Dan Snow | Why a Harvard Professor Chose Purpose Over Status

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Dan Snow, Berkeley PhD and Harvard Business School professor turned BYU educator; for a thoughtful conversation on identity, reinvention, and choosing a life of deep purpose over conventional success.Dan shares his journey from the factory floors of Ford to the lecture halls of Harvard, and why he ultimately walked away from the elite academic path to teach and mentor at BYU. With rare humility and clarity, he unpacks the quiet courage it takes to start over, the challenges of being “the outsider,” and what it means to build a life that actually aligns with your values.They explore leadership, legacy, and how the most meaningful growth often comes from embracing discomfort. Whether it’s navigating faith in unfamiliar environments or making high stakes career pivots, Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that status isn’t the goal, impact is.00:00 | Introduction & Chelsea’s Journey03:55 | Education as Leadership Development07:34 | Dan’s Upbringing in Colorado Springs13:30 | Being the Outsider & Building Empathy17:22 | Faith, Contrast, and Cultural Identity19:43 | Mission in Rome & Early Lessons in Rejection22:59 | The Pivot Away from Law School26:24 | Working at Ford & Career Clarity30:05 | Choosing a PhD Over Corporate Success31:48 | Berkeley, Humility, and Academic Culture39:30 | The Dissertation: Last Gasp of Carburetors45:26 | The Hidden Power of Applied Theory49:13 | Greatness, Grit, and the Clay Christensen Standard54:14 | Turning Talents into Purpose56:01 | Reinvention & The Power of Starting Over58:41 | Spiritual Greatness in Everyday People01:02:06 | Creation, Progress & the Human Drive01:03:04 | Teaching at Oxford & Global Perspectives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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