Graduate Blog / Graduate Admissions

Meet the new Blended Learning MBA Faculty Director

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The Blended Learning MBA Program is thrilled to announce our brand new Faculty Director, Professor Phillip Kim. Professor Kim joined Babson College from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Fall 2014 as an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship. Over the last ten years, his research has centered around the motivation and actions of people transforming their early stage ideas into businesses. In order to get to know Professor Kim a bit better, I asked him a few questions:

Why did you choose Babson?

Babson is a place where people who care about entrepreneurship and innovation come together. I get to be with others who have similar interests and are excited about creating new things and making those things turn into reality. I have colleagues who excel at their chosen subject areas – I get to work with and learn from them. Most importantly, I get to teach and work with exceptional students, and that gives me energy and fuel to keep going.

How do you use Entrepreneurial Thought and Action in your classroom?

In the courses that I teach, I challenge my students not only to generate new ideas, but to take action and do their best to make those ideas become a reality. Often times, you’re met with obstacles, such as a lack of resources or uncertainty about next steps, and it requires the ability to move beyond those obstacles and be able to chart a course of action that will lead to a desirable outcome. So I encourage my students to do that in their assignments, in their projects, as well as apply those principles to their current work situation and future career aspirations.

 What makes Blended Learning special?

In the Blended Learning program, the students are working full time and yet they are participating in a very strenuous curriculum. That takes a special type of student who can balance competing demands and interests, and bring all of their personal and work experiences to the program. They are able to give back to their fellow classmates, and participate in learning groups, and be peer and class leaders. That’s something that I’ve found very attractive to the Blended Learning program because it is a unique style of learning. It isn’t for everybody, but those who go through it do exceptionally well in their careers after graduating.

What are the major challenges of the Blended Learning format, and how can they be overcome?

The Blended Learning program requires you to study and participate in group projects, usually when you are trying to juggle other obligations at work or wishing to spend time with family or friends. It requires a commitment and an ability to manage your time well. Since much of the Babson curriculum is based on teams and group projects, you’ll be faced with a lot of interesting situations where you’ll be tested in your peer leadership abilities and need to work seamlessly and effectively with classmates who may come to the program with different perspectives and experiences. It’ll also challenge you to think in different ways. At Babson, we try to encourage our students to be entrepreneurially minded. For many, that might not be a natural way of thinking and acting, but through the course work and your interactions with your classmates and professors, you’ll be in a position to be more creative and innovative in your workplace and in your careers.

What kind of applicant do you look for in a future Blended Learning student?

We’re looking for students who are open minded, who are willing to learn and be challenged to grow in new ways of thinking and acting entrepreneurially. We want students who are good team players, who will work with their classmates and treat them as colleagues and future learning partners. We want students who think big and aspire to solve the most pressing problems of our times and plan to use their Babson education to go after those aspirations successfully.

What do you think is the future of Blended Learning?

Many of the trends in graduate education are pointing toward more flexible, modular, and practical approaches to learning. Our Blended Learning program allows students to have the flexibility of learning while working full time, but gives them opportunities to come together and learn in face-to-face sessions.

Besides our mutual love of the Madison, Wisconsin Farmer’s Market, can you share a fun fact about yourself with me?

I am a lifelong Cubs fan and so this year has been a special year for me to celebrate their World Series Championship.