Jarin Tabata,
Senior Advisor

Jarin’s life has been characterized by curiosity and change. Originally from Hawaii, he lived in nine U.S. cities by the time he received a B.A. with honors in English Literature from University of Oregon.

Jarin has since lived and worked around the world: in Himeji, Japan, teaching English as one of the early participants in the JET Program; in Haarlem, Netherlands, as an apprentice in the traditional craft of frame making, carving and gilding; and, for over a decade, in London, working in interactive design for a number of agencies, brands, and publishers, including Wallpaper* magazine. While at Wallpaper*, he developed a digital strategy and led ambitious projects melding print and digital, including designing their first iOS apps.

After running his own studio, Jarin moved to New York to join SYPartners. Throughout his time at SYP he led a variety of projects, including a global culture and behavior change project for IBM, envisioning a consumer-facing future for UnitedHealthcare, helping Planned Parenthood prevail in the face of catastrophic defunding, co-leading an initiative with IDEO to reinvent aging, and co-creating a new business in Tokyo that combines beautiful spaces, the practice of mindfulness, and the power of innovation to unlock Japanese corporate culture. In 2022, Jarin became a Senior Advisor to SYPartners.