Benjapon Jivasantikarn

Associate Director, Student Programming, Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship

I am passionate about working with entrepreneurial leaders who are committed to creating positive change in their communities.

Growing up in an extended family that operated a variety of family enterprises, I have seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges of family entrepreneurship – but more importantly, I see the potential of family entrepreneurs to create real and positive change in their communities.

As an alumna, I appreciate how Babson prepared me to be entrepreneurial in different sectors throughout my career. I started out my career in corporate consulting, advising clients on business incentives and valuations in a variety of industries, including financial services, consumer products, and technology. My work included liaising with our international offices in in Southeast Asia.

In my social sector work, I led consulting engagements in strategic planning, growth planning, performance measurement, board restructuring, and prospectus and road show development for fundraising. I have extensive experience helping clients compellingly articulate their work to a funder audience, and have demonstrated success launching and running national initiatives and programs.

My entrepreneurial journey included starting an innovative food-services concept with family, advising early-stage entrepreneurs, and serving on the board of a family foundation supporting education in Thailand.

My passion for entrepreneurship and social impact came from my experience growing up in northern Thailand. I witnessed a clear discrepancy in life outcomes between those born into privilege and access, and those born into poverty. I saw my father -- a social entrepreneur -- strive against all odds to found a nonprofit college in my hometown, giving rural youth access to higher education. I saw how the trajectory of one’s life can be changed through entrepreneurship, education, and opportunity.

I am excited to be working with our next generation of Babson entrepreneurial leaders who are committed to creating economic and social value around the world.