The Creators

The Blueprint of WE concept was created by Maureen K. McCarthy and Zelle Nelson as they first began their dating relationship in 1998. (It was originally named the State of Grace Document after the effortless grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing.) After seeing its impact, they went on to create Documents with family and friends. Eventually, through their international consulting firm, Engaging the Soul @ Work, they made the decision to solely use Blueprint of WE Collaboration Documents with their clients, rather than traditional legal contracts. Their clients, including global corporations, governments and universities — organizations who often live and die by their contracts — have all been willing to create Blueprint of WE Collaboration Documents as the business contract. And every client has gone on to create Collaboration Documents within their own organizations because they see the powerful impact it has on their day-to-day business interactions and the bottom line. As Stephen Covey, Jr. puts it, it's about the "speed of trust." The concept has now spread to 100+ countries worldwide and continues to expand.

As international leadership consultants, large group facilitators, senior executive coaches and keynote speakers, Maureen and Zelle are dynamic communicators, pioneering advancements in business and personal relationship tools within corporations and communities across the globe. They are a true living example of effortless relationship at work and at home.

I have to admit, I am still a little (well maybe a lot) speechless. I’m not sure how else to explain it besides amazing; you were both so knowledgeable and incredibly inspiring. I cannot thank you enough for the work you are doing. I could listen to you for hours longer and learn so much more. In that short time you taught me concepts and tools that will be with me for the rest of my life. — G.F., Chicago, USA

Maureen and Zelle have worked to create places where people actually look forward to going to work. Workplaces where everyone's knowledge, passions and interests rise to the surface to create a stronger, more vibrant company or community. They engage an organization on many levels by transcending the hierarchy. They show every individual how to do the Dance of Leader and Follower and give them the tools to better balance people and profits. People spend more time at work than anywhere else, and when a person doesn't feel respected and appreciated in their work environment, it ultimately affects their personal life, as well as the life and profit of the company. Strong profits being integral in the health of an organization.

Maureen and Zelle are gifted communicators of foundational thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They have a compelling grasp of the power of storytelling and are known for encouraging even the largest audience to their feet to participate. Their power resides in the numerous tools, ideas and network of people they makes use of in an almost intuitive sense. They facilitate large group change initiatives and are trained facilitators in The Work, Open Space, and World Cafe, among many other tools.

Maureen and Zelle live in Asheville, NC, USA in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains with their daughter, Kate, and their son, Kerrigan. They are deeply grateful to be caretakers of a 158-year-old stone house in a forest of 300-year-old trees where they often hold retreats and workshops. It is a magical sanctuary which was once the ceremonial grounds of the Native American Cherokee Indians.

Creating a New Normal
Below is a short video about Blueprint of WE Collaboration Document creator, Maureen McCarthy, and how she lives an extraordinary life with a rare, fatal lung disease. It is a fascinating and very unusual way of being in the world. (The video was created by her daughter, Kate, at age 15.)

Learning from Maureen and Zelle, who share from a heart space and from personal experience, is a bigger gift than I could have imagined. Something in me opens more to enable me to learn and take action in my own life when the new information comes from such authentic, unconditionally accepting souls. I have attended many workshops and retreats over the past 15 years, and my growing curve, as well as the gifts that have come into my life since I have taken their workshop, has been incredible!
— D.R. USA