Built on Relationships: Trusting Your Voice and Creating Opportunity

Audra Emerson didn’t set out to build a career in Talent Acquisition.

She was looking for a sales job when an agency recruiter she was working with suggested something different, an opportunity to join a new office opening in Minneapolis. “As soon as I heard about it, I was in.”

What started as an unexpected opportunity quickly became a career that aligned with her strengths and opened doors she hadn’t anticipated. She stayed with that agency for 12 years, placing accounting and finance professionals and helping grow the office from a three-person startup into one of the top-performing branches in the company.

But if there’s one thing Audra has learned over the course of her career, it’s this: “This is a career built on relationships.”

A Career Built Through People

Looking back, Audra doesn’t point to a single mentor or moment that shaped her path. Instead, she points to people. From the friend of a friend who recommended her for a role, to clients who brought her along to multiple companies, to former colleagues who later hired her as a consultant; each relationship played a role.

Even the people who reach out asking for help, whether it’s for a family member, a friend, or someone in their network, have contributed to her growth. “They think I’m doing them a favor,” she says, “but in reality, I get just as much out of it.”

Every interaction, every connection, and every conversation has helped shape her career.

Talent Acquisition Is Sales

One misconception Audra is quick to challenge is how people view her profession. “People think Talent Acquisition is HR, and I understand why, but TA is sales.” At its core, recruiting is about building relationships, understanding needs, and bringing the right people together at the right time.

The process mirrors a traditional sales cycle:

• Prospecting and building pipelines

• Understanding motivations and objections

• Building trust with both clients and candidates

And just like in sales, there are varying levels of effectiveness.

“The best of the best are great salespeople with everyone’s best interest at heart,” she explains. “They are motivated by solving problems and bringing people together.” For Audra, success in Talent Acquisition comes down to one thing, trust.

Leadership Lessons That Stick

Early in her career, Audra learned a leadership lesson that has stayed with her ever since. A client once told her that no one on their team was allowed to deliver bad news via email. “If you have something that will disappoint or negatively impact someone,” she says, “you call them, or better yet, have the conversation in person.”

It’s a simple principle, but one that reflects a deeper belief in accountability, respect, and human connection. That same mindset shows up in how she approaches leadership today; direct, thoughtful, and rooted in relationships.

Trusting Your Voice

Throughout her career, Audra often found herself as the only woman in the room. Sometimes she was treated as an equal. Other times, she wasn’t. One experience in particular stands out. While working with her largest client, the company initiated an RFP process as part of a headquarters relocation. The timeline was tight, and the client requested that Audra’s leadership team fly in for a “final” meeting.

Despite her close relationship with the client and her understanding of the situation, some members of her leadership team assumed there would be more rounds, more meetings, more time. A senior leader declined to attend.

Audra knew otherwise.

She trusted her instincts, her relationship, and her understanding of the client. And she went. They left that meeting with the contract. Afterward, the VP called her to admit he was wrong, and to acknowledge that her relationship and reputation had secured the win. “That experience taught me to trust myself,” she says. “Don’t let other people’s credibility or bias shake your confidence or overshadow your expertise.” It’s a lesson she continues to carry forward.

Creating Space for Others

Today, Audra is intentional about using her voice not just for herself, but for others. Through her work with Her Next Play, a nonprofit focused on building the next generation of women leaders through sports, she helps female athletes translate their skills into leadership and career success.

She also believes that advocacy doesn’t always require a big stage.

She also believes that advocacy doesn’t always require a big stage, “If you see it, say it,” she explains. That doesn’t mean calling someone out publicly, but it does mean addressing moments where voices may be dismissed or overlooked. “If you witness someone dismissing a woman, take the time to follow up,” she says. “They likely don’t even realize what they did.”

Small actions, she believes, can make a meaningful difference in shaping more inclusive environments.

Rethinking Leadership Opportunity

Audra is also clear about what organizations need to do differently. “There isn’t one solution,” she says. “Companies need to take a multi-pronged approach; challenging bias, ensuring equitable treatment, and investing in programs that empower women and give them a seat at the table.”

Research consistently shows that diverse organizations outperform their peers, but progress requires intentional action.

Advice for Women Early in Their Careers

For women just starting out, Audra’s message is both simple and powerful: “Your voice is valuable long before you feel ‘senior enough’ to use it.” Expertise isn’t defined solely by years of experience. Insight, perspective, and understanding matter just as much.

“You belong in the room,” she says, "and your contributions are needed.”

Confidence doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready... it comes from speaking up anyway.