Top 20 Key Opinion Leaders That You Should Follow

Opinion leaders have the unique ability to win people’s trust and influence their opinions. They come up with original ideas and actionable advice to help entrepreneurs, businesses, and individuals achieve their personal and organisational goals.

Business leaders and marketers may want to follow them to gain valuable business or growth insights. And some B2B companies may also want to partner with them for their influencer marketing campaigns.

Either way, it’s good to know which opinion leaders to follow to nurture business and personal growth. Here are 20 key opinion leaders you might want to follow.

Top 20 Key Opinion Leaders:

#1: Arianna Huffington

Source: twitter.com

Best known as the founder of The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington has made a name for herself as a business thought leader. She served as president and editor of the publication for 11 years. 

She then founded Thrive Global, a company that’s dedicated to ending the stress and burnout epidemic through sustainable, science-based solutions.

Arianna Huffington is also an established author, having published 15 books. She has built a strong social media presence and currently has a following of 3 million on Twitter.

#2: Lolly Daskal

Source: twitter.com

Lolly Daskal is a well-known name in the field of leadership development. She regularly publishes thought leadership articles on her own blog as well as reputable publications like Inc.com and Business Insider. 

She founded the global leadership and executive coaching company, Lead from Within. Her latest book, “The Leadership Gap,” discusses ideas on becoming a better leader.

#3: Malcolm Gladwell

Source: twitter.com

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist and public speaker with five book publications under his belt. He has been writing for The New Yorker for over 20 years and gained plenty of influence in the fields of sociology and psychology. 

His appointment to the Order of Canada in 2011 is among his most notable achievements. He also hosts the podcast, “Revisionist History,” and co-founded Pushkin Industries, the podcast company.

#4: Lynda Gratton

Source: twitter.com

Lynda Gratton is an expert in organisational behaviour and the founder of the Hot Spots movement. She’s a professor at the London Business School in the Department of Management. 

he has published several notable books and researches. Her latest book with Andrew Scott, “The 100-Year Life,” discusses practical ideas to live a more fulfilling life through better financial planning, improved relationships, etc.

#5: Seth Godin

Source: twitter.com

Often known as the godfather of modern marketing, Seth Godin has authored over 18 books and has even been inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. 

Some of his most notable works include, “Purple Cow,” and “The Dip,” which even became a New York Times and Business Week bestseller. This former dot com business executive has taken on several business ventures as well.

#6: Justine Ezarik

Source: twitter.com

Justine Ezarik is one of the few influential figures that appeal to both business leaders and everyday consumers. 

This tech influencer grew her influence through YouTube, where she now has 5.9 million subscribers. She creates videos on the latest tech products, video games, and cooking attempts. 

Even before she gained global fame, she was already a tech prodigy, having built her first website at the age of 12.

#7: David Rowan

Source: twitter.com

David Rowan is known for his work with WIRED UK, where he served as a founding editor between 2009 and 2017. 

As an innovative leader in tech, he also makes investments in several tech projects. Through his numerous connections in the industry, he gets access to the latest inside information on technology, gadgets, software, and devices. 

He recently published the “Non-Bullshit Innovation” book in which he tells a story of transformation.

#8: Lori Greiner

Source: twitter.com

Also known as the Queen of QVC, Lori Greiner is popularly known for her appearance as one of the sharks on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” 

The inventor and leading entrepreneur is among the most influential women in business, having had 120 patents to her name. She has invented several consumer products including jewellery and cosmetic organisers and other household and electronic items.

#9: Simon Moores

Source: twitter.com

Having served in a governmental position as a technology ambassador, Simon Moores has built a name as a leader in technology. 

He imparts his valuable expertise to guide governmental agencies, businesses, and media outlets on utilising technology more efficiently. His knowledge of technological evolution and ability to anticipate changes in the industry make him a figure to follow.

#10: Marissa Mayer

Source: twitter.com

Marissa Mayer is a tech executive and co-founder of Lumi Labs, a company dedicated to AI and consumer media. She was a key spokeswoman for Google, where she was employee #20. She then served as president and CEO of Yahoo! between 2012 and 2017, after which she started Lumi Labs.

Her long list of achievements and history with reputable tech companies has helped her gain credibility in the tech landscape. She has even managed to build a solid social media following and now has 1.6 million Twitter followers.

#11: Reid Hoffman

Source: twitter.com

Most popularly known as the co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman is also a venture capitalist and an author. He even made it to the Forbes 2019 list of billionaires, where he ranked #1349. 

He shares his expertise through a variety of LinkedIn Influencer posts. Reid Hoffman has also been invited as a speaker to the TED conference in 2012 and is a frequent lecturer at Oxford University, Stanford University, and Harvard University.

#12: Carson Tate

Source: twitter.com

Carson Tate is a business coach that’s known for her expertise in enhancing productivity. She is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply, where she serves as a consultant and coach to executives at Fortune 500 companies. 

She regularly shares bite-sized productivity tips through her Twitter, so she’s definitely worth a follow for anyone who wants to become more productive.      

#13: Dan Cobley

Source: twitter.com

Former Vice President of Brand Solutions at Google, Dan Cobley is a leading tech influencer who imparts his advice and also invests in various tech start-ups. 

He currently serves as Managing Partner at Blenheim Chalcot, U.K’s leading digital venture builder. He regularly shares his valuable insights and advice through his Twitter and has been a speaker at several TED conferences.

#14: Mel Carson

Source: twitter.com

Mel Carson is a leading expert in personal branding and was once in charge of Microsoft’s social media presence. He also handled advertising and played an instrumental role in the development of Bing. 

He is the founder and CEO of Delightful, a digital marketing and personal branding agency, and has authored several books as well.

#15: Sheena S. Iyengar

Source: twitter.com

Popularly known as an expert on choice, Sheena S. Iyengar is the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School in the Management Department. 

She conducts research with a core focus on decision-making and has even presented TED talks on the topic of choice. She published her book, “The Art of Choosing,” in 2010.

#16: Tim Harford

Source: twitter.com

Best known for his Financial Times column, “The Undercover Economist,” Tim Harford is a media personality, journalist, and economist. 

He offers insightful views on the economics landscape through his column and has authored several books on economy. Tim Harford is also a presenter of BBC’s “More or Less” and the author and presenter of “Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy.”

#17: Marie Forleo

Source: twitter.com

Best known as the host of the web show “Marie TV,” Marie Forleo is a life coach and motivational speaker with a background in business finance. 

She is a self-made woman who learnt how to coach clients by taking an online course. She then used these skills to coach clients through the connections she developed while bartending and teaching fitness and dance classes. 

Marie Forleo was also among the first Nike Elite Dance Athletes. She now devotes herself to developing and sharing ideas and tools to help creative people in unlocking their true potential.

#18: Tim Ferriss

Source: twitter.com

If you’re a regular internet user, you might have heard of Tim Ferriss, who is mostly known for his book, “The 4-Hour Work Week.” He is an angel investor who regularly imparts his wisdom to start-ups that want to grow. He has made several investments in start-up projects like StumbleUpon, Evernote, and Shopify.

Tim Ferriss has even been listed among the “Notable Angel Investors” by The New York Times. He has managed to get over 400 million downloads for his podcast, “The Tim Ferriss Show.”

#19: Margie Warrell

Source: twitter.com

Margie Warrell is a Forbes magazine columnist and a commentator for “The Today Show” and ABC News. She is also a keynote speaker and an author with books like, “Find Your Courage,” and “Stop Playing Safe” among her notable publications. 

Margie Warrell is a strong advocate for gender equality and women in leadership. Her work mainly focuses on living bravely and tries to help people identify and fix the things holding them back.

#20: Kate Bellingham

Source: twitter.com

Kate Bellingham rose to fame as presenter of “Tomorrow’s World,” the BBC science show, between 1990 and 1994. 

Her in-depth knowledge of electrical engineering has helped her establish credibility in the field and earn plenty of prominent positions in media and entertainment. She has a BBC Learning Zone series that focuses on engineering and she also hosts a weekly show on Radio 5 Live.

Conclusion

These 30 people have all made their marks in their respective fields – whether that is in tech, finance, business, marketing, entrepreneurship, or psychology. 

They each have valuable knowledge to impart to their audiences, which are mainly comprised of business leaders, business owners, C-suite executives, and entrepreneurs. 

Get to know these opinion leaders, follow them on social media, and learn from their insights and ideas.

About the Author

Influencer Marketing Hub

Writer

The Influencer Marketing Hub Team brings together a diverse group of experts with a passion for influencer marketing, digital trends, and social media strategies. Each piece of content crafted by this team is researched and written to provide valuable insights, tips, and updates for our readers. Our authors are dedicated to delivering high-quality, informative, and engaging articles that help businesses and influencers thrive in this rapidly changing digital world.