Leadership Spotlight: Vanessa Ruzicka

In this month’s Leadership Spotlight, we’re featuring Vanessa Ruzicka, an inspirational leader at Strategic. Devoted to embodying Strategic’s core values—Respect, Reliability and Responsibility—Vanessa’s leadership style is shaped by her professional experience, focusing on empowerment, integrity and collaboration. Learn how Vanessa blends her personal and professional interests into her leadership approach, fueling her dedication to lead her team as the HR Assistant Manager.

What is your professional background and how has it shaped you as a leader at Strategic?

I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Cal State Fullerton. Upon graduation, I started as an HR Specialist for a large medical group, where I managed worker’s compensation and leave of absence programs. This role taught me the importance of empathy and support in leadership, as I navigated sensitive employee situations.

I then transitioned into a recruiting role at a staffing firm, where I further developed my recruiting skills and gained invaluable leadership experience. While recruiting and over seeing a team, I developed the ability to inspire and motivate others, understanding that effective leadership involves creating an environment where everyone can succeed. My promotion to Account Manager strengthened my skills in managing accounts and teams while developing my leadership capabilities.

At King Shocks, a leader in the off-road industry, I managed the HR Department. I gained experience across all HR functions, including recruiting, employee relations and benefits. This role deepened my understanding of how crucial a strong HR foundation is for an organization’s success and helped me develop a strategic mindset as a leader.

In August 2018, I joined Strategic, initially working in Customer Solutions and Sales, and then transitioned to the HR department, where I focused on recruiting. My promotion to HR Assistant Manager was an exciting moment, the position allowed me to leverage my experience in supporting employee relations, onboarding and other HR functions. I also had the opportunity to build a recruiting team, which enabled me to apply and strengthen my leadership skills.

I believe that maintaining a strong workplace culture is essential to our success at Strategic. I strive to maintain an environment that honors our brand promise by leading by example and being Respectful, Reliable and Responsible. My journey has shaped me into a leader who is dedicated to empowering others and driving organizational success while caring for our team members.

Are there any specific values or principles that have guided your approach to leading your team?

My leadership approach is driven by 3 core values: empowerment, integrity and collaboration. I strive to lead in a way that inspires and motivates my team to exceed their professional goals while contributing to Strategic’s overall success. In my current role at Strategic, I am intentional about setting a clear vision for recruitment goals and aligning the team with that vision. My goal is to always encourage and cultivate a work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. I feel it’s important to have a team-oriented environment where ideas and strategies are shared. It’s also important that we have a culture that prioritizes trust and open communication.

Aside from your Professional responsibilities, what personal passions or interests do you bring to your role as a leader?

Aside from my professional responsibilities, one of my personal passions that influences my leadership in HR and Recruiting is Pickleball! Pickleball is a game that thrives on teamwork, collaboration and open communication—values that align closely with how I approach leadership. Just as players on the court must communicate openly, adapt to different strategies and rely on each other’s strengths to win, I believe in creating a work environment where everyone’s input is appreciated. Whether on the court or in the office, I find that leading with trust, respect and open communication allows both individuals and teams to perform at their best!

What aspects of your role as leader ignite your enthusiasm the most?

As a leader in Human Resources and Recruiting, what ignites my enthusiasm the most is the opportunity to bring people into an organization where they feel valued from the very beginning. The recruitment process is more than just filling positions, it’s about building a team that reflects our brand promise. I enjoy recruiting, growing others and building successful, supported teams. It’s not only rewarding, but a true blessing to see team members thrive, develop in their roles and promote through the career path.

We are thankful to have you as part of our leadership, Vanessa!