Creating Social Value Blog / Social Innovation

Babson Summer Study: A Conversation with David Lopez

The Lewis Institute is delighted to announce that David Lopez is the new Faculty Director for the 2016 Babson Summer Study course: The Babson Entrepreneurial Development Experience. David has extensive experience as both an educator and a practitioner, allowing him to share insights and educate our future leaders on all aspects of business. We sat down with David to learn more about him and understand what we can expect to look forward to this summer.

Why are you excited to be the Faculty Director for Summer Study? Why is this position a good fit for you?
Babson’s Summer Study Program is a great fit for this new generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs, and I am excited to be a part of shaping this important and impactful experience. As someone who comes from both academic and corporate training backgrounds, I believe this program provides a unique opportunity to equip a group of talented and motivated young people with the tools, skills, and strategy to be prepared for a competitive landscape in college and beyond. I am excited to help these students develop a mindset of focusing on developing a personal brand and will introduce them to the concepts from You, Inc. that can be extremely beneficial when adopted at an early age.

Can you share a personal story about how you got started in your professional journey?
My first job out of high school was in the mail room of Kidder Peabody, a Wall Street company. This entry level position eventually led to a successful 30-year career where I had the opportunity to be a Stockbroker, Financial Advisor, and Director of Training to name a few. As the Director of Training at a Wall Street company, I had experience designing, developing, and delivering high-quality and effective training programs that enable participants to utilize and apply the information immediately after the program.

What is your teaching philosophy?
My objective in teaching Entrepreneurship classes is to bring real-world business management experience to the classroom with the goal of preparing students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

How will Babson Summer Study help students identify their passions and promote goal setting?
During the rigorous four week program, students will identify, develop, and demonstrate numerous transferable skills through team exercises and leadership opportunities, along with several graded milestone presentations. This year’s program will also include sessions and workshops designed to provide career tools and strategies, complete with resume development and mock job interviews. This will greatly assist the participants in understanding themselves is people as well as their passions and interests. Toward the end of the program, we will be conducting a goal setting exercise combined with a time management strategies activity.

For more information on Babson Summer Study visit the program page.