Babson Scholars Among Best 40 Under 40 Business Professors
Babson Professors Vikki Rodgers and Sinan Erzurumlu are among the World’s Best 40 Under 40 Business School Professors, according to Poets & Quants.
“We based our calculations on indicators related to the primary areas of teaching and research. We factored in student feedback, awards and honors, quantity and reach of research, public speaking, and educational qualifications,” explained Poets & Quants.
Associate Professor of Technology, Innovation and Operations Management
Sinan Erzurumlu
“Babson College operations management professor Sinan Erzurumlu switched his business-casual attire for more durable clothing, put on a hat, and set off for Honduras for what he described as ‘a little bit Indiana Jones thing.’ He and a Babson colleague visited a gold mine, and came back with a case to teach, one he says shows that sustainable thinking by managers from the start of an enterprise can lead to positive change for societies, business, and the environment. While he has a strong interest in sustainability, Ersurumlu also researches technology and innovation management, supply chain management, and entrepreneurial innovation management.”
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
“I love being on the spot and getting questions that make me think. Babson students are highly demanding and curious. They are in class with a goal, so they are constantly thinking what they are learning in the context of their professional lives or their startup aspirations. This takes the course material to a whole different level. It has to make sense and help with their own problems.”
Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Ecology
Vikki Rodgers
“Students in Babson College professor Vikki Rodgers’ economic botany class better not go barking up the wrong tree: one of the assignments is identification of 10 of the 30 species that grow on campus. The environmental science prof has channeled her deep appreciation for the natural world into her teaching and research, focusing on subjects including climate change, land use shifts, and the spread of invasive species. While she has publicly expressed frustration with the politics around climate change, she believes her students are committed to taking action on multiple fronts, from renewable energy to recycling to limiting pollution. ‘People are looking for the business community to be leaders,’ she told the Babson magazine. ‘I put it on them to be part of the solution.’”
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
“Getting students excited and engaged in realizing the importance and relevance of ecology and environmental science in their everyday lives.”