Top LinkedIn Influencers to Follow in 2026 (Ranked & Categorized)
LinkedIn is the best platform for business insights and professional networking. With millions of creators competing for attention, finding valuable voices can feel overwhelming.
In this guide, we will identify the top 20 LinkedIn influencers you should follow in 2026. This ranked list delivers credible voices across marketing, sales, leadership, recruiting, and tech.
What Makes Someone a "Top" LinkedIn Influencer?
Not all LinkedIn creators with large followings deliver value. Our definition of a top LinkedIn influencer goes beyond vanity metrics.
Follower count vs. engagement quality: A creator with 50,000 engaged followers often delivers more value than one with 500,000 passive viewers. We prioritize influencers whose posts spark conversations, not just collect likes.
Consistency of posting and audience growth: Top influencers show up regularly with fresh insights. We favor creators actively building their audience in 2026.
Niche authority and subject-matter expertise: The best voices demonstrate deep expertise in a specific domain. They shape conversations rather than summarize trends.
Content formats that perform well on LinkedIn: Whether through carousels, video, or commentary, these influencers understand what resonates on the platform.
Influence within professional communities: True influence shows up in comment quality and reshares from industry leaders. These top LinkedIn influencers drive dialogue that matters.
Top LinkedIn Influencers in Marketing & Branding
1. Justin Welsh
Follower Count: 1.2M+
Niche: Solopreneurship, content marketing, building one-person businesses
Content Focus: Justin posts tactical frameworks for building online businesses without teams. His content includes carousels breaking down revenue milestones, personal essays about his journey, and actionable strategies for content creation. He shares systems for audience building and monetization.
Why They're Worth Following: Justin provides unfiltered transparency about building a multi-million dollar business alone. Founders and creators benefit from his systematic approach to content and sustainable growth. He shares exact numbers, templates, and step-by-step playbooks rather than motivational fluff.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwelsh/
2. Dave Gerhardt
Follower Count: 240K+
Niche: Marketing leadership, community-led growth, content strategy
Content Focus: Dave shares tactical marketing advice through personal stories and behind-the-scenes looks at building Exit Five. He posts about community building, content marketing, and the realities of startup marketing leadership. His commentary cuts through corporate jargon.
Why They're Worth Following: Dave delivers practical marketing wisdom without the fluff. B2B marketers and GTM leaders appreciate his honest takes on trends, hiring, and growth strategies. He builds in public and shares real wins and losses from running his community business.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegerhardt/
3. Katelyn Bourgoin
Follower Count: 215K+
Niche: Customer psychology, marketing psychology, conversion optimization
Content Focus: Katelyn creates deeply researched carousels about buyer psychology and customer research methodologies. Her content unpacks why customers buy, how to conduct customer interviews, and frameworks for understanding decision-making triggers. She bridges academic psychology and practical application.
Why They're Worth Following: Katelyn delivers research-backed insights that work in real campaigns. Product marketers, conversion specialists, and founders gain actionable frameworks. She cites actual studies and customer research rather than recycling marketing platitudes.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynbourgoin/
4. Amanda Natividad
Follower Count: 105K+
Niche: Content marketing, SEO, brand storytelling
Content Focus: Amanda posts strategic breakdowns of successful content campaigns. Her carousels analyze what makes specific content effective with examples from real companies. She shares SEO insights and frameworks for building memorable brands.
Why They're Worth Following: Amanda combines creative storytelling with analytical rigor. Content marketers and brand strategists benefit from her replicable frameworks. She merges entertainment and education, making complex concepts accessible.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanatividad/
5. Ross Simmonds
Follower Count: 185K+
Niche: Content distribution, growth marketing, B2B content strategy
Content Focus: Ross shares tactical advice on content distribution and growth experiments. His posts include case studies from his agency, frameworks for content promotion, and commentary on emerging channels. He emphasizes distribution over creation.
Why They're Worth Following: Ross focuses on the distribution side most marketers ignore. B2B marketers and growth leaders gain strategies for amplifying reach. He provides specific tactics and channel strategies with real examples.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds/
Top LinkedIn Influencers in Sales, Growth & Revenue
6. Josh Braun
Follower Count: 185K+
Niche: Sales training, cold outreach, modern selling techniques
Content Focus: Josh posts short-form video demonstrations of sales techniques. His content features role-play scenarios showing how to navigate difficult conversations. He shares frameworks for handling objections with authenticity.
Why They're Worth Following: Josh teaches sales without aggressive, manipulative tactics. Sales reps and leaders benefit from his curiosity-driven conversation approach. His video demonstrations show techniques in action, not just theory.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshbraun/
7. Trish Bertuzzi
Follower Count: 155K+
Niche: Sales development, SDR leadership, pipeline generation
Content Focus: Trish shares insights on building effective sales development teams. Her posts include tactical advice for sales leaders, commentary on sales tech, and frameworks for outbound prospecting. She covers SDR best practices and consistent pipeline generation.
Why They're Worth Following: Trish pioneered modern sales development practices. Sales leaders and revenue ops professionals gain battle-tested frameworks. She challenges conventional sales wisdom with decades of experience.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishbertuzzi/
8. Kyle Coleman
Follower Count: 95K+
Niche: Revenue operations, go-to-market strategy, data-driven growth
Content Focus: Kyle posts analytical breakdowns of GTM strategies. His content includes frameworks for aligning sales and marketing and data visualizations. He shares insights on building efficient revenue engines.
Why They're Worth Following: Kyle brings analytical rigor to revenue strategy. GTM leaders and RevOps professionals benefit from his data-informed approach. He simplifies complex RevOps concepts from operating experience at high-growth companies.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylecoleman1/
9. Becc Holland
Follower Count: 135K+
Niche: Sales enablement, prospecting, B2B sales strategy
Content Focus: Becc creates tactical sales advice through text posts, carousels, and video. She shares prospecting frameworks, examples of effective outreach, and strategies for standing out. Her content focuses on techniques sellers can implement immediately.
Why They're Worth Following: Becc delivers no-nonsense sales advice focused on what works today. Sales reps and account executives benefit from her modern prospecting strategies. She calls out ineffective tactics while providing better alternatives with real examples.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becc-holland/
Top LinkedIn Influencers in Leadership, Founders & Startups
10. Sahil Bloom
Follower Count: 1.5M+
Niche: Personal development, entrepreneurship, life wisdom
Content Focus: Sahil posts thoughtful essays on mental frameworks and productivity strategies. His content includes carousels on decision-making, personal stories about challenges, and insights on building a meaningful career. He synthesizes wisdom from diverse fields.
Why They're Worth Following: Sahil combines philosophical depth with practical application. Founders, executives, and professionals benefit from his frameworks for clearer thinking. His insights resonate across industries with accessible, actionable wisdom.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom/
11. Andrew Gazdecki
Follower Count: 195K+
Niche: Startup acquisitions, entrepreneurship, bootstrapping
Content Focus: Andrew shares insights on buying and selling startups. His posts include frameworks for acquisitions, commentary on entrepreneurship trends, and tactical advice for founders navigating exits. He provides transparency about deal structures.
Why They're Worth Following: Andrew provides rare transparency about startup M&A. Founders considering exits gain practical knowledge about valuations and negotiation strategies. He demystifies acquisitions with specific numbers and real deal experiences.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgazdecki/
12. Lenny Rachitsky
Follower Count: 285K+
Niche: Product management, growth strategy, building products
Content Focus: Lenny posts deep insights on product development and user growth. His content includes frameworks from successful product leaders and case studies from top tech companies. He shares tactical advice for navigating complex challenges.
Why They're Worth Following: Lenny brings rare depth through extensive research and interviews with leading PMs. Product managers, founders, and leaders benefit from systematic frameworks. He shares insights from companies like Airbnb, Netflix, and Stripe.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
13. Dharmesh Shah
Follower Count: 890K+
Niche: Startup leadership, company building, AI and technology
Content Focus: Dharmesh shares wisdom on building companies and leadership philosophy. As HubSpot's co-founder, his posts include startup advice, commentary on AI developments, and insights on company culture. He offers forward-thinking views on technology's impact.
Why They're Worth Following: Dharmesh offers seasoned perspective from building one of the most successful B2B SaaS companies. Founders and startup leaders benefit from his experience scaling HubSpot. He delivers authentic, often contrarian takes backed by decades of experience.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharmesh/
Top LinkedIn Influencers in HR, Recruiting & Workplace Culture
14. Hung Lee
Follower Count: 425K+
Niche: Recruiting, HR technology, future of work
Content Focus: Hung is one of the top Linkedin influencers because he curates and shares the most important news in recruiting and HR. His posts include commentary on hiring practices, analysis of recruiting technology, and insights on evolving workplace dynamics. He's known for comprehensive weekly roundups.
Why They're Worth Following: Hung serves as the recruiting industry's most trusted news curator. Recruiters, talent leaders, and HR professionals benefit from his high-signal content. He surfaces and contextualizes the most relevant trends.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hungle/
15. Lars Schmidt
Follower Count: 95K+
Niche: HR strategy, talent acquisition, workplace culture
Content Focus: Lars posts strategic insights on modern HR practices and building authentic cultures. His content includes frameworks for HR leaders, commentary on remote work, and advice for building people-first organizations. He challenges traditional HR thinking.
Why They're Worth Following: Lars advocates for progressive, human-centered HR approaches. HR leaders and people ops professionals benefit from his forward-thinking perspectives. He positions HR as a strategic function rather than administrative support.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larschmidt/
16. Adam Grant
Follower Count: 5.8M+
Niche: Organizational psychology, workplace dynamics, leadership
Content Focus: Adam shares research-backed insights on motivation, creativity, and workplace effectiveness. His posts include findings from organizational psychology studies and commentary on leadership. He provides frameworks for better decision-making and collaboration.
Why They're Worth Following: Adam translates academic research into practical workplace applications. Leaders, managers, and HR professionals gain science-backed insights. As a Wharton professor and bestselling author, he accesses cutting-edge research and makes it accessible.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgrant/
Top LinkedIn Creators in Tech, AI & Future of Work
17. Rowan Cheung
Follower Count: 485K+
Niche: AI news, ChatGPT strategies, AI implementation
Content Focus: Rowan has made a name for himself as one of the top influencers on Linkedin. He posts daily updates on AI developments. His content includes practical ChatGPT prompts, tutorials for using AI effectively, and roundups of AI product launches. He analyzes AI's impact on business and work.
Why They're Worth Following: Rowan makes AI accessible for non-technical professionals. Business leaders, marketers, and knowledge workers benefit from practical applications. He focuses on specific use cases and prompts rather than technical jargon.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowancheung/
18. Allie K. Miller
Follower Count: 440K+
Niche: AI strategy, enterprise AI adoption, technology innovation
Content Focus: Allie shares strategic insights on AI implementation in enterprise settings. Her posts include frameworks for responsible AI deployment and analysis of business impact. She covers AI trends and advice for business leaders.
Why They're Worth Following: Allie brings enterprise-level AI expertise from IBM and Amazon. Business leaders and technology executives benefit from her strategic perspective beyond the hype. She focuses on responsible, practical AI implementation at scale.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliekmiller/
19. Ben Tossell
Follower Count: 125K+
Niche: No-code tools, AI automation, building without coding
Content Focus: Ben posts about no-code and AI tools for non-technical builders. His content includes tool reviews, building tutorials, and commentary on democratizing technology creation. He showcases products built without code.
Why They're Worth Following: Ben champions the no-code movement and AI-powered creation. Entrepreneurs, operators, and non-technical builders benefit from practical guides. He actually builds products with these tools and shares real implementation experiences.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentossell/
20. Benedict Evans
Follower Count: 315K+
Niche: Technology strategy, tech industry analysis, market trends
Content Focus: Benedict shares sophisticated analysis of technology trends. His posts often challenge conventional wisdom about tech companies and market dynamics. He provides long-form thinking on where technology is headed.
Why They're Worth Following: Benedict provides some of the sharpest technology analysis available. Tech executives, investors, and strategists benefit from his ability to identify signal in noise. He articulates complex tech trends clearly with deep industry knowledge.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedictevans/
Our Ranking Methodology (How This List Was Built)
This list of top influencers on LinkedIn was built using a rigorous evaluation framework that prioritizes real influence over vanity metrics.
Relevance to B2B Audiences: Influencers were selected based on their relevance to B2B, SaaS, tech, and GTM professionals. We focused on creators who serve founders, operators, and business buyers. Content that helps professionals make better decisions took priority.
Audience Trust & Engagement (Not Just Followers): Our ranking prioritizes meaningful engagement over raw follower counts. We analyzed comment quality, conversation depth, and reshares from industry leaders. An influencer sparking thoughtful discussions ranks higher than one collecting passive likes.
Content Consistency & Quality: Every influencer posts regularly and delivers clear, educational content. We excluded creators who post sporadically or have declining activity. Consistency signals commitment and ongoing relevance.
Niche Authority & Point of View: The best LinkedIn influencers demonstrate subject-matter expertise and a clear point of view. We prioritized creators who shape industry conversations over those who summarize trends. Original thinking matters more than virality.
Recency & Platform-Native Presence: This list reflects currently active creators with consistent posting throughout 2025 and into 2026. We focused on influencers maintaining a strong LinkedIn presence in 2026. Follower counts and engagement metrics were verified in January 2026.
Want Help Turning LinkedIn Influence Into B2B Growth?
Following these top LinkedIn creators delivers valuable insights. But partnering with them can transform your brand's growth.
Most B2B brands struggle to break through with paid ads and organic content alone. The audiences you want to reach have learned to tune out traditional marketing. They trust voices they already follow.
Cherry Lane specializes in pairing B2B brands with credible, trusted creators. As a dedicated LinkedIn influencer agency, we handle everything from strategy to finding the best LinkedIn influencers for your campaign.
We focus on real business outcomes: trust building, pipeline generation, and measurable growth. Not vanity metrics. Our clients work with influential voices across marketing, sales, leadership, and technology to reach decision-makers authentically.
If you're ready to leverage LinkedIn's most influential voices to grow your B2B brand, we'll build a strategy tailored to your goals.
