Welcome Trent

Welcome Trent

Nov 14, 2021

Integrated Work is delighted to welcome Trent Norman to our team. He’s been a longtime collaborator, so we’re especially excited to have him join us. Here’s a little more about Trent and why we love having him on the team:


What are you most passionate about and why?

I really enjoy it when I get to be a part of the growth of people and organizations. I find the “process” of growth to be very inspiring. I love it when connections are made, and a way forward is realized by individuals, groups and organizations. I am a life-long learner, and it is inspirational to me when I get to witness or be a part of that experience for others. I believe strongly that any path towards a just and equitable world, are the processes used to collectively engage in to get to achieve those goals. The destination is important; but equally so is the route we take to get there. When people come together with a mindset of dignity and inclusion, great things are possible.

What attracted you to Integrated Work?

My introduction to Integrated Work was a partnership that led to a series of workshops called Amplify Your Impact. The integrative and collaborative process aligned with how I view work and change in the world. The content of the Amplify workshops was a natural out-growth of my previous work, and my experiences of working with the folks from Integrated Work was very reaffirming that there is a way to do justice, equity, diversity and inclusion work that lives beyond concepts in our heads. Integrated Work is a place where “a way of being” is realized in an organizational structure that is both beneficial to the humans working in the structure, and to the overall operation of the organization. This feels like a place where great things happen because great people are empowered to be their full selves.

What makes you most joyful?

I like to laugh, and you’ll probably find me laughing quite a bit. Laughter is not just a physiological response, but a way to keep perspective on the world around me and my place in it. Laughter can be a reflection of joy and if I’m laughing or smiling, there is joy at the heart of that. I LOVE seeing people in their best places. Show me someone in their element and I find that kind of connection is amazing. Larnell Lewis is a genius on the drums. If you’re looking for a chance to be amazed, there are YouTube videos of him learning a song in one pass and then playing along with it. It’s high-level engagement and I find that ability and those opportunities to be simply amazing. When I get to witness, or even better, be a part of that kind of connection happening – that sparks joy!

I’m the lucky parent of two (not-so-small anymore) humans who are making their way in the world. I love watching them grow! As painful and frustrating as parenting can be, I find I get a LOT of joy out of the little things they do that show their passion, their maturity, their kindness, and their personalities as they navigate a very different world than the one I experienced at their age.

Also, I’ll add that I find joy in “the perfect turn” – more on that later.

What are you looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to getting to know the humans at Integrated Work! I believe I have much to learn from everyone and I am very excited to find synergy and discover new “stuff” and be inspired by everyone! The people I’ve interacted with thus far have been kind and generous and thoughtful. I believe there are great opportunities to do and be more. Wherever I go, I want to contribute. In this space I believe that is going to require a lot of learning and connection-making. I’m excited to do that.

What do you do for fun?

I’m a life-long skier (started at a very young age) and I am currently a certified ski instructor. I’m chasing my father who has been teaching for 45 years. I’m excited to see the snow fall and to hear calls to “send it!” (Although I will confess I’m not “sending” anything anymore!). The act of skiing is like floating or flying. The body does things that create a sense of movement and freedom and exploration that I’ve not found a match for. Mikaela Shiffrin’s (one of the best skiers in the world right now) father said, just make one good turn. If you make one good turn, make another one. If you don’t, make one good turn. I’m paraphrasing, but the gist is that do the best in the moment, learn from where you are, and do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I’ve been doing theatre and improv for several years now and I really do enjoy the process. Don’t worry, I’m not inviting anyone to my Improv Group’s performance in the basement of the coffee shop, but I will say that I love to “get going” with other people and find the energy that I get from being in that space to be very refreshing. The concepts in improv and theatre are skills that I believe everyone needs, and practicing those skills are a source of joy for me. I’m not a stage performer, nor am I interested in having my own trailer and a bowl of green M&M’s, but I do appreciate the deliberation, the attention character and deliberation that acting and improv provide.

I also believe that fun is where you find it. I look for fun when I’m doing things that may not seem it. If we’re together, don’t be surprised if I start smiling, making random connections or going off on a tangent that may not make sense. That exploration is also fun.