Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Austin. She is the founder and CEO of CEO’s of Social Work. Below is a snapshot of the interview we had with her as she shared her story with us below:
Shawn’s passion to serve the most vulnerable populations, innovation, leadership, critical thinking, and solution-focused dexterities has cemented her as a leader in the social work profession with more than 15 years of experience. It is through these years of experience that not only has Shawn’s passion to serve as a social worker grown but her desire to give back was ignited.
As a constant learner and seasoned professional Shawn has a desire to continue to help social workers reach their personal and professional goals. As a result, Shawn started her entrepreneurial journey by providing clinical supervision to master-level social workers. While serving, supervising, connecting, and networking Shawn identified multiple ways to empower social workers.
Shawn and Dejerica developed a professional relationship while working at a local hospital in Atlanta, GA. After leaving the hospital, Dejerica advanced into entrepreneurship and Shawn advanced in corporate America while maintaining her practice as a clinical supervisor. Shawn began to explore the idea of private practice and connected with Dejerica; meeting monthly to discuss business plans, share resources, cover each other in prayer, and push each other to be our best mentally, physically, and relationally. Shawn saw that having consistent support from someone that reflected her strengths and saw her potential enhanced her life. Shawn wanted to cultivate that space for other social workers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
In 2022, Shawn and Dejerica founded CEO’s of Social Work. CEOs of Social Work is a platform that encourages social workers to pursue paths to entrepreneurship, both part-time or full-time, network, empower each other and live a life of harmony. Shawn’s live mantra is, “If we are going to work well together, we must share knowledge and resources, pour into the next generation and be passionate about impacting the lives of everyone connected to us.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, the process of building a cohesive team has been effortless. Shawn has ambition but she never lets it override her peace. As a result, Shawn knew she needed a support system to help bring her vision to life. She leaned into her mentors, therapist, and friends to help back her vision and provide encouragement. She made phone calls to some friends with professional backgrounds needed for this vision, shared the vision and strategy and everyone was on board to start building. What Shawn loves most about her support system and the team is that they give and receive constructive criticism with the expectation to learn and grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are focused on building a community to set up support systems to optimize our potential as social workers, entrepreneurs, and individuals. Shawn believes in the power of connecting and attaching yourself to like-minded people to create limitless opportunities. As we learn, we want to teach; as we gain knowledge, we want to bring awareness; and as we attain assets, we want to share resources.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
During the summer months, I would visit my father in Chicago and beg to go to work with him at a residential rehabilitation facility for disabled children. I enjoyed doing arts and crafts, watching movies, and playing with the residents at the facility. This is where my passion for serving the most vulnerable populations began.
But I also enjoyed going to my local corner store in Illinois to buy Flamin’ Hot fries with nacho cheese and if I had an extra dollar, I would add meat and jalapeños. It brought me so much joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: ceosofsocialwork.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ceosofsocialwork?igshid=MTIzZWMxMTBkOA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090784778113&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceos-of-social-work
