Entrepreneurship in the Humanities: The Story of the Paideia Institute
From his studying Latin with a Catholic monk at the Vatican, to his adaptation to coding and expanding online offerings during the Covid-19 pandemic, to his excitement of how AI will ultimately reinforce the value of the humanities among people, Jason inspired and entertained a diverse and curious crowd.
“It was such an honor and a pleasure speaking at a Dyer Center event,” said Jason. “As an entrepreneur, it’s so gratifying to speak with young people about my story, and see their eagerness to make a difference in the world. I left with a renewed sense of optimism about the future!”
Student attendee Fatma Elbanna ’26 said, “I liked that Jason used his knowledge and experience to start an entrepreneurial project that helped people to not only learn the language but also live the experience of Latin and Ancient Greek speakers. I admired his resilience and how he adapted his goals throughout his journey.”
At the end of his talk, Jason shared a few pieces of wisdom for Lafayette students.
- Follow your passion. That is where you will work hard, and where you work hard is where you will succeed, even if it takes you down a path you weren’t expecting.
- Never waste a good crisis. Sometimes when things are going bad you can find something new because a crisis forces you to rethink and reinvent.
- Your network matters. Every relationship is valuable, go out and have coffee with people, talk to them, ask them for ideas.
- The future is bright for the humanities. AI is a huge deal and will bring change, but while it can solve some technical problems, it’s the humanities that will save us when we need to find meaning.
Oftentimes, entrepreneurship is pigeon-holed to finance or STEM fields, but the qualities that make for a great entrepreneur can stretch into any discipline. Jason illuminated his unexpected entrepreneurial path, and showed how an education in the humanities (in his case, Classics) can lead a non-traditional, impactful, and innovative career.