Deidre Garrett
Director of HR services and total rewards
MRA
Age: 35
Hometown: Brown Deer
Education: Hampton University, BA
Previous position: Director of HR services, MRA
What do people not understand about the compensation puzzle?
“It’s not just about base pay or even benefits. It’s also about your work environment and culture. It’s about how you onboard your talent, how you treat your talent when they’re at your organization, how you develop and train your talent as well.”
What drew you to this line of work?
“I just always think fate and things are meant to be … I’ve got two little toddlers at home, I’m a working mom. It allows me the ability to still have a very challenging career and … I have a supportive employer that supports me traveling with my baby, but also being able to work at an organization that understands the importance of supporting leaders, providing training and development for leaders and really providing a space where we can be innovative and create things.”
You serve on the Salvation Army and Parenting Network boards and you’re also involved with Professional Dimensions and The Ridge Community Church. What do you get from community engagement?
“There’s a lot of professional women within the Milwaukee/Waukesha area that are doing amazing things and I think this is an amazing time for women in business. That’s why I love networking and being on boards, in particular. It helps me kind of frame up not just how I do business but also inspire me as we try to work with organizations and develop strategies. Also, just while I’m working, it’s more of an inspiration because sometimes as moms, you need to be pumped up on a regular basis when you’re coming to work. So I think it’s also inspirational from that standpoint too.”
