Catholic entrepreneur bridges faith, business in new endeavor
Luke Burgis, a seminary-schooled former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, has launched the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience (CEDE). It’s an entrepreneurial program for young students, harmonizing Catholic values with the demands of entrepreneurial education.
Inspired by his time at the seminary and driven by a desire to make societal contributions, Burgis envisioned CEDE. Eschewing the priesthood, he believed he could ignite greater impact through entrepreneurship and finance.
Launched in 2020, CEDE is a bridge between faith and professional life. Operating out of the Catholic University of America, this initiative presents an array of resources around business ethics to spiritual growth, providing students a more balanced and purposeful professional life. Through events, programs, and online milieu, CEDE creates future workforce mindful of faith’s role in their careers.
In addition to leading CEDE, Burgis serves as the entrepreneur-in-residence and a clinical assistant professor of Business at CUA. Schools and homeschooling communities worldwide leverage his educational resources.
Bridging Catholic values with entrepreneurial education
Moreover, he is often called for entrepreneurship and business strategy workshops, attesting to his materials’ quality and relevance.
CEDE, according to Burgis, addresses the gap in Catholic education around the practical application of Catholic social teachings. The initiative aims at equipping teenagers with success tools beyond profits, focusing on personal and societal growth.
In 2024, CEDE plans to launch a 10-week online summer program to instil entrepreneurial spirit among youth. Highlighting experiential learning, inventive problem-solving, and resilience, Burgis’s teaching philosophy veers from traditional learning models. Topics will range from finance, coding, digital marketing, product development to public speaking, simulating real-world business settings.
Burgis believes in active learning, allowing teenagers to engage in real-life situations, stimulate creativity, and emotional growth. His approach ensures students develop technical abilities as well as essential life skills including perseverance, resilience, and integrity.
This program is open to anyone ready to command their life and explore the unknown. Those who join will gain an invaluable experience, bolstering their confidence and future preparedness.
