“Beautiful things happen when we just respond to the need that’s right in front of us with small, faithful actions.”
— Ben French

When Ben French learned that a young man with autism was about to lose his place in a homeless shelter, he did not have a long-term plan — he simply responded to the need in front of him. That decision grew into Shepherd’s Way, a nonprofit helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities build the skills, confidence, and connections to flourish. In this episode, Ben, a financial advisor with CoreNorth Capital Planning and president and founder of Shepherd’s Way, shares the remarkable journey that earned him the 2026 Invest in Others Catalyst Award.

But the conversation is about more than giving back. Ben explores how shared purpose, complementary perspectives, strong team members, and disciplined processes can expand a business’s capacity to serve. He also explains why the desire to create the perfect plan can prevent meaningful action, and why starting small is often the first step toward greater impact.

Episode 259: From Intention to Impact offers insight into:

• Moving beyond analysis paralysis by acting on the need in front of you
• Creating greater capacity through collaboration, strong teams, and intentional processes
• Pairing a service-driven mission with the business discipline needed to expand its impact

2026 Invest in Others Catalyst Award recognizes an advisor who has been an active stimulus for positive change and displayed entrepreneurial vision and leadership to a nonprofit organization for at least 3 years. Recipients announced September 17, 2026.