When business schools describe their deans as dynamic, visionary or a breath of fresh of air, they are often wrong, sometimes spectacularly so. But in the case of Babson College, which appointed Leonard Schlesinger as president in July 2008, such descriptions might be conservative.

Loquacious and entertaining, the 56-year-old academic-cum-businessman returns to Boston after eight years in Columbus, Ohio, working for Limited Brands, most recently as vice-chairman and chief operating officer.