Influential Woman · Sports Social Work
Alyssa Ulyth Gaggino
Owner/ Life Coach, Empower Play Sports Consulting
Livonia (detroit), MI 48150
I fought for years to close the pay gap between nurses and social workers doing the same job. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I finally won a 10-25% raise for social workers.
Alyssa Ulyth Gaggino · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Alyssa
Alyssa Gaggino is a licensed Master Social Worker and certified sports social work professional based in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. She earned her MSW from Wayne State University, where she focused on community practice and social action, and later completed additional certification in career development facilitation through Oakland University. She has held a Michigan Licensed Master Social Worker credential since 2009, sports social work certification since 2025 and career facilitating with a career spanning clinical, case management, and counseling roles across healthcare and community-based settings. Her 17 year professional background includes extensive experience in medical social work, care coordination, and mental health counseling. She has worked with organizations such as McLaren Home Care Group and Senior Counseling Services, health care insurance settings providing psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, problem solving assistance, and care planning for elderly, disabled, and medically complex populations. She served in care coordination roles through Health Alliance Plan/Caresource, where she managed large client caseloads and supported individuals navigating medical, housing, substance use, and social service systems, working in coordination with multidisciplinary care teams and regulated under programs associated with the State of Michigan Medicaid and Medicare systems. More recently, she transitioned into sports-focused practice and entrepreneurship, founding Empower Play Sports Consulting, where she provides life coaching and performance stress support for athletes ranging from high school to professional levels, including retired, active and those transitioning out of sport. Her work emphasizes performance support, life skills development, and transition planning. She is an active member of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports and is currently building her client base while expanding her practice in sports social work and athlete development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alyssa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my education and practical experience - I received a master's at the top of my class. I met a lot of fellow social work students and we became friends and still friends. They're all kind of like me, like-minded, and outspoken, resilient, tough, and fight through life’s obstacles. What do I attribute it to? Getting a good circle of people. It’s important to have support, strong network and people that believe and help you. I include older and younger professionals, and all kinds of people, and women of all ages who have been supportive of me. I believe in having really good friends, a great family and a really good business circle.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My mom said to me when I was about 17, You get a education and job you love and stay independent, you never know if you're going to lose a partner, if you separate or divorce you need to be able to take care of yourself. My mom’s advice made a difference in the way I looked at my career and life. I've always worked except one year in grad school and have done multiple jobs whole supporting myself. I wanted to be independent.
I consistently work on spiritual, social, emotional and maintain my physical health. You have to be your biggest advocate. If you dream it you can work towards it with strong goals and perseverance.
I want to help others get their footing and get the best life they can while taking credit and responsibility for themselves along the way. Life is short don’t waste it on friends and habits that don’t support you. You never fail you learn from mistakes. It’s part of life, bouncing back.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I say participate! Life is not a spectator sport. No one is going to knock on your door and give you what you want. If you want, or need something always ask or fight for it. If not, it’s always NO.
Go beyond your comfort level. Develop great relationships on and off the field and always stand up for your rights, and stand with like-minded people. If they're older, so what? they are wiser than you. You're gonna be older one day too, listen up!
You also must want the world to be in the best shape. Get out there and volunteer in your community, give back, be grateful and speak up against government and corporate negativity.
I fought one of my employers for pay equity, paid time off and sign-on bonuses. I won all those battles. It’s not easy. You have to take risks for what you believe is fair.
I'm outspoken, but haven't always been, I learned it over time and with practice. Not every fight or competition ends up a win, don’t give up. Your life isn't going change if you sit back. It's gonna change if you change it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It is getting out there and selling my services to teams and athletes. I have to push myself past fear and apprehension. I just set my goals for the day and work towards them. I don’t always get everything done that day but there is tomorrow. I have to be kind to myself and practice self-care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Perseverance, courage, being and advocate for yourself and others. I believe adventure and traveling out if your area and going abroad as often as you can. My goal is to visit and explore every continent. Antarctica is the last continent and next on my list. Love and nurturing relationships is a necessity. Get a diverse set of friends and learn from them. “Live without fear” needs to be your motto.
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