Dr. Michael H. Morris of the University of Notre Dame founded the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative, the model that treats starting a business as a way out of poverty. It now runs in 60 cities, including Seattle, where Seattle University's Albers School of Business runs it as On Ramp. reSpace founder Katrina Romatowski sat down with him ahead of his Shoulders of Giants keynote.

Forty-five years of research on the psychology and sociology of the entrepreneur, and not one shred of evidence that entrepreneurs are born. The teacher's aide who fixed 35 bicycles and called at 37 to say it was her first year over $20,000. The cleaning business that became a bio-waste certifier. Why the "90% of businesses fail" line is a lie, and why the banks are part of the problem.

Dr. Morris speaks at Shoulders of Giants on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at World Trade Center Seattle. Doors and lunch 11:30 AM, finished by 1:30 PM. Mike Flynn asks the questions. $55 with lunch, proceeds benefit Seattle University. Tickets: respace.co/oct8

Chapters:
00:33 What was broken about how we teach entrepreneurship
00:52 "Never a vehicle to get rich." The great equalizer
04:09 The bicycle rental: "first year I've ever made more than $20,000"
05:58 The 80 steps and the $2,000 micro-grant
08:02 "Poverty more than anything takes away choice"
11:24 The myth of necessity entrepreneurship
16:05 Why 80 steps instead of a business plan
20:23 Empathy, humility and a Fulbright in South Africa
25:20 What the ten-month program actually is
33:34 From cleaning homes to certifying bio-waste crews
35:35 The biggest lie: "90% of businesses fail"
36:57 "I was born this way." 45 years of research says otherwise
37:57 The one systemic fix: grants and micro-loans tied to progress

reSpace: respace.co

Shoulders of Giants series: respace.co/events