What do engineering, entrepreneurship, and divinity have to do with each other? Apparently, more than you think. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, sits down with Tulane professors Rob Lalka, who teaches entrepreneurship, and Matt Escarra, a professor of engineering, to talk about a course that challenges students to ask the big questions. They discuss technology, ethics, purpose, and yes, even money. Inspired by a curriculum from Yale Divinity School, the class invites students to wrestle with questions like: What is the good life? What should we hope for? And how do we shape a future worth building?
Together, they explore how innovations like AI, gene editing, climate tech, and social media are not just technical challenges. They are deeply human ones. This conversation will make you think differently about how we define progress, what we value, and how we prepare the next generation of leaders. If you enjoy the episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and keep asking the questions that really matter, the ones that go way beyond the bottom line.
Episode Highlights:
Rob explains how entrepreneurship education can prepare students to build mission-driven companies that shape the future. (03:00)
Matt describes how a conversation with a visiting AI expert led to the course’s inspiration and partnership with Yale's Life Worth Living program. (05:00)
Erik asks how Matt integrates the technical side of engineering with questions about ethics and social impact. (06:00)
Rob discusses his book The Venture Alchemists and how founders’ values influence technology’s role in society. (09:00)
Matt outlines how the course delays tech discussion to first explore ancient wisdom, values, and views of the good life. (15:00)
Rob shares how classroom conversations mimic the deep late-night college discussions that shape students’ thinking. (19:00)
Erik connects course themes to financial advising, noting how values influence money decisions. (22:00)
Rob describes how student projects will pair deep research with direct conversations with top industry leaders. (30:00)
Rob and Matt explore how suffering shapes a meaningful life and why students should reflect on this before entering leadership. (37:00)
Rob and Matt reflect on the long-term impact they hope this course will have on their students’ personal and professional lives. (51:00)
Key Quotes:
“We are equipping you to be great critical thinkers, great empathetic leaders, people who are able to go into tough conversations and be really great listeners. And not just trying to argue your point.” - Rob Lalka
“I'd love to see them developing thoughtful careers where they can feel like they made some recognition in our class about what their values are and then followed through on their values, whatever that looks like for them.” - Matt Escarra
“The dimensions by which you can achieve efficiencies are really mind blowing when we think about the future of technology.” - Matt Escarra
Resources Mentioned:
Rob Lalka
Matthew Escarra
Book: The Venture Alchemists
Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA
Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC
Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors