Philanthropist, investor, and technology pioneer Jean Case brings to life the five Be Fearless principles common to the people and organizations that change the world.
Make a big bet.
Be bold, take risks.
Make failure matter.
Reach beyond your bubble.
Let urgency conquer fear.
BE FEARLESS: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose (Simon & Schuster; January 8, 2019) is a call to action to overcome fear, be bold and take risks for those seeking to live extraordinary lives and bring about transformational change. Weaving together real-world stories from dozens of ordinary people who ended up doing extraordinary things, as well Jean’s own transformational life experiences, this deeply personal and inspiring book provides a clear roadmap for individuals and organizations to ignite change at work, in life and in communities.
BE FEARLESS is built around five principles that Jean and the Case Foundation have identified as being at the center of transformational change and innovation, past and present. She vividly illustrates these principles with storytelling—from her own life-altering moments and John F. Kennedy’s history-making moonshot, to Jane Goodall’s remarkable breakthroughs in understanding and protecting chimpanzees and other endangered species, AirBnB’s tale of starting from scratch to reinvent the hospitality industry, Bryan Stevenson’s ambitious efforts to end incarceration inequities, celebrity chef José Andrés’ decision to be a “first responder” and take his kitchen to the sites of devastating hurricanes to feed the hungry—and much more. In recounting these narratives, Jean appeals to readers to ask themselves, “What can I do?” and she provides the tools to help them get started.
Case has spoken about the five Be Fearless principles at SXSW, the Aspen Ideas Festival, Fortune Most Powerful Women and numerous businesses, non-profits, universities and conferences. The Be Fearless Facebook Watch show has received more than 1 million views across 11 episodes and she has written columns for Forbes and Time. Her leadership as a philanthropist and investor have been praised and profiled in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, Washington Post, Forbes Magazine, Fast Company, and Fortune Magazine with appearances on networks like CNN and CNBC.
ABOUT JEAN CASE
Jean Case, the first female Chairman of the National Geographic Society in its 130-year history and CEO of the Case Foundation, is a philanthropist, investor and internet and impact investing pioneer who advocates for the importance of embracing a more fearless approach to innovate and bring about transformational breakthroughs. Her career in the private sector spanned nearly two decades before cofounding the Case Foundation in 1997. Before the Case Foundation, she was a senior executive at America Online, Inc., where she directed the marketing and branding at AOL charged with bringing the Internet to the masses. In addition, Jean currently serves on the boards of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), the White House Historical Association, and BrainScope Company, Inc., as well as on the advisory boards of the Brain Trust Accelerator Fund, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society and Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016 and has received honorary degrees from Indiana University and George Mason University. BE FEARLESS: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose is her first book.
ABOUT THE CASE FOUNDATION
The Case Foundation, created by digital pioneers Jean and Steve Case, invests in people and ideas that can change the world. Intently focused on leveraging innovative efforts to address significant social challenges, harnessing the best impulses of entrepreneurship, technology and collaboration to drive exponential impact, the Case Foundation uses a Be Fearless approach to catalyzing movements that drive transformational change. Today they are driving at two major movements—impact investing and inclusive entrepreneurship. And as movement catalyzers, they are taking a fearless approach to social innovation to tip individuals and organizations from good intention to meaningful action. Within both movements they see boundless potential to get all oars in the water to help solve the world’s most pressing social problems.