Today’s episode is all about the corporate side of social work! We sat down with Peter Mostachetti, LMSW, who went from a 25-year career in tech at IBM to leading employee experience, learning, and inclusion at IPSY, the largest beauty subscription company. Peter breaks down what corporate social work really is, how he applies the “person-in-environment” approach in HR, and why social workers are already equipped to thrive in corporate spaces.

We dive into what corporate roles can look like for social workers and how to start positioning yourself for work outside of traditional settings. Peter shares how he thinks about charging for his time and the harmful messaging social workers still get about staying broke “for the cause.” This episode is full of insight, especially if you’re curious about nontraditional roles, better pay, or just figuring out your next move.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Corporate social work is just macro social work in a new setting
2. Social work skills like crisis response, facilitation, and systems thinking show up all the time in HR, DEI, and employee experience.
3. Your MSW makes you qualified to work in spaces like HR, employee experience, and DEI.
4. You don’t have to give up your values to work in a space that pays you well.
5. Job titles can be misleading, so read the job description before counting yourself out.
6. Entry-level HR roles can pay $80K+ depending on industry and location.

Mentioned resources:

1. Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!
2. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

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Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.