The Light Within: My Life Journey as a Social Entrepreneur is the life story of a successful social entrepreneur and what it means to follow your bliss. The Light Within traces the maturation of a change-maker’s identity from birth through retirement and the evolution of his thinking and engagement in large-scale systems change. It outlines his real-world experiences of working with government, business, and other power brokers, with insights on difference making and life itself. About the Author Richard J. Bringewatt is a life-long social entrepreneur with decades of real-world, planned change experience. Driven to make a difference, Mr. Bringewatt founded or co-founded numerous national organizations designed to transform our nation’s healthcare system. As a visionary, mission-driven chief executive, he worked with the spectrum of healthcare-related federal, state, and local government entities, business leaders, national associations, professional organizations, think-tanks, consumer groups, and foundations. Through thoughtful leadership and aligned relationships, he successfully developed and advanced numerous large-scale, system-oriented program innovations and related financing, policy, and legislation. In 2020, Mr. Bringewatt published Big Change: Using Soft Power to Transform Social Systems . Written through the lens of what it takes to make meaningful, large-scale change, Big Change identifies principles and strategies for transforming United States public-private systems of social good to be more just, caring, and compassionate. Rich is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, with emphasis in administration, social policy, and gerontology. He lives in Ankeny, Iowa where he enjoys time with family and friends. Rich also delights in running, writing, continuing education, and attending various cultural, music, art, and sporting events. Though formally retired, Rich has maintained his zeal for making a difference, with a special interest in applying his planned change knowledge and experience to resolving our climate crisis.