Preferred registration deadline: October 9th

3 CEs

What does it mean to think like an entrepreneur while working within an established organization? In today's rapidly changing social sector environment, effective leaders must do more than manage existing programs and teams, they must continually assess whether their approaches are achieving the intended impact, identify emerging opportunities, and adapt to meet evolving needs.

This interactive workshop introduces entrepreneurial thinking as a practical leadership framework for senior managers, program leaders, and organizational decision-makers. Participants will explore how entrepreneurial principles can be applied to strengthen programs, improve internal systems, and foster innovation within mission-driven organizations. Through case studies, guided reflection, and practical exercises, we will learn how to identify opportunities for improvement, distinguish between challenges that require innovation and those that require stronger implementation, and develop strategies for testing and refining new ideas. Grounded in principles of equity, continuous learning, and impact measurement, this workshop will equip participants with tools to approach leadership challenges with curiosity, creativity, and strategic thinking. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for building more responsive programs, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and leading innovation in ways that advance their mission and create meaningful impact.

This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date.

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 30.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Senior managers, program directors, department heads, and organizational leaders working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, social service organizations, or mission-driven institutions. Particularly well-suited for professionals responsible for program design, team leadership, or organizational strategy who have at least 3–5 years of management experience.

Agenda:

• Welcome & Introductions, workshop goals - 5 mins
• Framing - parking lot board; Large group discussion - 10 mins
• What Is Entrepreneurial Thinking? - Core principles: opportunity orientation, assumption testing, iterative design, and equitable impact. Myth-busting: this isn’t just for startups; Mini-lecture + paired reflection - 15 mins
• Spotting the Opportunity - How to identify unmet needs, program gaps, and moments of organizational friction. Introduce the “Problem-to-Possibility” framework; Small group case study analysis - 30 mins
• Equity as a Design Constraint, Not an Add-On - Why centering the most marginalized users leads to better programs for everyone; Facilitated discussion + examples from the field - 20 mins
• Designing for Impact - Backwards design: starting with intended outcomes. Introduction to alternative brain storming and lean program design; Interactive worksheet exercise (individual) - 30 mins
• Testing Your Assumptions - Minimum viable programs, feedback loops, and the difference between pilot and scale. Participants apply the framework to a real challenge from their own work; Small group workshop / peer coaching - 30 mins
• From Insight to Action - Building an internal case for change; managing up and across; sustaining innovation in resource-constrained environments - 30 mins
• Closing & Commitments - 10 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Analyze the core principles of entrepreneurial thinking and apply them to program development or people management challenges within a social sector organization.
• Examine current programs or internal systems using an opportunity-identification lens, and differentiate between problems that require new solutions versus improved execution of existing ones.
• Design an iterative, equity-centered approach to program or organizational innovation, incorporating feedback loops and intentional impact measurement. 

Course Completion Requirements:

The Brown School is an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois. To earn credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. You may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs if you miss part of the training. CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available.

For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy or other inquiries please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.