معرفی
Dr. Jeffrey P. Shay '87, MBA'91 is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College and serves as Executive Director for Academic Operations at The Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership. He holds significant leadership positions as Chair of the Board for the Global Entrepreneurship Research Association (GERA) and Co-leader of GEM USA.
Shay earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from Babson College in 1987 and 1991 respectively, followed by a PhD from Cornell University in 1999. His career path includes founding his own consulting company, heading the entrepreneurship program at the University of Montana, and serving as the endowed chair for entrepreneurship and leadership at Washington and Lee University for nearly 12 years before returning to Babson in December 2020.
His research focuses on evolving entrepreneurial trends, with particular emphasis on young entrepreneurs (18-24 age group showing highest entrepreneurial activity), sustainability-driven business models, and reducing gender and racial disparities in entrepreneurship. Shay's work reveals how modern entrepreneurs increasingly prioritize societal impact alongside profitability, with sustainability serving as a 'north star' for young business founders.
Shay's recent article analyzes three key trends from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report: the rise of young entrepreneurs prioritizing sustainability, the narrowing gender gap in technology entrepreneurship, and increased optimism among Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. His research shows 24% of 18-24 year olds are engaged in entrepreneurial activity, with the gender gap in ICT sector narrowing to just 1% (8% women vs 9% men).
As Chair of GERA (appointed May 2024), Shay leads the organization that oversees the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, which began in 1999 as a joint project between Babson College and London Business School. Under his leadership, GEM has expanded from 10 initial countries to over 120 participating nations, providing critical data on global entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Shay directs The Blank School's case development and leads the Blank School Scholars program, which identifies six exceptional students per class as ambassadors for entrepreneurial leadership. He envisions Babson becoming a magnet for world-class entrepreneurs to collaborate on solving global challenges through entrepreneurial leadership principles that foster creativity, meaningful relationships, and risk-taking behaviors across all organizational types.
