private Bank-Investment Bank Partnership Group, he effectively leveraged the vast resources and capabilities of the Investment Bank to provide tailored solutions for business owners in Latin America. His adeptness in navigating complex financial landscapes earned him recognition, resulting in a well-deserved promotion to Associate. Eager to embrace new challenges, Pablo relocated once again, this time to San Francisco, California. Taking on the responsibility of serving clients in the Northern California and Silicon Valley region, he excelled in helping them effectively manage their financial portfolios and navigate the intricacies of both sides of the balance sheet.

Following a successful tenure at J.P. Morgan, Pablo embarked on an exciting adventure as the Finance Manager for a Miami-based food and beverage startup. Demonstrating exceptional financial acumen and leadership abilities, he swiftly advanced to the position of Director of Finance within a year. During his time with the company, Pablo led a strategic sale to a private equity firm, further underscoring his talent for driving impactful transactions.

Driven by a desire for continuous growth and an entrepreneurial mindset, Pablo decided to pursue an MBA at Babson College, a renowned institution acclaimed for its focus on entrepreneurship. Throughout his studies, he actively engaged in his family business, leading a remarkable turnaround strategy that restored profitability within a short span of six months. Most recently, Pablo graduated with great honors from Babson College Olin School of Business with an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. After graduation, Pablo will be joining American Express in New York City working as a Finance Manager, while still supporting his family business as a shareholder and director of the board.

Reed Santos is a fourth-year Entrepreneurship and Real Estate student of Babson College. He is part of the second generation of his family’s business, Santos Knight Frank, where he leads its Innovation Team.

Founded in 1994, Santos Knight Frank is the Philippines’ largest real estate brokerage, property management, and advisory company, responsible for more than 4 million sqm of office space transactions (including the largest office leasing deal in Philippine real estate history) and over 20 million sqm of managed properties and facilities. It is part of the Knight Frank global network with 487 offices in 53 territories, including strategically important US partnerships such as Cresa (occupier-focused commercial real estate), Douglas Elliman (residential), and Berkadia (capital markets).

Santos Knight Frank was instrumental in bringing in key institutional investors and multinational companies to Manila, Cebu, and several Philippine cities, driving the growth of the country’s business process outsourcing sector that now employs more than 1.5 million Filipinos.

Reed’s passion for entrepreneurship began in high school at the International School Manila when he developed a co-learning student space concept called The Hive. This concept won him not just his school’s entrepreneurship competition but also the National Young Entrepreneurship Award 2019, a national recognition for excellence.

Reed is deeply passionate about sports, too. He is the youngest captain in Babson Rugby’s 44-year history and led the rugby team to win the national championship at the Men’s Small College 7s of the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s this year where he was also awarded MVP.

In Manila, he co-founded the Makati Mavericks Sports Foundation along with his father and brothers. The Makati Mavericks supports underprivileged kids to play rugby and foster lifelong values to excel on and off the field. With nearly 200 players from all walks of life, the Makati Mavericks has grown to become one of the most successful local rugby clubs, with winning women’s, men’s, and youth teams competing nationally and in the international arena.

An Academic All-American awardee, he plays professionally in the Premier Rugby 7s for the Loggerheads.

Shanze Sheikh, graduated from Babson College Class of 2016. She has been working as third generation of her family business, Fatima Group.

Fatima Group is one of the top ten industrial conglomerates in Pakistan, with ventures in various sectors including fertilizer, sugar, textile, power, etc. The Group’s turnover in aggregate exceeds Rs. 200 billion annually with assets base of more than Rs. 350 billion. The Group contributes towards economic development of the country by employing more than 13,000 direct employees. Besides a strong presence in the local market, the Group also compliments the economy by earning valuable Forex of more than USD 200 million annually through exports. Contribution to National Exchequer over the last five years has exceeded Rs. 70 billion by the Group. In addition, the sponsor(s) of Fatima Group have also been part of the top taxpayers of the country to whom the Prime Minister of Pakistan has awarded recognition certificates. Furthermore, certain companies of the Group were also part of the list of Top Exporters of Pakistan, released by the Federal Government.

Shanze has been working as Director Commercial and is involved in Corporate Communications, Human Resource Management and Corporate Social Responsibility efforts made by the group.

Sylvia is a Family Firm Institute certified family business advisor, with 15 years of experience in family governance, education and leadership development. A fifth-generation family business owner, Sylvia founded the Smith Family Council, a governance body for over 150 family shareholders. She is also a Family Firm Institute Fellow, serves on the Family Business Magazine Board of Advisors, and speaks regularly at family business conferences.

After transitioning the Council to NextGen leadership, Sylvia became an active Partner in Social Venture Partners-Connecticut in early 2015 and currently leads the organization’s manufacturing training initiative. She also serves as executive director of the Jane and Tad Shepard Family Foundation.

Previously, Sylvia has served on the board and strategic planning committee of Hartford’s Shelter for Women, and the board of the Menasha Corporation Foundation.

Sylvia received her BA from Smith College and an MS in Psychiatric Occupational Therapy from Columbia University. After 25 years as a college textbook editor, she discovered the field of family governance and was inspired to pursue her MBA at Babson, where she studied family entrepreneurship with Tim Habbershon. Sylvia now serves on the College Advisory Board at Babson, and the Advisory Board of Babson’s Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship.

Sylvia lives in Wilton, CT with her husband, Will Holtzman.

Bernard ten Doeschot is the founder, owner and Executive Director of Infestos. Infestos is an independent investment organisation focused on the sustainable investment of family capital in companies with unique market positions or technologies and a strong link to sustainability themes.

Examples of Infestos’ portfolio companies include NX Filtration and Neways. NX Filtration is active in the water transition, offering nanofiltration membrane technology to address global water scarcity and water quality challenges. The company’s sustainable profile is broadly recognized, for example by Cicero, who in 2021 rated NX Filtration as first Dark Green-labelled IPO. Neways is an international innovator in electronics for smart mobility, connectivity and semicon solutions. It develops and produces electronics that facilitate major trends around global ESG themes.

In the past, Infestos has been invested in Alfen, a company facilitating the energy transition with smart grids, EV charging equipment and energy storage solutions. Infestos strongly contributed to establishing the leading position and fast international growth of Alfen that resulted in an IPO in 2018.

In addition to its investment portfolio, Infestos has founded TalentNED, a multi-sport talent development program that supports young athletes to prepare for a successful career in their sports. Infestos is also active in the sustainable renovation of monumental real estate and projects in the fields of education and healthcare through the Infestos Foundation.

Bernard ten Doeschot started his career as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1992 and joined Norit in 1996 as financial director of Norit’s Process Technology Division which led to an executive board position at Norit between 2000 and 2011. Bernard ten Doeschot holds a MSc in Business Economics and an EMA in Accountancy from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Bernard is a Dutch national living in Switzerland. He is married and has three children.

Vaibhav Vohra ’08 is the Managing Director of global supply chain management provider Continental Group. Always quick to grab opportunities, take calculated risks and capitalize on them with speed, he has transformed the group into one that prides itself on a pioneering approach towards technology adoption and automation.

He is an International Business Leader with close to two decades of strong experience in partnering with Global CEOs and CXOs of Fortune 500 organizations in driving growth, optimizing value and business ethics through Supply Chain efficiencies. He is instrumental in developing and leading high growth multi-cultural teams globally resulting in scaling operations, diversifying portfolio and increasing shareholder value.

Showing great foresight, his process-oriented approach was accompanied by structural reforms to elevate the group’s strategy and align with Indian and international standards of business excellence.

Ensuring that the family owned business established by his grandfather, the late Mr. TN Vohra not only survives but thrives beyond the third generation.

Armed with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Babson College, Boston, USA, Vaibhav joined the group company Continental Air Express Pvt. Ltd. and was instrumental in its JV with Geopost, the private investment arm of EUR 40B French La Poste in 2007.

When in 2009, he took the leap into Aerospace and Sensitive Goods Supply Chain Management, it was unheard of for the industry. Today, Continental Group is a global leader in Aviation Supply Chain Management and is also the founder member of the Royal Aeronautical Society in India.

Under his leadership, the group further diversified into logistics infrastructure by launching India’s first Greenfield Air Freight Station in New Delhi. Very recently, he has led the group’s foray into Hospitality, Media and Production. Giving back to his alma mater, he is also part of the Jr Global Advisory Board of Babson College, USA.

Vaibhav currently serves as the Chairman for the Logistics and Maritime committee at the Indo French Chamber of Commerce and is also the Regional Director South Asia for Aviation Logistics Network.

Father of three and an avid runner, he loves to feel the wind on his face along with a racing heartbeat.

Roberto Zamora Teran currently holds the position of Executive Director at LAFISE GROUP, a financial institution with a presence in 11 countries across the USA, Central America, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. His role encompasses oversight of Consumer Banking, as well as the Finance, Treasury, Operations, Human Resources, Marketing, and Compliance sectors within the region.

Prior to his current role, from 2012 to 2022, Roberto led Banco LAFISE Panama as its CEO, where he was responsible for guiding the bank through a period of significant growth and development.

Roberto's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Babson College, obtained in 2003, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, completed in 2011. His professional affiliations include membership in the Young Presidents' Organization and the Entrepreneurs' Organization in Panama.

On a personal note, Roberto loves to travel, golf, and go boating. He is married and has four children, ages 13, 11, 8, and 5.