As a Principal at Edward Jones, Irasa Downing is responsible for leading the Centers of Excellence for culture, organization effectiveness, workforce planning and high-performance team effectiveness in strategy, design and execution for the firm. Irasa is also member of the Human Resources Strategy Team, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategy Committee and an executive sponsor for the Black and African American Business Resource Group. Irasa joined Edward Jones in 2012 as the area human resources leader responsible for the central division of Branch Development. She was named the director of Human Resources for the Client Strategies Group in 2014 and immediately set to work developing and executing a five-year talent strategy and developing talent metrics to ensure alignment with the firm’s five-year talent strategy. She was named an Edward Jones principal in 2019.
Irasa has extensive experience in the human resources industry, including serving as human resources manager for Energizer Battery Inc. Prior to coming to Edward Jones she was the Director of HR at MGP Ingredients. A native of Winfield, Mo., Irasa earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) professional designation. She and her husband, Kurtis, have two daughters, Kira and Kumari. Irasa has served with Connections to Success since 2013. She is a deaconess with her church, First Baptist Church of Chesterfield. Irasa has also been a part of many organizations in St. Louis and Kansas as a part of her community impact.
