Meet Amber Hurdle | Founder/CEO, Employer Brand Central

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amber Hurdle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amber, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Having the right team members owning their part of the business is essential for any business owner to be able to focus on casting the vision, rallying the team, growing the brand, establishing key relationships and focusing on customer acquisition and satisfaction. Too many founders try to do all of the things with limited self-awareness around what they are great at and where they need help. I know my strengths and limitations, and I stay focused on ensuring the team has the tools, resources and professional (and personal) development to shine in their roles. I would not be where I am without the awesome team members who have contributed to the business over the years.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Employer Brand Central is a subscription-based solution that helps you solve people problems and improve recruitment, retention, and employee engagement to drive business results. Through on-demand tools, templates, and training, 1:1 success coaching for your HR leader, monthly office hours, white-glove onboarding, and company-wide access to live leadership and culture training for all subscribers, we make a strong employer brand approachable and affordable for small to medium-sized businesses who want to play big.

After about ten years in my professional speaking and consulting business, I could see the challenges my consulting clients were contending with were not fixable with leadership training or a coaching program alone. No sales system, advertising campaign, or marketing strategy can outrun people problems like disengaged employees, unmet production deadlines, a staffing crisis, or poor customer service.

They needed a holistic approach to their employee experience that could be built upon and tweaked to fit their operational goals, vision, and current market conditions. To solve that problem, we created a system that any small to mid-sized business could implement with the human and financial resources they already have and named it Employer Brand Central.

The lessons we’ve learned along the way include: no two businesses are the same, so prescriptions do not work and it takes a top-down commitment to attract and retain top talent. Custom employee strategies are equally as important as external marketing strategies. After all, who is delivering your brand promise to your customers? Your team members. If you take care of the unique team which is likely the largest cost structure in your business, they will naturally take care of your customers.

We’ve worked with companies worldwide, and here is what we see consistently: the companies who invest in their employees get a massive return on customer loyalty and profitability. We are employer brand architects who help you become an employer of choice, and we are personal brand builders to help your leaders become more confident and influential in driving bottom-line results. We call this branding from the inside out, and it makes us unique!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nashville is a city built on fun and hospitality. I would for sure take my crew to Urban Grub. First, ask for James, turn over your menus to him, and have him order for you. They cure their own meats, have the best oysters in Nashville, hand grind their own grits (and their gouda grits WILL change your life)…and that is after you enjoy their biscuits and gluten-free tapioca popovers. All of my male friends can’t live without their Double Cut Pork Chop with agave, grain mustard, and fresh peaches. Best seafood in Nashville, an excellent sommelier, an extensive bourbon collection, fun cocktails, and everything on the menu is delicious, including desserts. Can you tell it’s my favorite? And it won’t be the same without James. Ask for James and tell him Amber Hurdle sent you!

The Nashville Farmers Market is perfect for a large group with varying interests. There’s everything from Indian, Greek, Chinese and Mexican food to BBQ and pizza and yes, Jeni’s Ice Cream in addition to shopping only locally sourced produce, plants and products.

For shopping you have to check out Broadway Boot Company, Hatch Show Print in the Omni Hotel and Country Music Hall of Fame, Draper James by Reese Witherspoon in the popular 12th South area and poke around The Gulch, 12th South, and Hillsboro Village.

For the art-lovers be sure to go see the gold Athena statue in the Parthenon replica at Centennial Park, the Musica statue outside of Music Row, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

Must-visit honky-tonks for me are the originals: The Stage, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Legends Corner and the World Famous Wildhorse Saloon.

The best Country music-themed tours include the Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour, the Ryman Auditorium Tour, the Johnny Cash Museum (my favorite-you may cry at the end), and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Then check out the endless amazing murals throughout Nashville for some awesome photo ops!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Cigar PEG is a 501c3 comprised of National Speaker Association members who come together to support each other relentlessly and to raise money for various causes. Our motto is, “philanthropy through fun.” My fellow members have helped me behind the scenes professionally and personally, and our “pay it forward” ethos helps all of us find success and support.

Website: https://www.employerbrandcentral.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theamberhurdle/

Image Credits
Jessica McIntosh Photography