The Social Work Innovation Network Presents: Figuring it Out Day-By-Day: The Lived Experiences of Everyday Social Work Entrepreneurs
The Social Work Innovation Network Presents: Figuring It Out Day-By-Day: The Lived Experiences of Everyday Social Work Entrepreneurs
Social workers are more entrepreneurial than the general population in the U.S., yet little research attention has been devoted to understanding social work entrepreneurship.
Join Marijo Upshaw and Tamarie Willis for an engaging presentation of their qualitative study, “Figuring it Out Day-By-Day,” exploring how social workers navigate the realities of launching and growing entrepreneurial ventures.
Drawing on interpretative phenomenological interviews with 15 emerging social work entrepreneurs, the study uncovers motivations rooted in autonomy and creativity, barriers such as self-doubt and limited business training, and the resilience strategies that enable persistence. The session will discuss how these findings can inform future research, curriculum design, and professional development in social work entrepreneurship and innovation.
About the Presenters
Marijo J. Upshaw, MSW, MBA, PhD Candidate
Marijo Upshaw is a social work entrepreneur, educator, and researcher whose work bridges social work, business, and community innovation. She serves on the adjunct faculty at Wayne State University’s School of Social Work and the Mike Ilitch School of Business, where she teaches, develops curricula, and conducts research at the intersection of entrepreneurship, social impact, and nonprofit leadership. Her professional background spans more than 35 years in business, nonprofit management, and social venture development.
Tamarie Willis, PhD, MSW
Dr. Tamarie Willis is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work and a social work scholar whose research explores how child welfare policies affect incarcerated parents and their children’s outcomes in state care. Her published work spans child welfare, behavioral health, and criminal justice systems. A former federal policy fellow with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Dr. Willis integrates research, teaching, and practice to advance equity-driven and evidence-informed social work innovation.
Who Should Attend
Social work researchers, educators, students, practitioners, and anyone interested in social work entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and innovation.
Read the Study
Access the published article in Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance:
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2025.2534415
The article is part of a forthcoming special issue curated by the Social Work Innovation Network (SWIN). Access the editors' introduction here:
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2025.2567086
About SWIN
The Social Work Innovation Network is an emerging international group of social work researchers, professors, students, and practitioners who share an interest in social innovation, social entrepreneurship, design methods, sustainable development, and social impact. We work collaboratively and openly to explore and grow social work’s role in these research, teaching, and practice areas.
The groundwork for SWIN began in September 2021, when a small group of social work scholars responded to the growing number of people interested in exploring social innovation and social entrepreneurship from a social work perspective.
SWIN is a dynamic network that responds to the energy and needs of its members. Sub-groups and special projects are formed based on member leadership and interest.
Look for us at upcoming conferences on social work, social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, responsible innovation, public interest technology, and social policy. Learn more at linktr.ee/swkinnovation