Empowering Entrepreneurial Leaders · Babson Thought & Action

Entrepreneurial leaders find and solve problems. They focus on people and relationships. And they create economic and social value at the same time.

During a career as renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98 ranks as one of the world’s most exemplary entrepreneurial leaders.

Blank, the famed co-founder of The Home Depot, owns and operates The Blank Family of Businesses, including the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, MLS’s Atlanta United, PGA TOUR Superstore and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Guided by six core values, its companies put customers and fans first and work to improve their communities.

He was an early signer of The Giving Pledge, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has now committed more than $1 billion to support a wide range of impactful initiatives across the country.

Blank has been recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s 100 greatest living businessmen and one of America’s 50 greatest givers. He was Sports business magazine‘s Sports Manager of the Year in 2018 and ESPN’s Sports Philanthropist of the Year in 2021.

His experiences and example serve to empower and inspire future generations of entrepreneurial leaders, especially at his alma mater, Babson College.

Blank returns to Babson this month to address the undergraduate class of 2024 during the College’s commencement ceremonies on May 11 on the Wellesley campus.

“It’s always special to return to Babson when I have the opportunity, and it’s uniquely special to be part of the Commencement,” Blank said. “Graduation is an exciting time for students, and I am truly honored to be a part of this milestone moment.”

Blank and Babson

Blank’s Babson roots run deep. When he visited campus in 2020, he reminisced about meeting Roger Babson at a Founder’s Day event. As a student, Blank planted the seeds for his future successes before graduating in three years in 1963.

Blank was eventually inducted into Babson’s Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs^® in 1995, and in 1998 he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the college.

“I have many great moments and memories at Babson,” Blank said. “What always stands out to me, however, is the opportunity to really utilize my entrepreneurial spirit during my time here. Specifically, I started a laundry collection business on campus, and I fondly remember that creativity was celebrated during my time here, and that is clearly still a priority on campus today.”

Today’s creative, innovative, entrepreneurial campus has been shaped by Blank’s dedication to the College and his investments in its programs, faculty and students.

“Arthur, one of the College’s greatest supporters, has had a revolutionary impact on entrepreneurship education in our community,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD.

“It is always special to return to Babson when I get the opportunity, and it is uniquely special to be part of the Commencement. Graduation is an exciting time for students and I am truly honored to be a part of this milestone moment.”
Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98

Blank’s generosity helped launch the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, which was founded in 1998 and celebrated its 25th anniversary last fall. The Blank Center is a leading center for incubation, acceleration and thought leadership for entrepreneurs and home to the world’s largest dedicated entrepreneurship faculty.

Blank also helped fuel Babson’s expanded focus on entrepreneurial leadership with a transformative $50 million gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 2019. The historic investment helped fuel the creation of the Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village and established the Arthur M. Blank School op. for Entrepreneurial Leadership, home to six of the College’s world-renowned centers and institutes, including the Blank Center.

“It is truly a humbling honor that this school and this program exist,” Blank said. “My only wish for those who are part of it is to pursue their dreams and be a positive, values-based force in this world.”

The donation also established the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholars, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship for high-achieving students with high potential. The first group of scholars will graduate this spring, giving them the opportunity to hear directly from Blank at the commencement ceremony. Blank’s advice to them: “Always stay true to your values ​​and believe that you are equipped to achieve greatness. It’s up to you to create the future, and that pressure is a blessing.”

Values-based leadership

Blank’s influence at Babson has also been a driving force in the College’s focus on values-based leadership.

In 2020, Blank wrote the best-selling business book, Good business, in which he shares his vision and a roadmap for values-based leadership. He also outlines the six core values ​​that serve as the foundation for his company: putting people first, listening and responding, involving everyone, continuously innovating, leading by example and giving back to others. Blank returned to Babson’s campus in the fall of 2020 to discuss core values ​​and values-based leadership in a fireside chat with Spinelli.

“I have many great moments and memories at Babson. What always strikes me, however, is the opportunity to really utilize my entrepreneurial spirit during my stay here.”
Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98

Blank’s core values ​​have served as building blocks for the Blank School Good business has served as inspiration for a unique course: Good Company, Good Game: Law, Ethics and Leadership in Sports Businesses. The course, developed and taught by Assistant Professor of Practice Leslie Garbarino, includes a week-long trip to Atlanta to experience firsthand how his six core values ​​shape the Blank Family of Businesses. Blank also meets with students during the week and shares his leadership advice. The course has been particularly inspiring for students pursuing a career in sport.

Inspired by Blank’s example and empowered by the opportunities he helped create at Babson, students graduate as entrepreneurial leaders prepared to lead according to their own values.

“Values ​​mean different things to different people,” Blank said. “I think it is imperative that students identify what is important to them, protect it and believe in it. When you believe in what you do, work doesn’t feel like work, it feels like it’s your purpose.”

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Tagged Alumni, Class of 2024, Commencement, Entrepreneurial Leadership

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