Ashley Taylor

Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Mountain climbing mom of four: believer in smiles, hugs, spicy curries, and effective altruism.”

Hometown: Provo, Utah

Fun Fact About Yourself: I speak Slovenian.

Undergraduate School and Major: Brigham Young University, English major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Taylor Custom Rings, Co-founder

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being a mom to four children has definitely been my greatest accomplishment, and I do consider it as part of my career!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I fell in love with my classmates on day one. Above all, I would call them generous. They are friendly, accepting, and supportive to a really remarkable degree. They come from all different countries, industries, and backgrounds, but they are open to others’ ideas, anxious to learn about and experience other cultures, and very helpful and collaborative in nature. You get the sense that everyone wants to help you succeed, and that creates a cycle of generosity in the school – I hope it spills into the world!

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was drawn to Babson’s focus on entrepreneurship, and I have not been disappointed. Every course is taught through the lens of the entrepreneur, and a myriad of resources are available to those seeking to launch or grow a new venture.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am very excited about the Butler Launchpad and Summer Venture Program.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have been nurturing aspirations of launching a social enterprise, and personally, I have come to a point where investing my time in a master’s program is feasible.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An entrepreneurship-focused MBA seemed like the best way to pursue my interest in social entrepreneurship, so I decided it was worth the cost. The decision was based more on the rightness of the program than on projected income, so in that way I likely differ from others pursuing more conventional paths where ROI is more clear-cut.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford GSB, Berkeley Haas, Harvard, MIT Sloan, Duke Fuqua

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I was most interested in which program would help me the most toward my goal of launching a social-purpose venture. A collaborative culture embracing true diversity was also of paramount importance to me. School visits, interviews, and copious research helped me evaluate these criteria.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? After the birth of my third child, I struggled with debilitating postpartum anxiety and depression for nearly a year. It changed the way I saw emotions, vulnerability, and relationships. While I was always bent toward caring for people, the experience deepened my empathy and opened my understanding. Now, whenever I go through hard things, I try to take the invitation to grow in courage, compassion and connection.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to work on my new venture after graduation.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope by then to have helped many people through my growing social enterprise. I might even have the chance to help other starry-eyed entrepreneurs to make an impact with their careers.