I prefer the icon to the side. My instant thoughts are that it looks like headphones on someone rather than two people. I prefer the idea of finding one talent out of many - the one that stands out, rather than limiting to a two person relationship. I like the grey with a little orange. Maybe the grey needs to be a little stronger though. Thanks for giving some real thought to the icon though, I appreciate that!
Here is some other variations, with logo from the side and another concept. Like the tree abstract heads from which, is in the centar, orange special one. Like a one talent as one among the many ordinary people :)
I like #299 and #305. Can you try changing the typeface in both of those to something a little less boxy/square? Maybe in 299 have just one of the squares a different color? Thanks!!