Meet DEI Instructor Steven Jarrett
Steven Jarrett will facilitate the DEI Leadership course within the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate offered by UNC Charlotte.
As the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for PSA Airlines, Steve is charged with creating its first full and comprehensive DEI strategy. Prior to joining PSA, Steve was a Senior Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Consultant for Oracle where he created the framework that serves as the foundation for Oracle to provide global D&I support to its business units. Steve simplified the focus areas for Oracle’s Employee Resource Groups to make them simpler without compromising their connection to the business. His initiatives include lines of business specific D&I strategies including programs on Unconscious Bias. Steve is responsible for creating Oracle’s D&I tagline, “Innovating Through Diverse Points of View”.
As an independent consultant, Steve developed talent management solutions for firms in multiple industries, including strategies for diversity and inclusion, staffing, succession, retention and employee engagement.
As Senior Vice President of Human Resources with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Steve has had the opportunity to add value as a key strategic contributor to overall corporate goals. His efforts led to the creation of the firm’s first formalized Succession Planning Program, the first Employee Engagement Survey, and the first Diversity Leadership Council, as well as FINRA’s repeated selection as one of Working Mother magazine’s Top 100 companies.
Prior to joining FINRA, Steve spent more than 25 years with IBM Corporation in progressively responsible HR executive roles, working with organizations ranging from 300 people to large, global business units with more than 85,000 employees worldwide. His efforts focused on creating robust succession planning, compensation, and human capital programs.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served on numerous boards, including the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM, 2008-2010), the Board of Directors for AMIE (Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering) and currently serves as a member of the National Advisory Board for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). A Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Steve and his wife Sharon currently reside in Charlotte NC with their children, Royce and Tori.