LinkedIn Top Voices 2016: The 7 must-know Influencers in India

In our endeavor to get you some great insights, we invite some of the top voices in India to share their views as Influencers. Every day, followers of Influencers get incredible takes on the state of the economy, trends in startups or how to solve some of the biggest issues facing business, policy and professionals.

For the 2016 LinkedIn Top Voices list, we sifted through data, looking at factors as diverse as reader engagement (particularly comments and shares) and follower growth, to come up with Influencers who have had the biggest impact in 2016.

So, without further ado, here are the top Influencers in India this year.

Narendra Modi | Prime Minister, India

What he writes about: He’s India’s top CEO and a veteran grassroots leader who writes on the economy and his government's policies. He chronicles his travels across the world, his new app (probably the only global leader to have an app to connect to the populace) and has of late been writing about his efforts to tackle India's "black money problem."

His most popular article of 2016: Speed, scale and resilience: India’s way ahead, where he talked about his efforts to clean up India's infrastructure bottlenecks.

His latest advice to Indians: Go cashless. "Today we live in an era of mobile banking and mobile wallets. Ordering food, buying and selling furniture, ordering a taxi…all of this and lot more is possible through your mobiles. I am sure most of you are using cards and e-wallets regularly but I thought I must share with you ways through which increased cashless transactions are possible," he wrote last week.

Click here to follow Narendra.

Shradha Sharma | Founder & CEO, YourStory Media

What she writes about: This writer turned entrepreneur writes from the heart on a range of topics, from entrepreneurship to social impact.

The article she’s proudest of: “How thick-skinned are you?” On dealing with rejection as a first-time entrepreneur. “When you stand on the road, be the person of the road; know how to cross the street and know how to deal with the traffic coming your way,” she wrote, quoting advice from her father.

What’s not on her LinkedIn profile: Shradha is a graphologist who analyses handwriting. She joined the trainee program of one of India’s premier hotels and left within a month.

Click here to follow Shradha.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | CMD, Biocon

What she covers: This biotech pioneer writes on a range of subjects — from healthcare to social and civic issues. She once pulled up the parliament for allowing internals tiffs to come in the way of passing critical laws.

The article she’s proudest of: “Women Can Achieve Anything They Set Their Minds On,” a subject close to her heart that also resonated well with the readers.

A news story that got her attention this year: "The Brexit was expected to spell doomsday for global markets. Thankfully, it didn’t pan out that way."

Click here to follow Kiran.

Vani Kola | Managing Director, Kalaari

What she covers: This entrepreneur turned venture capitalist often shares her personal anecdotes and insights while writing about various aspects of entrepreneurship and the startup eco-system in India.

The article she’s proudest of: “Should we Celebrate Failure?” — on the benefits and drawbacks of celebrating failure — saw an overwhelming response from readers, getting over 450 comments.

One thing that's not on her LinkedIn profile: "Hmm. People tell me they are intimidated by me and I am surprised each time because that is not how I see myself."

Click here to follow Vani.

Santosh Desai | Managing Director & CEO, Futurebrands

What he covers: Desai is more of a social commentator, who writes on everything from technological trends to commentary on the political atmosphere, his analytical pieces are written with a view that goes beyond the obvious.

The article he's proudest of: "The Enigma of Work," which challenged deeply entrenched ideas of what constitutes work and offered a fresh perspective on something we otherwise take for granted. 

The news story he found most intriguing in 2016: “The US election campaign—for obvious reasons. A lot was at stake, the manner in which the battle was fought was unprecedented, and the outcome has implications for the entire world in ways that cannot be fully fathomed."

Click here to follow Santosh.

Ravi Venkatesan | Chairman, Bank of Baroda

What he covers: An technology leader for most of his career, Ravi offers a sharp, incisive take on contemporary business issues, innovation and social enterprise.

His most popular article: “From horseless to driverless: the future of the car,” a sharp look at disruptions across various industries.

How he measures the success of his writing: “I write in order to shape people's thinking. So it’s about reach and engagement. I measure these by the number of views, comments, and shares.”

Click here to follow Ravi.

Shashi Tharoor | Member of Parliament

What he writes about: After decades in the United Nations, Tharoor moved into politics and offers keen insights into the world of the UN as well as the Indian government. He's one of India's newest LinkedIn Influencers.

His most popular post: He wrote about the race for the post of the United Nations secretary general and offered an insider's view on the UN.

His view on the Indian policy: "Consensus, not coercion, is the spirit of Indian democracy and this must always triumph even if there are economic frustrations. India’s soul cannot ever come with a price tag," he wrote.

Click here to follow Shashi.

You’ve caught up on the top Indian Influencers of 2016. Now check out the top 15 member voices in India to see who else you should be following to stay ahead.