Expanding the Definition of Entrepreneurship

More than 100,000 people around the world have engaged in a crowd-sourcing effort to extend the dictionary definition of the word ‘entrepreneurship.’ Through Babson College’s ‘redefining entrepreneurship’ campaign , visitors hailing from all 50 states and 147 countries have engaged with Babson’s recently launched digital hub, define.babson.edu . More than 2,000 text and multimedia definitions of the word entrepreneurship have been posted and shared through the hub, including those submitted by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, iconic footwear designer Ruthie Davis , Apple evangelist and Garage.com founder, Guy Kawasaki, President and CEO of the Nike Foundation, Maria Eitel , and former U.S. Department of State advisor Steven Koltai. Outside of the U.S., the countries with the greatest visitors include India, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Mexico, Canada, Bulgaria, Brazil, Germany, Chile and China.

Launched by Babson College in January 2012, the campaign is helping to extend the definition of entrepreneurship in order to help shape how the world views and values entrepreneurs of all kinds. Through define.babson.edu, the community-at-large can post and share their definitions and access information about the entrepreneurial experience.

With more than 2,000 definitions posted to date, it’s clear there is no limit to the ways entrepreneurship can be defined,” said Babson’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sarah L. Sykora. “The word ‘entrepreneurship’ means much more than just starting a business. Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® is being applied in many contexts, from large corporations to social causes, and by people of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. As the recognized global leader in entrepreneurship education, we are incredibly excited about the early interest and energy this campaign has generated. The overwhelming response signals to us that, regardless of the words they use to define it, people recognize entrepreneurship as a powerful force for solving the economic, social and environmental issues confronting our world.”

As Babson continues to crowd-source definitions, the College also will begin incorporating select definitions into its fully integrated branding campaign, which includes print, digital, outdoor and radio components. The campaign was conceptualized and executed in partnership with Connelly Partners .