Rachel Wortsman
Rachel Wortsman
Director, Global Business Recruiting, Intercom
Rachel Wortsman didn’t set out to become a recruiter—like many in the profession, she found her way into it unexpectedly. Graduating in the aftermath of the 2008 recession, Rachel was searching for a foothold in the workforce when she landed at a recruiting agency. What began as cold calling and business development quickly became the foundation of a career that would span agency, in-house, and leadership roles across tech.
After several years in the agency world, Rachel transitioned in-house and, six and a half years ago, joined Intercom as a senior individual contributor. Through a combination of opportunity, growth, and strong performance, she moved into frontline leadership and steadily expanded her scope. Today, she leads Go-To-Market and G&A recruiting alongside Recruiting Operations—overseeing the teams responsible for building the functions that shape Intercom’s future.
Her journey reflects both adaptability and intention: evolving with the business while staying deeply connected to the craft of recruiting itself.
What Energizes Her Most
For Rachel, leadership is ultimately about people. The greatest source of motivation in her work is her team—watching recruiters grow into true talent advisors and achieve things they’ve never done before.
In a period of rapid growth, she finds fulfillment not only in the success of individuals, but in the broader impact of the work her team does. Every hire helps build the teams that move the company forward, and that sense of shared purpose—of building something meaningful together—is what keeps her energized.
Recruiting, for Rachel, is both personal and powerful: it’s about enabling others to succeed while creating lasting impact on the organization.
How Recruiting Is Changing
Rachel sees today’s recruiting landscape as defined by one force above all: AI. The talent technology space has become increasingly crowded, with more tools and platforms than ever before. For leaders, the challenge is no longer simply adopting technology—it’s determining what belongs in a future-fit tech stack and where recruiters should focus their time versus what technology can now handle.
Beyond tools, Rachel believes the real shift is in skill development. As automation takes on tasks that once defined the recruiter’s day-to-day, leaders must invest in helping their teams grow in the areas that matter most: strategic advising, relationship-building, and business impact.
She also emphasizes sustainability. Rather than endlessly layering point solutions, she advocates for thoughtful consolidation—building a tech ecosystem that is scalable, integrated, and aligned with long-term goals.
Rachel’s Advice for 2026
Rachel’s guidance for the years ahead centers on agility, courage, and self-compassion. As the profession continues to evolve, she encourages talent leaders to let go of outdated playbooks—even when doing so feels uncomfortable.
Her message is clear: be willing to rewrite the rules. What worked a few years ago may no longer apply, and that uncertainty can trigger imposter syndrome for even the most experienced leaders. But change, she believes, is not something to fear—it’s something to navigate together.
“Remain agile. Don’t be afraid to throw out what no longer works. And give yourself grace,” she advises. In an environment where technology, candidate expectations, and business priorities are shifting rapidly, the ability to adapt is not just a skill—it’s a necessity.
Rachel also draws inspiration from companies that are boldly experimenting with AI, testing new ideas, and carving their own paths rather than following established norms. Progress, in her view, requires a willingness to take risks, learn quickly, and move forward even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
That mindset—combined with her people-first leadership and strategic clarity—is what makes Rachel Wortsman a standout voice in today’s recruiting landscape and a deserving member of the Talent 100.
