How Babson, Alpha Kappa Psi, and Spinelli Shaped My Understanding of Markets—and Airline Pricing

A specific Babson College EPS Entrepreneurial Studies class taught by guest lecturer Steve Spinelli is especially memorable- "We Don't Take Risks Because We Want To". For many, it was just another class. For me, it tied in perfectly with my struggles I was facing with our own business, including travel agency ownership discounts and hidden city tickets. On this day, He asked the class “Do entrepreneurs like taking risks?” Most of the class responded “YES”, comparing entrepreneurs to cowboys or reckless gamblers. Spinelli quickly responded with “NO, NO, NO!!!” He clarified entrepreneurs....(YOU NEED TO LISTEN). What I gained from Babson, Alpha Kappa Psi, and exposure to leaders like Spinelli wasn’t just relationships—it was perspective. Markets aren’t static. They’re shaped by information, timing, and access. That’s exactly why airline pricing behaves the way it does—and why strategies like hidden city ticketing exist within the system.