Innovation and Growth Leadership

Format: Babson On-Demand™

Self-Paced/Remote

Develop the mindset and skillset you need to drive innovation and lead effectively with the Innovation and Growth Leadership certificate. Throughout this program, which includes three distinct badge courses, you will work with real-world case studies and take a practical approach to ideation and innovation, ensuring you gain a strong entrepreneurial foundation that will serve you well across a wide range of dynamic environments.

Infused with Babson’s proven Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) methodology, a proven framework that combines risk management, continuous learning, and deep collaboration, you will explore all stages of innovation, from ideation to long-term scaling.

You will learn to experiment and iterate as you go and by the end, you will be equipped to apply design-thinking principles, develop solutions that meet real-world needs, and drive meaningful change.

What you will learn Who should attend What is included Credential Earned

Learn to apply design-thinking principles to solve complex problems
Utilize rapid ideation and iterative experimentation to strengthen ideas
Align solutions with desirability, feasibility, and viability for real world impact
Become highly familiar with the different types of innovation, including product, process, customer experience, business model, and more
Detail the links between innovation and problem solving, and how they can be applied to possible solutions
Gain a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and leadership qualities needed to drive innovation and lead change
Discover how human nature can hinder innovation and develop strategies to overcome these challenges
Develop practical skills to foster an entrepreneurial culture, continuously adapt to market changes, and drive long-term organizational success

Aspiring entrepreneurs with a new venture or entrepreneurial idea
Entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level
Executives looking to grow their entrepreneurial mindset to innovate in their current role
Professionals looking to expand their skill set across industries and functionalities

Recognition and Credentialing: A digital certificate that serves as verifiable proof of learning and achievement, which can be displayed on platforms such as LinkedIn and included on your resume and portfolio
Course Content and Learning Outcomes: You gain industry-relevant knowledge, practical skills, and frameworks designed for professionals seeking career advancement or specialization
Flexibility: Our self-paced digital courses allow flexibility for busy executives and professionals
Expert Instruction: Experienced faculty, industry leaders, and professionals with real-world expertise teach our courses
Networking Opportunities: You gain access to a network of peers, alumni, and industry professionals.
Assessments and Engagement: To earn a credential for completing this course, you must complete assignments, quizzes, case studies, and/or interactive projects

Upon completion of this seires of courses you will earn a digital certificate.

What you need to know

Course Structure

Costs & Program Discounts

Course Leaders

Craig Bida

Professor of Entrepreneurship

Professor Craig Bida’s work and teaching focuses on how people can turn ideas into real-world applications that create tangible impact. He is currently the Director of the FutureLab on Mobility, a collaboration between the Toyota Mobility Foundation and Babson College that seeks to create economic and social progress by collaborating across the sectors on cutting edge, community-centric mobility solutions. He is also the Founder and CEO of Think Design Disrupt, a purpose-driven brand-building consultancy that designs, reimagines, and activates brands to create world-changing social and environmental impact.

Gina O’Connor

Professor of Innovation Management and Fischer Family Term Chair in Healthcare Management

Professor Gina O'Connor’s research focuses on breakthrough innovation capabilities within large, mature companies. Previously, she spent 29 years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she held various leadership roles. She has published extensively in top journals, co-authored three books on breakthrough innovation, and received multiple best-paper awards. She has consulted and spoken for numerous companies globally. Passionate about developing innovation leaders, she also serves on the Board of Directors for Fostering Hope, a foundation supporting foster parents.

Jay Rao

Professor of Operations and Information Management

Professor Jay Rao teaches numerous Babson Executive Education programs. His executive teaching and consulting focus on the areas of innovation, implementation of innovation initiatives within firms, corporate entrepreneurship, and customer experience innovation. He has written several business cases on a range of topics: innovation strategy, innovation culture, leading innovation, customer service, and strategy execution. He also teaches in the Babson MBA program.

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Professional & Executive Education

Professional & Executive Education