We were lucky to catch up with Erald Minga recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erald thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Chicago Execs, our mission is simple but personal: We place leaders who don’t flinch in the face of adversity, because they’ve already proven who they are when it matters most.

This mission wasn’t drafted in a strategy session or born from theory. It was shaped by experience, by bearing witness to the quiet strength and steady presence of those who show up when life turns unpredictable.

That insight now drives how we evaluate people and leadership.

We don’t fixate on polished résumés or impressive titles. We look deeper for the leader who steps forward when others step back. The one who stays grounded in the storm creates calm for those around them and helps others rise, not just to endure, but to grow stronger.

At Chicago Execs, we prioritize grit over gloss. Substance over status. And integrity that doesn’t waver when no one’s watching. Because when the pressure mounts, and it always does, it’s not credentials that carry a team forward.
It’s character. Always.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Erald Minga, Managing Director and Search Lead at Chicago Execs, a boutique executive search firm that helps mission-driven organizations identify the kind of leaders who don’t just check boxes, but change outcomes.

I came into executive search through the lens of global HR and operational leadership. I’ve led talent strategy across 33 countries for a fast-scaling marketing firm, and previously served institutions in higher education and healthcare. Those roles taught me what great leadership looks like when things are complex, fast-changing, and high-stakes, and they showed me the consequences when that leadership is missing.

At Chicago Execs, we specialize in executive search for higher education, finance sector, tech companies, healthcare systems, and values-aligned companies that can’t afford to get it wrong. Our model is deliberately lean, deeply customized, and built on one belief: that character and competence must walk hand in hand. We look beyond resumes and job titles to identify leaders who bring resilience, clarity, and a track record of transformation, not just maintenance.

We help our clients solve hard problems: leadership transitions, legacy planning, growth that outpaced infrastructure, or culture that’s been diluted by misaligned hires. We don’t show up with a stack of pre-vetted names. We design every search from the ground up—listening deeply, mapping the market, and building pipelines that reflect both strategy and soul.

What I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve earned. Clients come to us not just for a placement, but because they know we’ll protect their reputation, understand their context, and treat the role like it’s our own.

If you take away one thing about Chicago Execs, let it be this: we’re not chasing volume or headlines, we’re here to find the right leaders for the moments that matter. And we take that responsibility personally.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’ve built my reputation with hiring managers by being the kind of HR leader who brings both strategic clarity and practical execution, someone who can see around corners, align talent to business goals, and deliver without drama.

What’s helped most is showing up when it counts. I’ve stepped into complex situations, organizational growth, restructuring, leadership transitions, and helped stabilize and elevate teams. I think what sets me apart is that I don’t just identify what needs to be fixed; I partner across functions to implement solutions that last.

Above all, hiring managers know they can count on me to be consistent, candid, and committed. I understand the pressure they’re under to build strong teams fast, and I bring a steady hand and strategic mindset to help them do just that.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Our strongest source of new clients has always been the quiet power of a well-earned referral. When a board member or executive reaches out because someone they trust said, “Call Chicago Execs—they’ll get it right,” that’s the highest endorsement we can receive. We don’t rely on flash or volume—we rely on the ripple effect of doing meaningful work with care, discretion, and results that speak for themselves. In a business built on trust, reputation is the most enduring currency.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ChicagoExecs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagoexecs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Chicago-Execs/61572935720372/#
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105653964/