Navigating the Challenges of Higher Education and Entrepreneurship with Dr. JD LaRock

In this episode, Lamell sits down with Dr. JD LaRock, President & CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and former Northeastern professor, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping education and access in America.
 
With higher education under intense scrutiny, AI rewriting the rules, and corporate commitments to equity quietly unraveling, Lamell and JD dig into what opportunity really looks like today—especially for underserved communities. They explore why public frustration with college has reached a tipping point, how HBCUs continue to serve as anchors of purpose and leadership, and why entrepreneurial education may be one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility.
 
The conversation also tackles the promise and pitfalls of AI in education, the reality behind post-2020 corporate pledges, and the mindset young people need to navigate an uncertain future.
 
This episode is a masterclass in Agility and Focus—two habits essential for persisting when the landscape keeps shifting.