Leading with Curiosity and Grit
Erica Roth (’08) chose to attend Dordt University in part because she wanted to experience the world from a new perspective. Eager to both expand her perspective and meaningfully connect with others, Roth spent a semester in Costa Rica, immersed in a new language and culture.
For Roth, living in a home with a family who spoke no English challenged her to rely on her developing Spanish skills and practice humility in the new struggles of a simple conversation. In addition to experiencing life as a stranger, she also experienced a new appreciation for the simplicities of life—from food to amenities. “I think I took cold showers that entire semester,” she recalls with a laugh. “It made me appreciate the small things I’d taken for granted.”
Back on campus, Roth pursued a double major in business and Spanish, inspired by her father’s example as an entrepreneur. She imagined one day stepping into the family business, but God had other plans. After graduation, she and her husband, Donald, moved to Washington, D.C., where he began law school at Georgetown University. Roth took a job at a law firm simply “to help pay the bills,” never expecting it would shape the direction of her career.
What started as a receptionist role gradually expanded. Roth supported administrative assistants, helped with office administration, and soon found herself handling human resources tasks. Though she had taken no HR courses at Dordt, she discovered a passion for the complexity of people, an ear for listening to others, and an interest in problem solving. “People are messy and complex, and I really liked that,” she says. “Curiosity and grit helped me find my way.”
When Donald was unexpectedly offered a faculty position at Dordt, Erica began exploring local opportunities. Friends pointed her toward Interstates, a growing company that was hiring its first full-time recruiter. Fourteen years later, Roth is now Director of Talent Acquisition, leading a team of 12 recruiters. Along the way, she also gained experience as an HR generalist but ultimately returned to recruiting, which she describes as “finding the right match for the right person on the right team.”
What keeps her at Interstates, she says, is the people. “I love working with teammates who are invested in doing great work and want to build an enduring company,” Roth explains. “We have fun, we problem solve, and we challenge ourselves to reach new goals together.”
Her journey has also been shaped by loss. In 2020, her brother Seth (’11), a physician serving in the U.S. Army, died while stationed in Egypt. Walking through grief, she leaned heavily on her faith and the promises of Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1:
“What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”
The experience of losing Seth also deepened her empathy in the workplace. “Everyone is carrying something, whether you know it or not,” she says. “As a leader, it’s about walking alongside people—sometimes that means listening, sometimes it means just being present.”
While Roth's professional and personal story is not linear, she, in no small part, credits her ability to adapt to new experiences and challenges to the foundation formed in her time at Dordt. “When I think of Dordt, I think of community,” she reflects. “It’s a safe place to grow spiritually, academically, and professionally, and to find your place in God’s story.”