Jermere Shaw, M.B.A., didn’t always plan to be a human resources manager. Shaw was an athletic kid – and like many athletic kids, he dreamed of going pro.
“I wanted to be a professional basketball player when I grew up,” Shaw said. “Unfortunately, while playing in my first year in college, I got injured and was unable to bounce back, athletically speaking.”
Just as basketball players must adopt new strategies to best their opponents, Shaw adopted a new passion to overcome his injury: human resources. Since joining Texas Health almost five years ago, he has excelled in creating new tools that enrich the employee experience. Namely, the MyHR Hub: a self-service digital portal that employees can access 24/7 for answers to the most common HR-related questions.
“The biggest challenge we faced was developing and streamlining the content,” Shaw said. “But now, I’m proud to say we’ve created a vast hub of information that addresses an array of topics and frequently asked questions.”
Shaw’s diligence is reflected in his impact on Texas Health as an organization and on the people who work here.
“Jermere has a natural ability to connect with others,” said Trey Greenwood, PHR, director of the HR Service Center for Texas Health. “That ability enables people to feel comfortable and supported in the work they do. I appreciate his collaborative approach to achieving outcomes for the HR Service Center within his own team and the project teams he leads.”
Learn more about Shaw and what contributes to his success at Texas Health.
How did you ultimately choose your career?
After my injury I was introduced to human resources by the two individuals who helped me achieve it: my uncle Rod, who was an HR manager at the time, and my human resources professor, Dr. Boston. Learning the ins and outs of HR from these two sparked an interest and made me feel this was a career I could be successful at.
Do you have a favorite hobby? What is it?
Yes, my favorite hobby is playing basketball. I feel as if it keeps me physically and mentally healthy, and I enjoy competition. In my spare time, I coach high school basketball and have just wrapped up my 12th season. Outside of that, I would also say that traveling to new countries is another hobby of mine.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role and how do you overcome it?
The greatest challenge is managing the various responsibilities that have been granted to me. While it is an amazing opportunity to have these responsibilities, it is all about prioritization. For me, no matter how many meetings I have or how busy I am, I stay available and attentive to my team to ensure their success and continued growth and development.
What is your day-to-day workday like?
We have a lot of wonderful things on the horizon in HR, so my day-to-day consists of various meetings, overseeing my direct reports and being a steward of resources for anyone I interact with. I do this while also finding new ways to leverage technology to streamline the work being done today.
How do you do your life’s best work at Texas Health?
I do it by being a good steward of resources and living out Our Texas Health Promise Principles not only while at work, but daily. Being reliable, caring and efficient are characteristics that I have always embodied.
