LinkedIn Top Voices 2020: U.S. Influencers

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, we’ve uncovered the 20 U.S. Influencers who are using their voice to help us parse today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries and find balance through an unprecedented year.

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. 

These are the 20 Top Voices among our U.S. LinkedIn Influencers, a collection of leaders, thinkers and innovators who are driving today’s business conversations. Among those who made the list, you’ll find some common themes, such as helping support entrepreneurs and small businesses affected by the pandemic, addressing racial and gender equity, discussing mental health and well-being, and demonstrating the future of leadership amid COVID-19. 

Check out this year’s top Influencers worth following in the US.

What she talks about: As COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on women and girls became clear this year, Gate’s focus on equality has taken on additional urgency. Gates, an author, philanthropist and businesswoman, started important conversations encouraging women to run for office, raising awareness of mental health, underscoring the importance of economic equality for women and girls around pandemic relief efforts and recognizing the value of women’s work, both domestically and professionally.

Follow Melinda Gates

What he talks about: Founder, investor and media personality John provides advice and resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs hard-hit by the pandemic. That includes creating the first Black Entrepreneurs Day to support founders of color alongside the NAACP, opening up conversations to help his followers problem-solve shared challenges, and encouraging small businesses to share how the LinkedIn community can support them. At a time when businesses are closing around us, John told his own personal tale of failure and rebuilding, which sparked hundreds of thankful comments.

Follow Daymond John

What she talks about: Throughout this challenging year, researcher, podcaster, and author Brown has used her voice to support empathy, understanding and awareness. Her posts around burnout and stress, social justice and antiracism, and just plain hard days have inspired and encouraged the LinkedIn community to find moments of courage in the everyday.

Follow Brené Brown

What he talks about: As pandemic-related closures began to impact businesses across the US, Cuban took to LinkedIn with a simple offer to answer questions in a virtual “Ask Me Anything” for small businesses in need of support. Over the following months, Cuban has continued the conversation with his followers, answering questions across a variety of formats and encouraging other business leaders to think differently in their approach around the pandemic.

Follow Mark Cuban

What she talks about: The pandemic hit pause on all aspects of the entertainment industry earlier this year, but award-winning journalist Robinson didn’t let the shutdown slow her down. She’s used her engaging LinkedIn presence to both inspire and educate about building a career in broadcasting. And as millions have tuned in to watch the popular TV series 90 Day Fiancé that Robinson hosts during the pandemic, she’s also facilitated an ongoing series of candid conversations via LinkedIn Live with noted Black executives across a variety of industries, including filmmakers and cross-industry leaders.

Follow Shaun Robinson

What she talks about: Spanx founder Blakely struck a chord in early April by helping support other female entrepreneurs hit hard by the pandemic via her Red Backpack Fund. She’s shared her authentic experience as a parent and professional working from home during the pandemic, started personal conversations around self-confidence and success, and truly let the community on LinkedIn get to know the hard work behind the hustle.

Follow Sara Blakely

What he talks about: Author, philanthropist and founder Dalio has been sharing his thoughts with the LinkedIn community throughout the COVID-19 crisis. From reflecting on the future of capitalism and encouraging others to think audaciously to analyzing reserve currencies and historical events and how we build meaningful relationships, Dalio sparks conversations about what it takes to achieve radical transparency and lead through turbulence.

Follow Ray Dalio

What she talks about: In a year filled with disruption, Johnson has been uniquely positioned to build awareness around emotional resiliency for the LinkedIn community. When the pandemic hit earlier this year, Johnson felt that the one thing she could do to help was to create an element of human connection by consistently going live on LinkedIn and sharing her insights on how to navigate challenging times, as well as amplifying the perspective and wisdom of others. In her own words, “the best way to manage through disruption is to disrupt yourself.”

Follow Whitney Johnson

What he talks about: Throughout 2020, Sorenson has been demonstrating leadership, candidly starting conversations around how COVID-19 has impacted the travel and hospitality industry, discussing how his company has adjusted around the pandemic, and reflecting with resilience and optimism on what the future of returning to the office and to travel will be.

Follow Arne Sorenson

What he talks about: Bryant’s message of financial literacy and empowerment has become part of the larger conversation about the impact of the pandemic on small businesses and founders of color as well as the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion. Leveraging LinkedIn Live for an ongoing series addressing the cost of racism and financial awareness, Bryant encourages his audience to take small steps towards thinking big about their personal success.

Follow John Hope Bryant

What he talks about: The impact of COVID-19 as a catalyst for digital transformation has been a focus for Dr. Maeda over the past year, who’s shared his approach towards viewing a time of “volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity” in a new way. As an author, designer, and technologist, Dr. Maeda has discussed the importance of inclusion in the design sector in a variety of ways, creative leadership and how to #MakeRoom for a new generation of leaders.

Follow Dr. John Maeda

What he talks about: Recording his podcast from home as a result of the pandemic, actor and activist Burton has shared the comfort of nostalgia and joy with the LinkedIn community throughout 2020. Known for his work in such impactful series as Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Reading Rainbow, Burton continues to highlight literature from a variety of authors as well as celebrating family, sharing inspiring words, and bravely illuminating his personal story.

Follow LeVar Burton

What he talks about: From sharing business continuity plans amid COVID-19 to doubling commitments to support small businesses, Solomon is bringing both transparency and leadership around how the finance industry responds to an upended working world. Announcing the creation of the Goldman Sachs Fund for Racial Equity, ensuring employees have paid leave on Election Day, and shining a spotlight on board diversity are just some of the many timely topics Solomon has discussed throughout 2020.

Follow David M. Solomon

What she talks about: As the author of “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Dr. Duckworth spends her days researching perseverance, bringing that expertise to bear in a new COVID-19 reality. She has encouraged her audience throughout the pandemic to challenge themselves, to find strength and tenacity to manage uncertainty in a crisis, to maintain relationships both personally and professionally, and to address pandemic-related anxiety.

Follow Angela Duckworth

What she talks about: Ward’s presence on LinkedIn shows a unique approach to leadership that’s resonated across the LinkedIn community. Sharing powerful reflections on the lives of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, anti-racist strategy pillars, and virtual team-building events discussing opening doors of opportunity for others, Ward brings together business commitments with personal perspectives.

Follow Laysha Ward

What she talks about: Huffington’s mission of supporting wellness and fighting stress has become even more visionary and necessary in light of COVID-19. From the #SafeHands hand washing challenge to increasing awareness of Coronasomnia, Huffington encourages her audience to take time for self-care, avoid burnout, and through those actions, move towards real positive change in their lives.

Follow Arianna Huffington

What she talks about: As sheltering in place brought much of the world to a standstill, bestselling author Rubin captured the moments of reflection that have come to be such a large part of people’s lives around the pandemic. Focusing on habits and happiness, Rubin’s writing contemplating the importance of little things with a big impact — things like kindness, relationships and nature— resonated with the LinkedIn community.

Follow Gretchen Rubin

What he talks about: Ali has been covering the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry from a high-level vantage point. While the future of both travel and events is still in flux, Ali uses his LinkedIn presence to think about what’s next in the space, whether debating the need of traveling for business, brainstorming about ways to re-open most effectively, or musing on the meaning of travel itself.

Follow Rafat Ali

What she talks about: Stepping up to lead the Wharton School at the height of the pandemic and in a tumultuous year for higher education, Dean James has tackled those issues in her job and on LinkedIn, sharing preparedness plans, welcoming new faculty and students, and reflecting on her first 90 days as well as looking to the year ahead. She’s also tackling big-picture topics like supporting entrepreneurship for founders of color and race and corporate power while bringing her audience into the dialogue. 

Follow Erika James

What he talks about: As COVID-19 drove a rapid acceleration to remote work and collaboration, Yuan’s company Zoom was rocketed to the forefront of the trend. Throughout 2020, Yuan has shared how Zoom has been adopted by educators, adapted for weddings, set Guinness World Records, enabled entertainment and beyond. He has even been hosting his own series of Zoom conversations with other business leaders.

Follow Eric S. Yuan

You’ve read about the Top Influencers in the U.S. this year. Now, check out which Influencers topped the #LinkedInTopVoices list in the U.K., Japan, Mexico 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.

Reported by: Victoria Taylor

Photo Credits: Melinda Gates, Credit: Jason Bell; Brené Brown, Credit: Randal Ford