Rooted in excellence
With a tireless work ethic and a shared passion for the Human Capital sector, former colleagues Nicole Hagan and Stella Papadopoulos have joined forces as Co-Founders of Willow Search Partners, a female-owned, boutique HR national search firm. With over 30 years of combined experience, our mission is to redefine the client and candidate experience when partnering with a search firm.
We are thrilled to launch Willow Search Partners with this mission at our core. Our name was inspired by the symbolism of the willow tree—representing growth, rebirth, and resilience in the face of challenges. We look forward to partnering with you on this exciting journey.

Meet the Founders

stella@willowsearchpartners.com
203.915.1210
Stella Papadopoulos
MANAGING PARTNER
Stella Papadopoulos is the Co-Founder and Managing Client Partner of Willow Search Partners. Stella comes with an impressive 16 years of client development experience in the recruiting industry. Her deep industry expertise and passion for being a true “connector” has helped her develop long term relationships with clients and candidates, while delivering superior experiences to both parties. Her vast industry knowledge makes it easier for companies to secure exceptional HR talent efficiently and effectively.
Stella's results-oriented approach bridges the gap between her clients' objectives and the HR talent necessary to develop successful people strategies. Her dedication to quality has earned her recognition as a dependable partner and advisor for each of her clients. From recruiting your inaugural HR professional, expanding your current team's competencies, or even replenishing an essential HR role – Stella and Willow Search Partners will exceed expectations in delivering you with top-notch HR talent.
Nicole Hagan
MANAGING PARTNER
Nicole Hagan is the Co-Founder of Willow Search Partners. Nicole is an expert recruiting consultant and former HR leader herself. With over 13 years of cumulative experience in Human Resources combined with recruitment, she has gained a comprehensive understanding of the complete span of this field. The combination of her experiences as both an HR professional and recruiter makes her uniquely qualified to evaluate & recruit highly competent HR professionals for clients from multiple industries.
After several years as an HR Practitioner, partnering with various search firms, Nicole was passionate about creating something unique...an HR search firm run by HR professionals. A firm that understands what you are looking for and can act as a sounding board as you make changes to your team, and a value-add partner offering insights into todays ever changing HR landscape.
Nicole is the go-to person for her clients when making critical hires for their HR team. She has placed numerous high-profile candidates in demanding positions —demonstrating her true capability in the HR field. She specializes in partnering with clients to build their HR and Talent teams with a strong focus on company culture. From bringing passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm to each engagement to guiding clients through every step along the way. Nicole’s dedication toward client and candidate success makes her an invaluable asset!

nicole@willowsearchpartners.com
551.312.2256

