David Coates
About David Coates
David Coates is a Strategic Account Executive at Handshake, specializing in early talent recruiting and diversity initiatives. He has held various leadership roles in organizations such as the University of Rhode Island Student Senate and Gartner, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Rhode Island.
Current Role at Handshake
David Coates serves as a Strategic Account Executive at Handshake, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he provides proprietary data and analytics on recruiting progress, offering insights by institution, major, and competitor benchmarks. He utilizes Handshake's platform to connect with a network of over 5 million students across the United States, including those from 140+ Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). His work focuses on helping enterprises achieve their diversity and inclusion goals through the digital transformation of early talent recruiting practices.
Previous Experience at Gartner
David Coates has extensive experience at Gartner, where he held multiple roles. He worked as a Research Content Specialist from 2012 to 2015, followed by a position as an Account Executive - Gartner Invest from 2016 to 2019. In these roles, he contributed to client management and research initiatives, enhancing the firm's service offerings. His tenure at Gartner spanned a total of four years, during which he developed skills in client engagement and strategic account management.
Leadership at University of Rhode Island Student Senate
David Coates held significant leadership positions at the University of Rhode Island Student Senate, Inc. He served as President & CEO from 2010 to 2012 and was previously the Chairman of Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2010. During his time in these roles, he was involved in governance and advocacy for student interests, contributing to the development of policies and initiatives that impacted the student body.
Education and Academic Background
David Coates earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and Government from the University of Rhode Island, completing his studies from 2007 to 2012. His academic background provided him with a foundation in political processes and governance, which he later applied in his leadership roles and professional career.
Impact on Early Talent Recruiting
In his current role at Handshake, David Coates delivers early talent recruiting insights derived from collaboration with over 380,000 employers. He has successfully improved brand presence with Generation Z by an average of 2.5 times through strategic engagement initiatives. His work emphasizes the importance of adapting recruiting practices to meet the needs of a diverse and evolving workforce.