Intelligence & Compassion in Action

Fully revised and expanded for 2026. Intelligence & Compassion in Action offers a roadmap to empower the aspiring social entrepreneur, with real guidance for responding to today's turbulent times: The Seven Pillars, inspired by the wisdom of the late former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Author Lauren Speeth, Founding CEO of The Elfenworks Foundation, blends academic rigor with the experiences of a seasoned practitioner, and includes true tales from the trenches. There's actual, honest heartbreak in this book. And yet, in the face of the world's harsh realities, Speeth manages to be both uplifting and affirming. Infused with practical wisdom, personal insights, and inspiring accounts of supercharged impact, this book prepares us all to heed the call, each in our own unique way. Get ready to:

Clarify Vision
Hone & Enhance Special Skills
Explore Authentic Niches &Be Non-duplicative
Forge Healthy Partnerships
Share the Credit
Gather & Be Guided by Feedback
Cultivate Staying Power

Students have put together proposals for saving the world using these building blocks. International and domestic non-profits have placed their environmental aspirations in terms of these Seven Pillars. And government agents have been guided by these principles in the most perilous of times. Now, as we make these pillars our own, Speeth passes the torch on to us.

"We need a book that tells us what works, what doesn't work,and what can be done to ensure that entrepreneurship delivers on its grand promise. This is precisely that book."
- David B Grusky, Director, Stanford Center on Poverty & Inequality

"I would recommend that anyone considering investing in a social entrepreneur should incorporate these 7 pillars into their due diligence process."
- Gil Crawford, CEO,Microvest Capital Funds

"A concrete, action-by-actionroadmap for transformative change from a philanthropic activist who approaches a seemingly intractable reality with generosity of spirit and entrepreneurial innovation."
- Drucilla Ramie, Esq., Dean, Golden Gate University School of Law

"A helpful and realistic guide to social entrepreneurship by a caring and committed practitioner."
- Phil Wise, Vice President of Operations, The Carter Center