The Blank School engages Babson community members and leads research to create entrepreneurial leaders.
Welcome to CWEL
At the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership we are closing the gender gap in business, one leader at a time. We educate and empower leaders to create social and economic impact through industry and innovation as we research and enlighten the global community about the importance of inclusive leadership for prosperity and human progress.
As the first center ever focused on women entrepreneurial leaders at a business school, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL) is one of the most visible and important ways we support entrepreneurs and impact the larger Babson ecosystem. In 2017, the college was named the No. 1 school for women entrepreneurs who want to change the world and in 2018, The Center was given the Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education award by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.
The CWEL Experience
CWEL’s award-winning programs, exclusive events, access to cutting-edge experts, and hands-on coaching impact a diverse set of stakeholders from around the world. They include:
Undergraduate students can participate in a number of programs designed to increase their leadership strengths. Those include:
- Women's Leadership Scholarship
- CWEL Mentor Programs: Professional and Near-Peer
- CWEL Office Hours, Student Advising, & Flash Mentoring
- Signature Events and Speaker Series: Disruption Dinner, Annual Retreat, CWEL Circles
- Women Innovating Now (WIN) Growth Lab Accelerator
- Babson Black Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
- CWEL Student Executive Board
Delivering the CWEL value proposition to graduate students of all identities.
- CWEL Mentor Program
- CWEL Office Hours, Advising, & Flash Mentoring
- Signature Events & Speaker Series: Disruption Dinner & CWEL Circles
- Women Innovating Now (WIN) Growth Lab
- Babson Black Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
- Babson Graduate Women in Business Club
- Women's Leadership Scholarship
WIN Global offers a portfolio of venture accelerator programs for women entrepreneurs at different business stages, designed to empower them to scale and grow. Our programs include:
WIN Lab
Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab provides women entrepreneurs with an inspiring community and a rigorous, experiential process that catalyzes innovative thinking and enables them to successfully scale their businesses. You get:
- 12 weeks of business curriculum, including Babson faculty and world-renowned pedagogy
- One-on-one coaching for the duration of the program
- Access to experts in a variety of industries and subject matter
- To participate in well-attended public events to showcase your company
- Milestones to hold you accountable to your goals
- A cohort of women entrepreneurs who are experiencing the entrepreneurial journey with you
Black Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (BWEL)
Launched in 2020, BWEL is a virtual action tank designed by and for Black Women entrepreneurial leaders to provide an experience and the resources to propel their businesses and professional growth forward.
The BWEL program offers you:
- Sisterhood: Experience the extraordinary power of the community by connecting with other black women entrepreneurs
- Babson’s World-Renowned Pedagogy: Expand your revenue opportunity by following a successful entrepreneurial framework
- Global Network
- Expert Mentoring and Coaching: Accelerate your entrepreneurial growth by learning from top industry Masterminds and maximize your personal effectiveness by collaborating with Business Success Coaches
- Resource Guide
- On-Demand Learning
At CWEL, we participate in a number of activities in thought leadership as they relate to women's entrepreneurial leadership. From disseminating major faculty research and hosting global convenings of thought leaders, to creating programs and unique hands-on learning opportunities for students, we are dedicated to advancing the gender acumen and opportunities for all of our stakeholders.
- The Diana International Research Institute: the first global research institute in the world dedicated to being the source of all research, policy, and educator information about women’s entrepreneurship.
- The Dean's Gender Series: an annual event that brings high-profile thought-leaders to our Wellesley campus for unique experiences designed to develop gender acumen
- Faculty Research: The CWEL and Babson boast a lively, supportive and growing community of faculty who do innovative research on women and gender, leadership and entrepreneurship.
- Publications: we follow the journey of founders and create easily digestible content created to empower women entrepreneurial leaders to reach their full potential
CWEL Awards & Recognition
CWEL has been the recipient of a number of awards, impacting a diverse set of stakeholders around the world. Highlights include:
CWEL Student Office Hours
Learn how you can amplify your success with CWEL! Catch up with us during our virtual office hours and on-campus pop-ups.
CWEL Newsletter
The CWEL offers events and opportunities for a variety of Babson stakeholders. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay in touch and learn more about events and content being created for women entrepreneurial leaders.