When Sharon Hulce coaches new leaders, she tells them to be open-minded to new ideas and raise your hand and try things even if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. As a Titan 100 Hall of Famer and president and chief executive officer of Employment Resource Group Inc., Hulce has embraced trying new things as a leader throughout her career.
Employment Resource Group Inc. (ERG) is a nationwide executive search firm based in Appleton that specializes in c-suite level recruitment across many diverse industries like construction, manufacturing, and banking, among others. At the heart of the firm’s mission lies the transformative power of strategic talent placement, revolutionizing both individuals and organizations.
Over the past two years, Hulce has received several accolades, including recognition as one of the top 100 women to KNOW in America, an illuminating woman in 2024, the 2023 women in construction award, and the 2023 enterprising women of the year.
“While I deeply appreciate every award, what I’m most proud of is my constant drive to be challenged and continue my journey as a lifelong learner, which is why representing WPO (Women’s President Organization) at the Harvard School of Business in the leading business and personal transitions program, is my proudest accomplishment over the last two years,” said Hulce.
When reflecting upon her personal and professional values, Hulce said courage is at the top of the list. “Courage is a difficult value to access and obtain and oftentimes can be misperceived as ego or carelessness, but on my team, especially those involved in the placement of executives, embracing challenges with courage is imperative,” she said. “We have to be willing to deliver the tough message along with the wins.”
Hulce said she leads with the motto: be the buffalo. “The buffalo runs toward a storm to get through it faster, while other animals run away to avoid the storm,” she said. “We all share the desire to run into the storm to get through it as quickly as we can, knowing the storm will come either way.”
An active member of the community, helping those less fortunate is also woven into the fiber of the team at ERG. The firm donates search fees pro-bono to local nonprofits, and the significance this has made within Northeast Wisconsin makes Hulce proud. “Passion, integrity, transparency – it’s all woven into this team,” she said. “We call ourselves heart hunters, not headhunters because we truly do care about all parties involved and take very seriously the impact we have on all lives.”