Nina Woodard is the reason I became a Human Resource professional. We met in 2013 when I was transitioning from the Marine Corps and trying to decide what my future career path would be. I knew very little about the HR field, but Nina’s kindness and willingness to share her expertise further sparked my interest. She kept in constant contact with me and invited me to several HR seminars and gatherings. As busy as Nina was, she always made a point of introducing me to her colleagues and told them my story. As a result, I was able to build my own network and land my first HR job.

Through the years, Nina has been an exceptional mentor to me by always being available for questions and giving me sound advice when I needed it most. Nina has been a true confidant and the greatest supporter to have in my corner. She even offered me several opportunities to share my knowledge with her university students and I will be forever grateful for those experiences.

Nina is a true advocate and example to the HR community. If you are so lucky to have her as a mentor, know that you will have a reliable ally who will never steer you wrong.

Nina was my professor at California State University San Marcos, and she has served as a trusted mentor and colleague in the field of HR since then. Nina's classes were some of my first formal introductions to human resources and organizational management, which heavily influenced me going into my current profession, which is executive search. Her knowledge stems from both a practical / lived perspective and an academic one, allowing for her to speak authentically to a range of issues and opportunities. She is warm, understanding, and enthusiastic about sharing her wisdom with up-and-coming talent in the field of HR.