ABSTRACT
The idea of social entrepreneurship has struck a responsive chord. In common parlance, being an entrepreneur is associated with starting a business, but this is a very loose application of a term that has a rich history and a much more significant meaning. The term entrepreneur' originated in French economics as early as the 17th and 18th centuries. Contemporary writers in management and business have presented a wide range of theories of entrepreneurship. Any definition of social entrepreneurship should reflect the need for a substitute for the market discipline that works for business entrepreneurs. They make fundamental changes in the way things are done in the social sector. For a social entrepreneur, the social mission is fundamental. They think about sustaining the impact. Where others see problems, social entrepreneurs see opportunity. Social entrepreneurs are one special breed of leader, and they should be recognized as such.
