🎤 Travel in Time: Dan Blanchard Interviews Elihu Yale
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT – Year: Timeless*
Dan Blanchard:
Mr. Elihu Yale! What an honor to travel through time and sit with you on the campus that proudly bears your name. You’ve left quite the legacy here. How does it feel to see this university thrive centuries later?
Elihu Yale:
Ah, Mr. Blanchard, the pleasure is mutual. To see these hallowed halls filled with students, scholars, and ideas of every kind… it fills me with a deep sense of pride. Though I could not have imagined this scale when I sent that chest of books and a modest sum, it’s heartening to know those seeds bore such fruit.
Dan Blanchard:
That gift of books and funds you sent in the early 1700s was transformative. Today, Yale is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. What inspired you to make that contribution?
Elihu Yale:
Education, dear sir, is the true wealth of nations. Though my fortune was earned in trade and governance in faraway lands, I knew that knowledge was the only inheritance that could transcend time and place. My donation was a gesture to promote learning among the youth of the New World.
Dan Blanchard:
And your name is now forever etched into American academic history. Speaking of history, Yale played a fascinating role during the American Revolution. What would you say about Yale men like Nathan Hale and their spirit?
Elihu Yale:
Young Hale—what courage! “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”—those words echo still. Leadership forged in education often matures in crisis. The very purpose of a university is to shape minds that will one day shape nations. That spirit of sacrifice and principle? That’s precisely what I hoped Yale would nurture.
Dan Blanchard:
Let’s talk leadership then. One of the key lessons I’ve taken from Yale is this: Leaders are lifelong learners. You’ve led in business, diplomacy, and now—as a patron of education. What advice would you give to modern leaders?
Elihu Yale:
Never assume your learning is done, Mr. Blanchard. The moment a leader ceases to question is the moment he begins to fail. Ask boldly. Listen intently. Reflect constantly. And surround yourself with those who challenge your thinking, not just echo it. I daresay even an old merchant like myself had to adapt with every tide.
Dan Blanchard:
Beautifully said. And what about the lesser-known parts of Yale’s story—like the university’s role in missionary work and its impact on other cultures?
Elihu Yale:
Ah, a difficult truth. In my day, the intertwining of education, religion, and empire was commonplace. But hindsight gives us clarity. We must all confront the parts of our legacies that caused unintended harm. Institutions must not only celebrate their victories but also learn from their missteps. That too, is leadership.
Dan Blanchard:
Wise words. Before we wrap up, let me ask you this: If you were teaching a leadership course at Yale today, what would you call it?
Elihu Yale:
“From Commerce to Conscience: Leading with Purpose.”
I would remind students that influence is not in what you accumulate, but in what you contribute. Lead not only with intellect, but with integrity.
Dan Blanchard:
Mr. Yale, thank you for your time and timeless insight. Your legacy is living, breathing, and evolving right here in New Haven—and far beyond.
Elihu Yale:
And thank you, Mr. Blanchard, for ensuring the stories of the past serve as lanterns lighting the path ahead.
