Early Life
Steve Sarowitz was born in either 1965 or 1966 and holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Information about his childhood is limited, but his career trajectory and philanthropic endeavors highlight his commitment to business and community impact.
Rise to Success
Sarowitz's career began in the payroll industry, gaining experience before founding Paylocity in 1997. With a vision to provide in-house-like technology with outsourcing service, Sarowitz led Paylocity to become a leading provider of payroll and human capital management software. He held a 44% stake in the company at its IPO in March 2014 and 28% in April 2019. Under his guidance, Paylocity experienced remarkable growth and success, including its initial public offering (IPO) in March 2014.
Key Business Strategies
The key to Sarowitz's success was identifying a gap in the market and building a software solution supported by service and liability protection. The initial release of Paylocity's SAAS platform was in 2002. His commitment to innovation and client support helped Paylocity thrive in a competitive market.
Philanthropy
Sarowitz and his wife, Jessica, are dedicated philanthropists. Through their Julian Grace Foundation, they support numerous causes worldwide, including programs for orphans, foster children, and refugees. They plan to give away at least $1 billion before they die, to causes that fight racism, sexism, nationalism and religious prejudice. Sarowitz has also been involved in producing documentaries that promote unity and social change, such as "He Named Me Malala" and "The Gate: Dawn of the Baha'i Faith".
