Pat Morrell, C'07

Are you constantly thinking of ideas to solve problems? Pat Morrell, co-founder and head of strategic growth at Aiwyn, will share his entrepreneurial journey and the highs and lows that have come with taking risks, executing a plan, and working day and night to turn his vision into a success.

Morrell is the Babson Center’s Humphreys Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the 2025 Easter semester. While on campus, he will meet with students and deliver a presentation, “How to Pre-Sell an Idea, and Other Entrepreneurial Advice,” at 4:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 20, in the Torian Room, duPont Library. This visit is co-sponsored by the Babson Center for Global Commerce, the Department of Economics, the Department of Finance, and Tiger Student Ventures.

Like most politics majors at the University, Morrell was eager to live in Washington, D.C., after graduation. His first job was in sales for CEB, now Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company. As the 2008 Barack Obama Presidential Campaign geared up, he jumped on the opportunity to work as a field operative. After two years in D.C., he was offered a position at Three Ships, a startup in Raleigh. This role set him on a course to discover his true passion. Morrell said, “I loved the experience of going from a completely blank whiteboard to an actual business with products and customers. That zero-to-one experience was formative and exciting and freeing, and it’s what I’ve spent my career doing ever since.”

Pat expanded his knowledge of sales and business development when he joined Skookum and then Sealed Air Corporation. Working for founders gave him experience in marketing and strategic partnerships and a front-row seat to launching a business. He started and exited two different ventures: FitzGerald Morrell, a men’s fashion eCommerce business, and Digitizez.AI, a company in the healthcare fintech sector. In 2020, he cofounded Aiwyn, a technology partner for over 160 accounting firms that use AI solutions to enhance financial operations.

During his time at Sewanee, Morrell was involved in Greek life, the Interfraternity Council, freshman orientation, and intramural sports. Being a proctor and juggling these activities gave him valuable leadership experience, interpersonal skills, and lessons in negotiation—important skills for an entrepreneurial venture! Knowing how to write persuasively and concisely was the most useful skill Morrell took from Sewanee. As he said, “Across five different startups, each with varying degrees of success across them, I’ve come to the conclusion that the ability to write a coherent and compelling one-page memo is an entrepreneurial superpower.”

Join Pat Morrell to learn how to leverage an entrepreneurial mindset and turn your ideas into successful ventures. All are welcome.