Resilience isn't about never falling; it's about finding the strength to stand back up, lead with grace, and keep showing up for those who depend on you.
Amanda Villarreal · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Amanda
Amanda Villarreal is a Practice Lead and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ambassador at Actalent, where she has built a career spanning more than sixteen years in engineering staffing and recruitment. Her professional journey began shortly after she earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 2005, when she took on a customer service role in the medical device industry before moving into scholastic sales. When the 2008 recession eliminated that position, she worked as a substitute teacher, a bridal shop manager, and a waitress all at once to stay afloat, an experience that sharpened her resilience and determination. A referral eventually led her to Aerotek, now part of Actalent, where she started as a recruiter and was promoted into management within just seven months, later rising through the roles of Account Manager and Practice Lead.
Throughout her career, Amanda has approached her work with the belief that people, not processes, are her true product, and that mindset has shaped how she leads. She emphasizes candor and integrity in every relationship, whether coaching a candidate through interview feedback or encouraging a client to rethink a hiring process that may be costing them strong talent. That same commitment to loyalty extends to her own workplace: after years of changing jobs early in her career, she credits her long tenure at Actalent to the trust and opportunity the company has extended to her and her family. Beyond her client work, she serves as a Regional Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity Representative and is a member of the Women's Engineering Academy, reflecting her ongoing investment in building a more inclusive industry.
Outside of her professional life, Amanda is deeply devoted to her family and community. She and her husband are raising three sons, including two stepsons who have been part of her life since childhood, and she takes pride in watching one of them now follow her path as a recruiter at Actalent. She dedicates her time to several charitable causes, including Make-A-Wish of Wisconsin, the American Cancer Society, the Waukesha Food Pantry, and Courage Milwaukee, an organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Amanda finds balance in simple pleasures like boating, spending time by the pool, visiting farmer's markets, and enjoying weekends with her parents and siblings, and she credits her family, her team, and her clients as the true foundation of everything she has accomplished.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to three things. First, my team — the account managers and recruiters who report to me and help me find the right people for the positions I'm working every day. Second, my clients, who play a huge part in why I'm successful in this role. And third, my family, because they're my "why" — the reason I wake up every morning and work hard to provide for the people I love. It's not just one factor; I'd say it's really a combination of all three.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Early in my life, my high school superintendent recognized that my real strengths were in building relationships and connecting with people. He encouraged me to pursue a career that would let my personality shine, often joking that I could sell a snow shovel in Florida. That advice pushed me toward client-facing, people-oriented work and ultimately shaped the path I've followed ever since.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be that you don't have to know exactly what you want to do right away, and that's okay. It's perfectly fine not to have it all figured out once you graduate or leave high school. Instead, lean into the opportunities that come your way, because you never know which one might end up being what makes you shine and what you're truly meant to do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge for me is handling people, since people are my product. My main goal is to align someone's career with the right client, and making sure that fit is right matters a great deal to me — a career is a huge part of a person's life. Beyond that, the market itself is a constant challenge, since it shifts every year and never plays out the same way twice. Right now, in 2026, it's a candidate's market, which means the real competition is making sure I have the right clients to align with the right candidates, especially in niche skill sets where competition is fierce.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Genuineness and loyalty matter most to me. Being genuine and honest with candidates and clients — even when the feedback is difficult — goes a long way. If I have to tell a candidate they didn't interview well, I'd rather be honest and coach them for next time so they can succeed in the future. I take the same approach with clients, letting them know when their processes might be costing them good candidates, because that honesty builds real partnership. As for loyalty, I used to move between jobs frequently before joining Aerotek/Actalent, but the loyalty I've shown this company — and the opportunity they've given me to provide for my family — has meant everything to me.
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