Corporate polish used to be the name of the game in executive communications. Talking points were rehearsed, quotes were approved, and every sentence sounded perfectly on brand. When leaders did venture onto social media, it was mostly to broadcast company news from behind the corporate curtain.

That era is over, and the playbook for executive visibility has been rewritten. In a time when online communities trust creators more than CEOs, audiences now want to hear from leaders who sound like real people. According to FTI Consulting, 92% of professionals say they are more likely to trust a company whose senior executives are active on social media.

Why executive thought leadership matters more than ever

Authenticity has become the currency of modern influence. As people spend more time in digital spaces built on connection and community, executives are expected to show up with the same openness. Transparency, relatability, and originality now define what effective leadership looks like online.

The executives thriving in this landscape treat social platforms as places for conversation rather than broadcast channels. They trade polish for presence, share insights with purpose, and use their online voice to engage rather than promote. They are also strategic about where and how they show up, balancing visibility across established platforms like LinkedIn and X while exploring emerging spaces such as Bluesky and Reddit, where new conversations are taking shape.

Organizations that champion this approach unlock greater credibility among partners, investors, and talent; deeper trust; and leadership that feels genuinely human. And in the age of generative AI, that credibility matters more than ever, as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) increasingly favors organizations whose leaders are recognized as authoritative voices.

We set out to see who’s executing on this new mandate best, specifically within the B2B technology sphere. With the 2025 Inc. 5000 list freshly announced, we examined how its B2B tech executives are adapting to a new era of leadership defined by authenticity, accessibility, and influence at scale.

How we analyzed the most influential leaders on the Inc. 5000

The study looked beyond surface-level metrics like follower counts or post frequency to assess how executives are truly building influence. We examined engagement quality, amplification patterns, tone, content format, and audience sentiment to create our proprietary Custom Influence Score and identify who is sparking conversation, driving reach, and shaping perception.

The result: a clearer picture of how some of today’s most effective leaders are using authenticity to turn visibility into real influence.

What makes effective executive thought leadership?

Yesterday’s executives rehearsed talking points and stayed on script. Today’s hit record and riff in real time.

Influence now comes from showing up, not showing off. The leaders making waves online share real ideas in real time, connect directly with their audiences, and aren’t afraid to let their personalities shine through. Their content feels natural, spontaneous, and unmistakably their own.

These same shifts shaped how we evaluated executives in our analysis. Each reflects a key marker of modern leadership visibility: what it looks like, how it resonates, and why it drives impact.

Here’s how that evolution plays out in practice:

Meet the Inc. 5000 executives redefining how leadership influence works online

The leaders rising to the top are using their platforms to build trust, spark dialogue, and lead with voices that are unmistakably human.

Our analysis identified the executives driving the strongest impact in B2B tech, setting the standard for what modern executive communications can achieve.

Below, meet four of the standout voices leading that shift:

The Conversationalist: Alok Chanani, Co-Founder and CEO, BuildOps

• How he’s putting the modern exec comms approach into practice: Chanani’s feed feels like a two-way conversation, not a one-way broadcast. He regularly shares short videos and timely takes on industry news, sparking genuine dialogue with his audience. His mix of thought leadership and participation turns routine posts into meaningful exchanges.
• Engagement and sentiment: With an average of 159 engagements per post, Chanani’s content earns steady interaction and positive feedback. Followers often expand on his ideas and engage deeply with his insights about the broader world of work.
• Impact: Chanani ranked first in our analysis for post volume, engagement rate, and amplification. Over the past two months, his content was cited and reshared 1,360 times, which is 113% more than the next executive on the list. That level of activity helped him secure the top spot for overall impact.
• Tactic to steal: Employee advocacy is Chanani’s not-so-secret advantage. Many of his reshares come from BuildOps team members, multiplying his reach and reinforcing his message. Build your own scalable internal advocacy process to make it easy for employees to amplify leadership content.

The Trend Spotter: Michael Intrator, CEO, CoreWeave

• How he’s putting the modern exec comms approach into practice: Intrator has mastered the art of timeliness. He regularly joins conversations about breaking industry news while weaving in company milestones and media coverage. His posts often include photos with peers and collaborators, adding context and authenticity that draw people in.
• Engagement and sentiment: With an average of 643 engagements per post, which is 75% higher than the next best performer, Intrator drives strong interaction rates. His audience pays close attention to updates on emerging tech, CoreWeave’s growth trajectory, and his frequent media appearances.
• Impact: By amplifying media coverage and linking social content back to key stories, Intrator extends his thought leadership far beyond company news. His consistent presence has earned him one of the largest followings on our list at 17,000 and positioned him as a standout voice in the tech sector.
• Tactic to steal: When you see a headline, emerging trend or LinkedIn News Top Story that fits your expertise, add your perspective quickly. A short post explaining why it matters can establish credibility and spark discussion before the topic peaks.

The Multimedia Maven: Amberly Allen, Managing Partner, Dealer Merchant Services

• How she’s putting the modern exec comms approach into practice: Allen has built a content strategy anchored in video and multimedia storytelling. Her short, subtitled clips share approachable insights on payment processing in the automotive industry. This consistent use of video keeps her content engaging and reinforces her reputation as a modern, visible leader.
• Engagement and sentiment: Her video-first approach delivers steady engagement and overwhelmingly positive feedback. Followers regularly celebrate her company’s success and respond to her clear, helpful insights.
• Impact: Allen’s consistent use of visual content has made her one of the most recognizable executives on the list. By pairing updates with video or photos, she turns information into connection and strengthens her position as a trusted voice.
• Tactic to steal: Visuals make content memorable. Even simple photos from events, meetings, or conferences can make your content feel personal and relatable.

The Humorist: Matt Schroeder, Founder, Tidalwave Holdings

• How he’s putting the modern exec comms approach into practice: Schroeder proves that leadership can be credible and entertaining. His content, especially on X, blends humor with humility to highlight company milestones and industry insights, like this post. His lighthearted tone helps him connect with audiences in a way that feels natural, not promotional.
• Engagement and sentiment: Schroeder’s audience engages with both his professional insights and personal stories, creating a balance between credibility and relatability. Comments are consistently positive, with followers celebrating company growth and his approachable style.
• Impact: Schroeder’s multi-platform presence and responsiveness make him one of the most personable leaders on the list. His mix of humor, consistency, and authenticity keeps his audience engaged and his brand top of mind.
• Tactic to steal: Show some personality. Humor and warmth can make even milestone posts more memorable and help audiences connect with you on a human level.

Across all four of these B2B leaders, the through line is clear: credibility grows from consistent, human connection, rather than perfect production.

Executive communications myths, busted

Old habits die hard. Many leaders still follow common misconceptions about how executive communications should work. But our evaluation found that the ones seeing the strongest results are rethinking those rules entirely.

Myth 1: High production value equals high impact

• Reality: The best-performing content often starts with a mobile phone, not a professional production team. Personal, off-the-cuff videos filmed in natural settings tend to land better than perfectly lit, tightly scripted ones. A 45-second clip where a leader looks into the camera and speaks directly to their audience feels immediate, approachable, and real, which is exactly what builds trust.
• Hot tip: Think of your post as a quick update to a peer, not a marketing asset. If you’re filming, skip the second take. The most authentic moments usually happen in the first.

Myth 2: Content should always tie back to the company

• Reality: The executives earning real credibility show range. While they likely rely on a few primary content pillars, they also comment on industry trends, personal experiences, and topics that reflect their broader interests. If a former marketing leader now in a sales role weighs in on a marketing trend they’re passionate about, it adds depth and relatability. Social audiences respond best to new, unique perspectives rather than repetitive corporate messaging.
• Hot tip: Create a few alerts for topics that genuinely excite you. When something sparks your interest, share your perspective and invite conversation (which could be as simple as 2-4 quick bullet points) while it’s still fresh.

Myth 3: Posting alone builds credibility

• Reality: Posting without engaging with your audience is like talking to an empty room. Visibility grows when leaders join conversations, react to others’ ideas, and make time to reply to their audiences. The executives seeing the strongest traction online are the ones who treat engagement like an ongoing dialogue, not a task to check off.
• Hot tip: Block ten minutes after sharing a post to respond to comments or interact with peers. Not only does that early activity signal to the algorithm that your content is generating conversation, but the consistent action can turn one-time readers into long-term advocates.

The future belongs to the authentic executive

Our analysis confirms that the days of stoic, templated executive content are over. The leaders earning real attention today bring personality and perspective to every post. Their content feels natural and grounded, and their presence invites people to engage, not just observe.

Authenticity and humanity are the new measures of credibility. Executives who share their views in their own voice stand out in feeds, build trust, and signal confidence, both to audiences and to the algorithms.

As generative AI reshapes how information is discovered, credibility and visibility have become closely intertwined. GEO rewards the leaders who consistently share original, authoritative perspectives that demonstrate real expertise. Executives who publish thoughtful, human-centered content not only strengthen their own reputations but also elevate their organizations’ visibility across a digital ecosystem increasingly molded by AI.

And this evolution isn’t slowing down. As new platforms emerge and AI-driven discovery tools mature, the ways executives build and maintain visibility will continue to evolve, favoring those who adapt quickly and stay agile.

Leaders who recognize this shift are shaping the next chapter of impactful communications. By showing up consistently, contributing valuable insights, and strengthening authority, executives can influence how themselves, their companies, and their industries are represented in the evolving influence economy.

Methodology

To identify the most influential voices on the Inc. 5000 list, we analyzed public content from executives on the list across LinkedIn and X. Our review spanned August through October 2025, providing a comprehensive view of how executive influence plays out over time.

We began with a broad dataset of executives from a range of B2B technology organizations, company sizes, and industry verticals. From this dataset, we refined the group to focus on leaders who consistently share original insights, opinions, and analysis, while also engaging with their digital communities.

We assessed each individual in the refined group across multiple influence factors, then ranked using a custom Influence Score. This score incorporates signals such as content volume, engagement, amplification, network influence, and sentiment impact.

To ensure comparability, we normalized and weighted each factor into a single composite metric. Since the influence factors operate on different scales, we applied min-max normalization to standardize the data before weighting, resulting in a balanced and statistically meaningful ranking.

FAQ: How to build executive thought leadership that drives influence

What’s the first step to elevate my current executive content?

Start with an audit of what already exists. Review recent posts, interviews, and thought leadership pieces to see where your executive’s voice feels too corporate, inconsistent, or off-brand. Identify what’s missing, and use that as your baseline. From there, start small. One authentic post a week, whether reacting to industry news or sharing a quick reflection, can quickly reset tone and engagement. Over time, those small, consistent actions can build momentum and credibility.

How can I secure buy-in from the executive I support to shift our communications strategy and create more authentic, engaging content?

Start with the data. Show how authentic, human-first executive communications directly increase reach, engagement, and credibility. Highlight peer executives like those featured in this study to demonstrate that this approach has become an expectation across industries, not a niche trend. If your executive values traditional media more than social, remind them that a strong online presence can boost visibility with reporters and increase the likelihood of being quoted or contacted for interviews. A single post can spark earned media opportunities that traditional outreach alone might miss.

My executive and I already have a busy schedule. How can I create a higher volume of impactful content and engage more frequently on their behalf?

You don’t need to overhaul your calendar to build consistency. Not every post needs to be a 2,000-word article or highly produced video. Quick, thoughtful reactions to industry news, short updates, or comment replies can drive strong engagement. Working with an experienced partner like Just Drive Media can also help lighten the lift by developing content frameworks, managing scheduling, and optimizing engagement strategies that fit seamlessly into your executive’s workflow.

How do authentic executive communications support business objectives?

Authentic leadership content builds credibility that extends far beyond social metrics. Research shows consumers are significantly more likely to trust companies whose top leaders use social media, making them more confident in working with those organizations. Effective executive content also boosts visibility among business decision-makers, investors, and potential partners. As more B2B decision journeys begin on social platforms, having an active, trusted leader at the forefront helps drive brand awareness and consideration.

How can I measure the ROI of my executive content?

Start with core engagement metrics like impressions, reactions, comments, and engagement rate, which are available directly through platforms like LinkedIn. To capture a fuller picture of ROI, expand your view to include factors like posting frequency, amplification, and share activity. These metrics reveal how your content is performing beyond surface-level interactions and how far it travels through your audience’s networks. Collaborating with an agency partner can give you access to more advanced analytics and benchmarking tools to measure influence, identify what’s working, and continuously refine your strategy.

Just Drive Media helps brands build credibility where it counts — with media, on social, and in the moments that shape reputation. Our team blends data, storytelling, and audience insight to drive visibility and trust across channels. Explore our services or get in touch to see how we can help you turn authentic conversations into lasting impact.