Abstract: This session is for SLPs considering becoming their own boss or taking the first steps towards the next innovation in the CSD field with businesses that are also impact driven. As a serial successful entrepreneur, the presenter will share the infinite possibilities for crafting your own path in the field.
Description: One of the most magnificent characteristics of the communication sciences and disorders field is the diversity of settings and possibilities for building a professional practice that brings you joy. Nonetheless, the vast majority of speech-language pathology are currently working directly for public schools throughout the United States. According to Asha, more than half of SLPs (53%) are employed in schools. (Asha, n.d). Working for a traditional employer that has systems such as processes for evaluations, meetings and therapy or offers other perks such as resources, 401K and retirement can be the perfect place to bring many speech-language pathologists happiness. However, SLPs may also discover that building a professional career that is uniquely crafted to their best abilities may offer rewards beyond their wildest dreams. You can achieve this while also making an impact in your community and the world. This is what this session is designed to unveil.
Starting a business is not intuitive, especially for professionals who tend to fall in the “caring for other” category. It is also not intuitive for individuals who chose any educational career path besides business education. Therefore, for most of us reading checklists for starting a business that includes items such as business plans, investors, capital, profit margin, product development and customer service and acquisition will likely return to their 7 to 4 position and leave that dream for later.
This session will showcase speech-language pathologists who started trends in the industry in various areas and opened the door for opportunities for themselves and many others who followed these entrepreneur leaders. Leaders such as Jenna RayBurn and Amanda Shaumberg were among the first SLPs to profit from resources created for their caseload and went on to expand into full time businesses. Teresa Richards who has a business surrounding the education of dysphagia management, Mobile FEES Company and mentorship for other SLPs. Mary Houston and Rosie Simms who have become published authors of various iPad applications. Ebony Green and Jena Castro-Casbon who not only started their separate private practice but also found other ways to generate passive income by teaching fellow SLPs how to reproduce their success. Kari David or SANDY DORSEY, both are SLPs who created non-profit organizations designed to support children and adults with communication disorders in Africa with their own separate organizations.
The author of this presentation will also showcase the steps taken and the journey to becoming a full time app publisher for speech, language and communication. What SLPs don’t realize is that they don’t even have to have an original idea, they can often simply replicate a model someone else has invented (private practice services) in their own geographic area. There is space for everyone to shine. All these women have businesses that are making an impact in their local community or their professional community. Often the impact can be felt beyond the border of the direct contact with the owners of these businesses.
As an app developer creating software for other speech-language pathologists, I know that the impact of what I do on a daily basis is felt by my fellow SLPs, the clients they serve and their families around the world.
One of the objectives of the session is to guide attendees through the importance of utilizing the talents and skills they already possess when taking the first step towards entrepreneurship. Rather than trying to fit in an existing business model. The presenter will explore topics such as starting a business while holding a full time position, transitioning from a full time position to part time position in order to expand their business, the scary step of running their own business full time all the way to their first hires.
The session will also explore options for speech-language pathologists considering creating original products such as an app, a digital resource, a new physical therapeutic prototype, or technology. The presenter will also discuss the importance of customer discovery and how to go about conducting customer discovery in order to increase the chances of a successful product launch and making it profitable. Creating innovative solutions is not indicative of how well that product will do in the market and many innovative and incredibly well designed products have failed. The goal is to create a product that people need, are already searching for and would buy if someone created it. For SLPs looking to build businesses that make an impact in the world by promoting awareness of their own areas of interest, supporting families, or promoting speech, language and communication globally they will get a taste for the rewards of an impact driven business.
As an experienced awardees of small business innovation and research grants. The presenter will share with presentes the paths to exploring these non-dilutive funding alternatives to fund their innovation. Attendees will also learn about the existing resources and opportunities from the Small Business Administration (SBA) such as the Minority or Women Owned business certification that makes them more competitive to receive government contracts.
Finally, the presentation will cover important topics for anyone interested in starting a business and those who are already in business such as finding mentors, networking with other entrepreneurs and their existing and potential clients, developing or improving their marketing strategies and the importance of making sure to never forget why they started their business in the first place. It has to be about more than just making money. Our field gives us the opportunity to profit while making a difference, and this impact in the world in ways only bounded by our code of ethics, the law, and our imagination and drive.
Presentation Format & Methods: power Point
Supporting Research: Reference 1: Pakroo, Pero.(2022) The Small Business Start-Up Kit. A step-by-step guide Legal Guide. 11th Edition . Nolo.
Supporting Research: Reference 3: Constable, Giff. (2014) Talking to Humans. Success starts with Understanding your Customers
Supporting Research: Reference 4: Blank, S. G., & Dorf, B. (2020). The startup owner's Manual: The Step-by-step guide for building a great company. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Supporting Research: Reference 5: Sink, Simon (2011) Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.
Learning Objectives:
Identify three characteristics in themselves that makes them good candidates for becoming an entrepreneur
Contrast employee mindset to entrepreneurial mindset
Discover four potential business ideas to execute and become their own boss