21. Social Workers in Tech: Inside Content Policy at Spotify with Jerrel Peterson, MSW

This week, we are excited to welcome Jerrel Peterson, MSW, to the podcast! He’s the Head of Global Content Policy at Spotify, and formerly held a trust & safety role at Twitter. Jerrel walks us through his journey from direct practice in mental health to landing a job in tech. We dive into what “trust and safety” means in tech, how his team develops interventions for content-related harm, and how his social work training helps him create safer online spaces. Jerrel also shares practical advice on how social workers can break into the tech space and translate their skills.👀 If you want more tech SW info, check out this pre-recorded panel!Takeaways From This Episode:Why trust & safety work is a perfect fit for social workersWhy social work skills (crisis management, systems thinking, advocacy) are in demand in techThe power of policy as intervention in online platformsNegotiation tips: base salary, RSUs, sign-on bonuses, and benefitsAdvice for social workers exploring tech careers: networking, LinkedIn outreach, and resume rewritesWhy being bold matters in corporate spacesMentioned resources:Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Connect with us!Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.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.