LinkedIn Top Voices 2020: Technology

LinkedIn News is debuting our 6th annual Top Voices list, a collection of hundreds of experts driving today’s professional conversation. As COVID-19 continues to upend our lives, these members are using their voice to help us parse today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries and find balance through it all.

To compile the list, we used a combination of qualitative and quantitative signals — including engagement (including reactions, comments and shares across each member’s content); posting cadence; and follower growth. You can learn more about the methodology at the bottom of this article and can check out all of this year’s Top Voices around the world here. 

Below you’ll find this year’s standout voices in technology and innovation, just 10 of the hundreds of Top Voices highlighted around the world. From cutting-edge augmented reality to the value of user research, these members are sparking conversation about important industry topics and building community along the way. 

Check out this year’s #LinkedInTopVoices in technology — and follow them to stay plugged into the conversation.

What she talks about: Dorsey launched The Plug in 2016 as a daily tech newsletter, and it’s since grown into a full-scale media site reporting across Black tech trends, stories and breaking news — and she brings her distinctive take on those issues onto LinkedIn. Whether highlighting the 25 Black women with successful startup exits and how tech workers are organizing against racism to reviving entrepreneurship in Philadelphia, Dorsey is on the pulse of how Black professionals are reshaping the tech industry and innovation at large.

Follow Sherrell Dorsey

What he talks about: Mihailescu, a former software engineer for Google and Facebook, is a font of career advice for software engineers. From tips to land a promotion and how to handle an outage during an on-call shift, he shares regularly about what it takes for technical talent to get the job they want and get ahead. Mihailescu is also an entrepreneur and opens up about his own startup life.

Follow Clement Mihailescu

What she talks about: As a product manager, Yuan lives at the intersection of data and technology — using metric-driven insights to ultimately build tech that works for people. She shares across topics like how to execute better user research, what it takes to build better products and why “deep-thinking time” is critical for product managers to be successful.

Follow Connie Yuan

What he talks about: Cybersecurity expert and former U.S. Army Captain Yawn regularly covers what it takes for companies to stay secure, from what to look for in cybersecurity auditors to how companies should rethink their security awareness training for employees. Yawn also shares tangible career tips for those in the tech industry and beyond, including gems like “don’t learn in silence” and the 90-90-1 rule he follows to stay productive.

Follow AJ Yawn

What he talks about: At the office, Lee uses data-driven analyses to launch products. Outside the office, he’s passionate about helping millennials and Gen Z-ers develop professionally. Much of what he shares relates back to these dual roles, including hard-earned tips on how to network and advice gleaned from his time at Google. He’s also been running #WonsultingProject2020, an effort to bring project opportunities to 4,400 furloughed and laid off professionals which includes twice-weekly webinars with industry recruiters.

Follow Jerry Lee

What she talks about: Spittel went from ditching her computer science major to accidentally becoming a software engineer, eventually landing at Amazon. Now she helps pay that forward by sharing what she’s learned with newer programmers or those looking to get started, including resources like a beginner’s guide to web development, regular coding tutorials and professional advice from her own experiences, such as how to balance side work with everything else.

Follow Ali Spittel

What he talks about: Augmented reality pioneer Emrich has been an advocate for the technology across the industry, co-producing the Augmented World Expo and investing in a dozen early-stage companies in his previous role at Super Ventures. He brings that expertise onto LinkedIn, regularly sharing the latest fascinating AR tech like being able to superimpose artwork in your own home to new iPhone height measurement capabilities.

Follow Tom Emrich

What he talks about: Blanc prides himself on being part of the global cybersecurity conversation, with witty and yet biting commentary on what needs fixing — "Thank you the cloud, you allowed once again a huge failure," Blanc shared on news of a massive data leak affecting hotel guests. Blanc is also a prolific aggregator of news from the cyber media, adding his insights to the news of the moment.

Follow Alexandre Blanc

What she talks about: Ronsen's father once asked her to sketch out the mechanics of a spinning MCDonald's sign they saw during a car trip. She was three years old. Now she consults for "wonderfully diverse clients" and teaches design and user experience research for students around the world. She shares insights about how to improve user research, connects the UX community and asks for advice — sometimes on behalf of others — she also jumps into the comments to keep the conversation going.

Follow Michele Ronsen

What she talks about: Bowe's passion is making tech accessible to teens. The aerospace engineer bet her career on it — leaving NASA to tend to her startup, which helps federal agencies solve complex problems. STEMBoard also created LINGO, a kit that helps students learn basic coding and engineering concepts. She often shares about events for the tech community, her experience as an entrepreneur and getting STEM tools into the hands of more schools.

Follow Aisha Bowe

You’ve read about this year’s Top Voices in Technology. Now, check out the #LinkedInTopVoices in Data Science & AI, Sales, Education and more.

How we compiled the Top Voices list

To compile the list, we use a combination of quantitative and qualitative signals. This includes engagement (including reactions, comments and shares across each member’s content); posting cadence; and follower growth. But engagement is just a start. Our next filter is qualitative. LinkedIn News editors refine and curate the list by looking at an eligible member’s body of work: Are the contributions insightful, conversational and timely? Do they seek to give and get help vs. being self-promotional? Finally, does this list reflect the world we work and live in today? 

All sharing activity measured took place over a 12-month period, from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. As with all LinkedIn Lists, we excluded current LinkedIn and Microsoft employees from consideration, as well as any members who are being or have been paid by LinkedIn to participate in brand campaigns or courses.