Alumni Reflections: Entrepreneurship, Purpose, and Innovation

At the intersection of science, products, and people, José Barbosa G’17 has spent more than two decades turning ideas into products, leading research and design, and innovating at global consumer packaged goods powerhouses like PepsiCo, Keurig, MegaFood, and DSM-Firmenich. With the establishment of Endless Thesis Holding LLC, he’s now channeling that expertise into entrepreneurship as the co-founder of Balterra Inc., a wellness supplement brand built with his wife Yelena. Barbosa also co-authored Beyond the Lab Coats, a memoir of two scientists who learn to navigate corporate America, parenthood, and purpose, one formula at a time.

Barbosa recently visited campus to share his experience and learnings with Champlain students. He spoke with students in Pat Patel’s Business and the Entrepreneurial Mindset course and International Business and Macroeconomics course, which he reflects on below.

Beyond the Lab Coats: Owning Your Decisions Starts Now

A Champlain Session Recap by José Barbosa

I’m a 2017 alum, graduated from Champlain College Online with an MBA in Leadership. I completed the program online while working full-time; however, I also had the opportunity to be on campus on several occasions, including walking the halls, meeting members of the community, and getting a firsthand feel for the culture that makes Champlain special. That blend of flexible learning and real connection is a big part of why I remain proud to be associated with Champlain College.

During my recent Champlain College visit, we discussed the Beyond the Lab Coats theme through real classroom conversations. Some topics included commitment (“No Plan B”), building ownership into everyday choices (“it starts now”), and the entrepreneurial mindset that brings freedom while demanding the discipline to grind through the unglamorous work of every function. In the international business session, we also explored world cultures and international cuisine, including how learning to “develop new tastes” is part of learning to lead with respect and curiosity.

When I visited Champlain College, I walked in expecting a talk about careers and “what comes next.” I walked out with the reminder of something more urgent: what you choose starts shaping your life now, not after graduation, not after the first job, not after you feel “ready.”

Across the classes and conversations, a few moments stuck with me because they weren’t theoretical. They were the kind of questions that force you to look at your own decisions.

“No Plan B”

One of the strongest themes we discussed was the idea of No Plan B, not as recklessness, but as commitment. The kind of commitment that says: If I’m going to build something meaningful, I can’t keep one foot out the door. That mindset doesn’t guarantee an easy path, but it does create momentum. And momentum changes everything.

“Do you have to develop a new taste in every country?”

In the international business conversation, someone asked whether you have to develop a “new taste” for each country. My answer was yes, and knowing consumers’ tastes in each country was important.

Because culture isn’t something you study from a distance. You experience it. You respect it. You adapt to it. Whether it’s how people do business, how they communicate, how they build trust, or how they share a meal. Learning to appreciate difference isn’t a nice extra; it’s a real advantage in life and work.

And yes, we definitely went there on the fun side too: international cuisine, how food connects people, and how curiosity at the table often becomes curiosity everywhere else.

“It starts now.”

A point we kept coming back to, especially as it connects with Champlain’s curriculum, was that owning your life decisions isn’t a future assignment. It starts now. That means choosing habits, choosing how you show up, choosing how you respond when things don’t go your way, and choosing to take responsibility even when you’d rather blame timing, circumstances, or someone else.

That’s also the heartbeat of my talk and the title it’s built around: Beyond the Lab Coats.

The entrepreneurial mindset: freedom…and difficulty

We also spent time talking about the entrepreneurial mindset. The freedom it can bring is real: freedom to build, to create, to choose your direction. But the price is also real: the grind, the uncertainty, and the willingness to keep moving when the work isn’t glamorous.

One student asked me what my biggest mistake has been so far. My answer surprised even me when I said it out loud: I used to only have to grind through the “boring parts” of R&D. Now, as a founder, I have to grind through the boring parts of every function: operations, finance, logistics, marketing, customer feedback, and everything in between. Entrepreneurship means you don’t just get the fun parts. You get all of it.

That lesson, freedom paired with responsibility, shows up repeatedly in my book, because it’s not just a business truth. It’s a life truth.

Why this connects to the book (and to what I’m building)

My book, Beyond the Lab Coats, captures many of the lessons we discussed at Champlain: commitment, ownership, resilience, and learning to build your life one decision at a time. It’s written for students, early professionals, and anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at what growth really feels like.

And when we talked about entrepreneurship in a practical way, I used my supplement brand, Balterra, as an example because it’s entrepreneurship in real time. It’s the ongoing work of building something from the ground up, learning fast, and staying committed to values even when the easier path is tempting.

I’m grateful to Champlain College for the invitation and for the quality of questions across the sessions. Questions that weren’t just about careers, but about how to live with intention.