About AHA! Recruiting Experts
Andrea Hoffer, MS, MBA
Maybe like you, my earliest childhood memories are at the dinner table, listening to my parents talk about work. Maybe also like you, small business owners, their work didn’t stop when they left the office.
I’ve always really admired the commitment that both of my parents had to their employees. All of those nights at the dinner table taught me that businesses that are built to last don’t abide by the “butts-in-seats” mentality.
The most successful and sustainable businesses fully develop employer branding, utilize innovative strategies to attract top talent, and make strategic investments that help them retain A-players for years at a time.
As a Holocaust survivor who fled Germany at the age of 6, my mother knew people all had different backgrounds and challenges growing up, so she dedicated herself to creating a culture of support and mutual respect for the betterment of every single person on her team. From a young age, I knew that was something I wanted in my career.
Little did I know that I would be calling on those same principles immediately after college graduation.
Right out of college, I found myself responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising 25+ students as a tour coordinator at my alma mater. My supervisor gave me the opportunity to take complete ownership of building and onboarding my team. It was an incredible experience where I learned a great deal about myself as a leader. For 2 years, I successfully ran student tour operations while pursuing my Master’s in Higher Education Administration.
After receiving my Master’s in 1993, I became a Program Advisor at Queensborough Community College for 2 years. Following this role, I was offered an opportunity to join the Student Center team at Georgia Institute of Technology. I spent 12 years at Georgia Tech helping students become their best selves as well as growing my own professional skills in many areas.
