The paradox of prestige: Why Harvard trains rebels for jobs that demand obedience

Ryan W. Powers, a Harvard Law graduate, was dismissed from his corporate law job after publicly criticising government surveillance ties. Though Harvard champions critical thinking and public service, its professional pipeline quietly rewards deference and silence. Using Powers' experience as a lens, the piece exposes how elite institutions sell idealism while funnelling students into careers that punish conviction. The result is a system where obedience is incentivised, and ethical leadership remains a branding exercise, not a protected value.

Education