Trent Cotton

As a member of the Fast Company Executive Board, I am going to start doing some writing which will appear on FastCompany.com.

At iCIMS, I sit at the intersection of talent intelligence, strategic storytelling, and market influence. As Head of TA Insights & Analyst Relations, my role is to champion the voice of the labor market and position iCIMS as the trusted authority in hiring trends, candidate behavior, and talent acquisition innovation.

This role is equal parts thought leadership, data storytelling, and influence-building ➡️ and I’m here for ALL of it.

What’s a normal day for me?

➡️ Workforce… Show more

At iCIMS, I sit at the intersection of talent intelligence, strategic storytelling, and market influence. As Head of TA Insights & Analyst Relations, my role is to champion the voice of the labor market and position iCIMS as the trusted authority in hiring trends, candidate behavior, and talent acquisition innovation.

This role is equal parts thought leadership, data storytelling, and influence-building ➡️ and I’m here for ALL of it.

What’s a normal day for me?

➡️ Workforce Intelligence & Trends
I serve as the face and voice of the iCIMS Insights program, uncovering what’s really happening in the talent market and translating it into narratives that matter to our customers, the media, and the broader TA community.

➡️ Public Speaking & Industry Influence
I represent iCIMS across global stages—panels, podcasts, webinars, and media interviews—bringing data and practical insight to every conversation on hiring, retention, and the future of work.

➡️ Content & Brand Evangelism
I lead the development of executive-ready research content, social posts, and videos that amplify iCIMS’ voice. You’ll find my fingerprints on monthly LinkedIn and YouTube content that brings our data to life and builds trust with our audience.

➡️ Analyst Relations Strategy
I run point on how iCIMS shows up in key analyst reports and research. That includes cultivating relationships with firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, and owning our strategy for briefings, evaluations, and hosted analyst events.

What makes this role especially exciting? It’s not just about sharing what’s happening in TA—it’s about shaping what happens next.

Let’s connect if you want to talk talent market trends, employer brand positioning, or how to turn workforce data into a competitive edge. 📧 me! Show less

Guest lecturer on HR, Analytics, AI and others.

As the Vice President of Talent and Culture for NearshoreWorks, I lead initiatives that bridge the gap between top-tier Latin American talent and US-based companies, ensuring seamless integration into your teams. My role encompasses the People Functions, including recruiting, performance management, strategy, and workforce development.

At NearshoreWorks, we specialize in helping organizations tap into the top 1% of Latin America’s tech talent, saving up to 60% on hiring costs without… Show more

As the Vice President of Talent and Culture for NearshoreWorks, I lead initiatives that bridge the gap between top-tier Latin American talent and US-based companies, ensuring seamless integration into your teams. My role encompasses the People Functions, including recruiting, performance management, strategy, and workforce development.

At NearshoreWorks, we specialize in helping organizations tap into the top 1% of Latin America’s tech talent, saving up to 60% on hiring costs without compromising quality. Our commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, community, and mentorship has driven a remarkable 98.5% retention rate. With timezone alignment and a US-based leadership team, we ensure smooth, real-time collaboration for high-impact projects.

If you are interested in learning more, be sure to DM me so we can book an initial call. Show less

As Vice President of Talent and Culture at HatchWorks, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing the entire employee journey—from attracting top talent to creating an environment where our people can thrive. At HatchWorks, our people aren’t just part of the business; they are the business.

My role spans several critical areas:
➡️ Talent Acquisition – I lead the strategy and execution behind how we attract talent that aligns with our skills needs and culture.
➡️ Talent Retention – I’ve… Show more

As Vice President of Talent and Culture at HatchWorks, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing the entire employee journey—from attracting top talent to creating an environment where our people can thrive. At HatchWorks, our people aren’t just part of the business; they are the business.

My role spans several critical areas:
➡️ Talent Acquisition – I lead the strategy and execution behind how we attract talent that aligns with our skills needs and culture.
➡️ Talent Retention – I’ve built targeted retention strategies by identifying and addressing drivers of turnover to keep our team engaged and committed.
➡️ Learning & Development – I oversee our L&D programs to ensure ongoing growth and career development, creating a culture where learning is part of our DNA.
➡️ Employee Advocacy – I serve as the voice of our people, collaborating cross-functionally to ensure our decisions reflect employee needs and promote well-being.
➡️ Internal Communications – I partner with leaders to drive a clear, consistent communication strategy across email, video, and other channels, ensuring every Hatcher feels informed and connected.
➡️ HR Analytics – I own the HR analytics function end-to-end—from strategy to execution—using internal and external labor market data to uncover insights that drive smarter, faster people decisions.
➡️ Leadership Development & Performance Coaching – I’m deeply invested in developing current and future leaders, equipping them with the tools and coaching to lead with impact and drive performance.

A key part of our success is my partnership with Kathleen Wood, our Senior Director of People Operations. Together, we’ve elevated the employee experience and made HatchWorks a place where talent sticks and grows.

If you’re looking to connect with a strategic HR leader passionate about tech, data, and AI—let’s talk. Show less

● Engage with the business leaders for workforce planning, forecasting and building the a pipeline of talent
● Responsible for innovation within the Talent Acquisition and Development initiatives for North America -create and execute a talent acquisition strategy for North America to support a diverse workforce of top talent to help the firm achieve its growth strategies.
● Lead virtual and cross-functional teams to perform against strategic business goals
● Analyze, assess, and report… Show more

● Engage with the business leaders for workforce planning, forecasting and building the a pipeline of talent
● Responsible for innovation within the Talent Acquisition and Development initiatives for North America -create and execute a talent acquisition strategy for North America to support a diverse workforce of top talent to help the firm achieve its growth strategies.
● Lead virtual and cross-functional teams to perform against strategic business goals
● Analyze, assess, and report on progress against talent strategies and key business initiatives
● Build and manage a team of high-performer recruiters in an extremely fast-paced, highly technical and competitive environment
● Innovate and update the talent acquisition model, including being an integrated/optimized model with strategic workforce planning, pipelining talent with a CRM, employment branding, successful social media campaigns, candidate relationship management, and a focus on robust talent acquisition programs such as Diversity, Alumni, Employee Referral, Professional Networks, etc.
● Create the HR Analytics function to provide in-depth analytics for leaders on their talent including attrition, trend analysis, diversity and FTE to percentage capacity based on pending work orders. Show less

Worked with an HR Outsource provider offering full suite HR services.
-Served as a business development officer and project consultant for clients.
-Helped design and implement benefit plans and payroll services
-Worked on a variety of HR related projects for clients
-Led HR transformation projects for mid-sized companies
-Served as fractional HR leader for some clients.

Senior Executive Recruiter

Serve as a recruiter and human resource consultant for two executive divisions of SunGard Inc.
Primarily responsible for full-cycle recruiting for a multitude of mid-executive positions
Provide coaching on management skills, techniques, and development for management team I supported

I managed a team of 48 loan officers across 4 states with the following job responsibilities:

Sales Strategy and Execution:
-Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to achieve regional sales targets and revenue goals.
Identify market opportunities and trends, and create strategies to maximize sales growth and market penetration.
-Implement effective sales techniques, processes, and best practices to drive results and improve overall sales performance.
-Monitor sales… Show more

I managed a team of 48 loan officers across 4 states with the following job responsibilities:

Sales Strategy and Execution:
-Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to achieve regional sales targets and revenue goals.
Identify market opportunities and trends, and create strategies to maximize sales growth and market penetration.
-Implement effective sales techniques, processes, and best practices to drive results and improve overall sales performance.
-Monitor sales metrics, analyze data, and generate reports to assess sales effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Team Leadership and Management:
-Recruit, train, mentor, and motivate a high-performing sales team, including sales managers and representatives.
-Provide clear direction, set performance expectations, and hold the team accountable for meeting and exceeding sales targets.
-Foster a positive and collaborative team culture, promoting teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning.
-Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and support professional development initiatives.

Client Relationship Management:
-Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, including real estate agents, brokers, and financial institutions.
-Collaborate with the marketing department to develop and implement effective strategies to attract and retain clients.
-Monitor customer satisfaction levels, identify areas for improvement, and ensure excellent service delivery across the region.
-Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes that may impact the mortgage market.

Cross-functional Collaboration:
-Collaborate with internal stakeholders, such as operations, underwriting, and risk management, to streamline processes and ensure smooth loan origination and closing.
-Provide market feedback and insights to assist in product development, pricing strategies, and business expansion initiatives. Show less

Worked for SouthTrust that became Wachovia and is now Wells Fargo providing lending leadership in Birmingham. Worked in both retail and commercial banking, outperforming against goals and managing a team of lenders in the market. Primary targets were mid-sized medical groups, companies with revenues from 2-75M, and high net worth clients.