In this online course you will learn:

Social work leaders are increasingly called to build organizations capable of addressing complex social problems while navigating questions of sustainability, workforce development, equity, and long-term impact. Yet social work entrepreneurship is often framed around launching a program, service, or private practice rather than designing the broader infrastructure needed to create and sustain systems-level change.

This session introduces the Three-Engine Model for Mission-Driven Social Work Enterprise, a framework for thinking about entrepreneurship as ecosystem design. Using the development of a behavior change ecosystem as a real-world case example, the session explores how three complementary functions, including systems strategy and evidence, professional formation and practice excellence, and equity-centered investment, can work in alignment to support sustainable systems change.

This session's highlights include:

• Thinking beyond a single program or organization to the infrastructure required for lasting impact
• Designing around a shared social-impact aim
• Identifying gaps and imbalances across the three engines
• Navigating growth, partnerships, and opportunity without losing sight of mission
• Applying the Three-Engine Enterprise Map to an organization, initiative, or emerging idea

By presenting social work entrepreneurship as ecosystem design rather than simple organizational expansion, this session offers a forward-thinking approach to integrated leadership, mission protection, and sustainable systems change. The model presented will demonstrate how social work values can be embedded into enterprise architecture so that innovation, equity, professional excellence, and financial sustainability develop together.